Teamwork Brings Pride To Northumberland!

Pippa Hawes and her team of volunteers ran a perfect Tony Blair Sports Foundation Year 3 Tennis Challenge Cup July 2nd!

The event was the Northumberland County Final, which saw 6 schools who had qualified from earlier rounds compete against each other with the chance of reaching the Regional Final on Friday July 12th. 

With players arriving full of beans and volunteers from St Benet Biscop eager to go, people knew we were in for a great event.  The girls did matches first and the boys took part in the Tennis Factory activities.  The focus and determination was etched on their faces throughout the 3 hours, which highlighted the great qualities they already hold.  This is incredible when you think they are only aged 7-8 years old! 

The event took place at Tennis @ Churchill, North Tyneside and the final standings are highlighted below.  What really struck us all was the immense pride that everyone held for the event, themselves and making sure they gave 100%.  Its not often that you either organise, volunteer or play at county level competitions.  We could tell this because everyone involved treated it like it was their mini Wimbledon. 

Special thanks must go to St Benet Biscop who brought their brilliant volunteers to help the event.  Alan Mole from the Blyth Bedlington School Sports Programme has once again done an unbelievable job with the young people and it was their 5th major tennis event they had been involved in!

In addition we also had Abigail Lemberger who has recently finished her GCSE's and never turns a volunteering opportunity down!  Abi inputted the scores into the computer and took some fabulous 'David Bailey' type photographs!  In fact the photos were that good that it was really hard to decide which ones to use for the article.

Here are the results,

1st - Darras Hall First School
2nd - Hareside Primary
3rd - St Peter and Pauls
4th - St Mary's First 
5th - St Aidan's Roman Catholic
6th - Ovingham First

Darras Hall and Hareside will travel to Sunderland on Friday July 12th for the TBSF Year 3 Tennis Challenge Cup Grand Fianl.  We wish them the best and to enjoy every second of the day!