Over 200 budding tennis players attended a free family tennis weekend across the city on 13th & 14th July and took advantage of some free coaching from qualified LTA tennis coaches.
The Mountbatten Leisure Centre, Wimbledon Park sports Centre and Charter Community Sports Centre, managed by Parkwood Community Leisure, hosted the free family tennis event to help boost tennis in the city. With the new £1.3 million tennis centre due to open later this year Parkwood have teamed up with the LTA and Portsmouth City Council to help promote tennis city wide with a view to getting more people enjoying the games.
Despite the searing heat the venues experience a good turn out, which can be attributed to the Murray mania that is sweeping the nation since Andy Murray won Wimbledon.
Head Tennis Coach Ashley Neaves said “We were pleased with the turn out across the venues seeing everyone having a great time on the court and leaving with smiles on their faces. It is exciting times for tennis, particularly in Portsmouth with the new facility on its way. We have now started rolling out our summer programme which will link into the new Tennis Centre when it opens. This weekend was a great opportunity to raise awareness and to promote tennis for all ages and abilities.”
A joint venture between Portsmouth City Council and the Lawn Tennis Association will see a brand new tennis facility open early November with work started already. The facility will be connected to the Portsmouth Gymnastic Centre on the Mountbatten Leisure Centre site and will boast 4 indoor courts, 8 indoor mini tennis courts and 6 outdoor floodlit courts. The centre will be operated by Parkwood Community Leisure.
Simon Johnson from the LTA said “We are really excited about this new development and tennis in general in Portsmouth. The family weekend was a big success and just shows there is a high demand for tennis in the local area.”
For further information regarding the new Portsmouth Tennis Centre and its summer tennis programme please call 023 92 660589 or visit leisurecentre.com and visit the Portsmouth Tennis Centre website.