Among the crowds on site at the Nature Valley Classic in Birmingham this week are junior tennis players from eight clubs across the county. The children were invited by Warwickshire LTA to compete in the Classic Club Challenge, a series of age group competitions held on courts right alongside some of the world’s best tennis players. A total of nearly 100 junior players covering U9’s, U10’s and U12’s will take part in the annual competition across three days.
Organiser Alison Isaacs from Warwickshire LTA highlighted the impact of being able to involve local juniors as part of the Nature Valley Classic, saying: “This really is a great event for us because it enables local clubs to be part an international tournament, with the children competing here alongside some of the best women players in the world. They all think it’s great because they can see those players close up and get autographs, as well as actually enjoy playing tennis themselves at the same time.”
Parent Lucy Fogarty watched her daughter Jess play as part of the team from West Warwicks Tennis Club in Solihull, and said: “Bringing them to an event like this where they get to see top-flight sportswomen doing their thing, and be able to meet them and get their autographs, it really drives them and gives them an impetus to carry on with tennis. It really gives them the spirit of the sport.
“My eldest daughter has played in this competition in previous years too, and each year they just come away buzzing from it. I can honestly say it has been a key factor in keeping them playing tennis, and hopefully that will now continue throughout their life.”
Scott Kirby, Junior Captain at Kenilworth Tennis Club said: “The event is wonderful, especially for the girls. It’s a great opportunity for them to come and experience tennis, seeing ladies from the WTA tour who are role models, and I think that amazing opportunity is so very important”.
On hand to present the children with their certificates was local star and current U18 National Champion, Lilly Mould, a member at Edgbaston Priory Club who is herself a previous participant in the annual competition. Lilly said: “I played in this event seven or eight years ago. I really think it’s a great way to get players involved in the sport from a young age. It’s fun, but it has a competitive side playing for your team as well which is great.”
The Classic Club Challenge is part of a series of community engagement activities that are helping to inspire children from across the region and create a legacy from the city hosting an international sporting event. Over 1,200 children from Birmingham primary schools will be taking part in tennis activities, while a further 600 school children will be in the courtside crowds having been provided with heavily discounted tickets by event organisers, the Lawn Tennis Association. The activity follows on from a schools roadshow run by Midlands LTA in the build up to the Nature Valley Classic that involved schools in Edgbaston, Handsworth, Gilbertstone and Sutton Coldfield and saw over 2,000 children participate in tennis.
Sports fans from the region still have the chance to watch world class tennis on their doorstep in the build up to Wimbledon. Action at the Nature Valley Classic is on at Edgbaston Priory Club until Sunday with limited tickets still available. Fans can secure tickets now and read more about other British Tennis events at www.lta.org.uk/major-events.