Triple tennis at Tyne & Wear Sainsbury’s School Games Final

Tuesday July 7^th saw three tennis events, truly showcasing tennis’s reach to everyone at the Tyne & Wear Sainsbury’s School Games Final.

The three events included a Year 4 Primary competition along with Primary and Secondary Inclusive competitions.  This included a massive 113 students enjoying the skills, matches and Tennis Factory across the tennis arena stage at the Sunderland Community Pool, Tennis and Wellness Centre.

In the Primary Inclusive competition, Rosie Pybus and Jo Cunliffe welcomed 8 players from Cedars (Gateshead) and 9 players from Woodlawn (North Tyneside).  The players took part in a number of skills based activities including egg and spoon, throw and hit into the bucket, along with pass the parcel and can knockdown.  They then completed the Tennis Factory activities, namely rally rebound, volley ladder, can knockdown and mini micro net.  The effort and energy was second to none and every single player gave 100%.  Brad (Cedars) truly expressed the fun and enjoyment they had experienced and desire to do more when he asked,

“Is there more tennis after lunch?!”

We were all delighted when Stephen Miller (Triple Paralympic Champion) asked to present the medals at the end! The results were very close with Woodlawn winning the gold medal and Cedars the silver.

The Secondary Inclusive event took place on the other side of the indoor arena and was run by Sarah Forrest from Sunderland Community Pool, Tennis and Wellness Centre.

Secondary schools across Tyne and Wear battled it out and the event was an amazing success, with all students enjoying the friendly and encouraging atmosphere. 

With around 50 matches played, to an amazing standard, only 2 points separated the 1st and 4^th positions, leaving the decision down to the number of matches won. Southlands A were 4th with 9 points, and while both Biddick and Southlands B finished with 10 points; Southlands B were just beaten to 2nd by Biddick who had 6 wins compared to Southlands 5. The winners, announced after friendly games of touchtennis doubles, were Cedars with a total of 11 points.  Sarah couldn’t believe how close the scores were,

“What a fantastically close competition and what impressed me most was the determination from all the players to do their best!  Well done to everyone and we hope they keep up their tennis back at school and in local places to play!”

The final competition of the day was the Year 4 Primary event ran by Christine Klee and Graham Fowler. 

10 schools with 8 players each battled it out across 12 mini tennis courts!  This meant a massive 360 matches were played, which really is a phenomenal amount!  After the mammoth day the scores were incredibly close and the results were,

1^st - Cullercoats Primary

2^nd - Kings Priory

3^rd -  Biddick

The scale of the tennis events could not have run without the amazing support from the volunteers who came from  Biddick Academy and Farringdon Community Academy, so a big thanks to them for their support and we wish them the best for their exciting futures ahead! 

For more information on the Tennis Foundation’s support for primary, special and secondary schools please visit www.schoolstennis.org

For further coverage of the day please see Twitter @tynewearsport or the Tyne and Wear Sport website.