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Sunderland Tennis Centre will host the final of the Tony Blair Sports Foundation Challenge Cup as eight North East schools take to the court inspired by Andy Murray to attempt to be crowned champion.
The final of the Year 3 LTA Mini Tennis competition will take place on Friday July 12th from 9.30am-2pm with 64 children having made it through their county finals after entry from around 200 schools and 1600 competitors.
It is one of the most prestigious schools competitions in the country as around 5000 young people in the North East will have experienced tennis in their school environment.
The eight schools are Northumberland’s Darras Hall First School and Hareside Primary, Tyne & Wear’s New Silksworth and Cullercoats Primary, County Durham’s St Mary Magdalen’s R.C and St Margaret’s, Tees Valley’s St Bernadette’s R.C Primary and Lingfield Primary.
Mr Blair, the founder and patron of the foundation, said: “It’s fantastic to see so many children across the North East getting involved in the Tony Blair Tennis Challenge Cup competition.
“I am sure Andy Murray’s phenomenal victory at Wimbledon will inspire our finalists and encourage even more young people to join in next year. This is a very exciting time for British tennis and I wish all the TBSF finalists the very best of luck.”
In addition to the tournament, there will be a Visually Impaired Competition for adults from across the region and a young volunteers LTA Mini Tennis event.
There will also be a chance for a sighted versus visually impaired competition, where the sighted players will wear SIM Specs that recreate varying levels of sight.
Jo Cunliffe, the Lawn Tennis Association’s (LTA) Tennis Development Manager for Durham, Cleveland, Northumberland and Cumbria, said: “It will be a fantastic day for schools tennis in the North East.
“A key part of the programme to deliver tennis in schools is to help sustain it by linking with local people, whilst also training up teachers and giving the schools free Aegon equipment packs.
“The North East has seen 900 schools receive training and equipment packs, which ultimately is growing the opportunities for young people to develop a huge range of skills that tennis can bring and just enjoy having the opportunity to play the game.
“The Tony Blair Sports Foundation have offered great support through recruiting and training 829 tennis coaches and leaders over the last five years.
“Hopefully this will also inspire more youngsters to continue their tennis and look for programmes at local Places To Play and onto the bigger tennis journey.”