Budding Wimbledon champs of the future?

YOUNG tennis players were dreaming of Wimbledon Centre Court when they visited Martock Tennis Club for the South Somerset Schools’ Mini Red Tennis Red Final.

The competition was the culmination of a long journey to get to the final with hundreds of young people from South Somerset taking part in ‘cluster’ competitions over the last two months.

Primary school pupils from seven schools - Horsington, Milford Junior, St Bartholomews, Hambridge, West Chinnock, Keinton Mandeville and Abbas & Templecombe - took part in the finals.

Keinton Mandeville school won the final, beating Milford Junior by four games to two, while West Chinnock and Abbas & Templecombe finished in third place.

The project has been funded by the South Somerset Tennis Development Group, which was set up by the Sports Development team at South Somerset District Council.

South Somerset School Games Organiser, Steve Gass, delivered the final event in partnership with the Lawn Tennis Association.

Steve said: “The cluster competitions have been really successful with some exciting tennis being played.

“The weather for the final just about held and taking place just before Wimbledon inspired all the young people. We were really pleased with how the competition went.

“A special thank you must also find its way to StanchesterAcademy who supported the event with eight exceptional Young Leaders.”

Senior sport and healthy lifestyles officer, Jake Hannis, said: “Local professional tennis coaches have been leading sessions in schools right across South Somerset for hundreds of pupils to introduce them to the sport.

“More than one hundred pupils who showed enthusiasm and ability were then given the chance to take part in five weeks of coaching, which has really developed their skills.”

The council’s leisure spokesman, Cllr Sylvia Seal, added: “This is the fifth year of the successful programme in South Somerset and it is certainly making a difference towards developing young tennis talent in the district. The group has achieved an impressive amount since it was set up, and its benefits are long lasting.

“I hope that many of the young people who have been involved in the coaching and competitions will take up the opportunities on offer at their local clubs to develop themselves even further.”

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