'Play tennis scheme' offering two hours' free coaching at Cirencester club (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

'Play tennis scheme' offering two hours' free coaching at Cirencester club

AS part of the LTA's 'play tennis scheme', adults and teenagers are invited along to Cirencester Tennis Club for two hours of free coaching on Saturday, May 22, between 10am and 12 noon.

With the new season only two months old, the club has already attracted over 80 U11s (mini tennis) which has broken last year's 12-month total by 30.

This huge increase is largely due to Glo'shire LTA's incentive to make competition at U11s level into a district and club responsibility rather than county or even regional, making club membership attractive to youngsters.

Local clubs have been able to work together to give minis (age 6-11) an opportunity for friendly competition while they are also learning the game through mini tennis coaching at red, orange and green levels.

Currently, there are 75 youngsters enjoying coaching at mini tennis red, orange and green at weekly sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays and the junior groups have also been snowed under with applicants wishing to join.

Most of the age group inter-club junior matches have got under way.

To date, the girls' 11/U Cirencester Canaries (Charlotte Sefton and Laura Eales) and the boys 11/U (Adas Bamforth, Joe McLellan and Matthew Jenkins) were off to winning starts, both recording 3-0 wins against Red Marley and Moreton-in-Marsh respectively.

The boys 17/U and boys 13/U were not so successful, losing games against Minchinhampton 1-2 and 0-3 respectively.

Congratulations go to Ciren-cester Tennis Club's Laura Eales who was the only Glo'shire player to win a singles match in the girls' County Cup 10/U.

Playing at No 3, she recorded a singles and then a doubles win. The second leg of this event is being played at Oxstalls next weekend and the club wishes Laura every success.

Furthering the club's co-operation with Kingshill School, Ian Reid will be taking a group of Kingshill youngsters for an assessment and coaching session at Cirencester Tennis Club this Saturday.

This will lead to further sessions during the summer term as well as competitive ladder play.

All enquiries on any aspect of Cirencester Tennis Club to Penny Allberry on 01285 653140.