On Saturday, it was the turn of the Mini Orange players at Writhlington Tennis Centre, our 8–9-year-olds, to play a timed tennis tournament. This time we had two tournaments running alongside with a total of eighteen players, for our 'beginner or less experienced orange players' and the 'top guns', the children played fifteen minutetimed matches.
Players came from all over the area, including Bristol, South Wales, Shaftesbury, Glastonbury, plus our own players who live locally.
In the 'less experienced' tournament, nine-year-old Jack Goulding, from Wells, overcame Oskar Rees, from Bristol, to win this final, 19–9. It was the first time Jack, who trains at Writhlington, had won a tournament and he was very excited at the prospect of taking his medal into school on Monday morning for 'show and tell'!
In the 'top guns' tournament, ten children, including the only girl, Jazmin Lilley, from Peasedown, entered. The standard of play was incredible. In one match, a rally of 42 shots was the point of the afternoon, said their scorer, Tom Hunt, an Assistant Coach and sixth former at Writhlington School. "This was the most incredible game I have ever scored, I lost count of the number of well-matched points that were played between Alex Blissett, from Frome, and Evan Baker, from Bristol."
This final was played out between Andrew Hewitt and Evan Baker, with the final score being 15–13. Both boys played an amazing competitive match, with some great shot making and hard hitting, but, in the end, Evan won.
Evan's mum said, "Evan has really enjoyed playing here today, we have driven out from Bristol, as we were told how friendly and welcoming the staff were at Writhlington and it has proved so, we will be back for future tournaments!"
Credit should go to all the other players, with particular mention to Katie Hill, who stepped in at the last minute for an injured player, plus Dominic Tombs, Harry Flagg and Jesse Moore for whom this was their first Mini Orange tournament.
A big thank you to Andy Fletcher, a parent who photographed the children in action during the afternoon, his own son, Tom, was runner-up in his group.
Easter activities for children are available at Writhlington Sports Centre, please log onto http://www.writhlingtonsportscetre.co.uk">www.writhlingtonsportscetre.co.uk or ring 01761 438559 for more information.
Amanda Stonier