Over the last term we have been using the superb facilities at Doncaster Lawn Tennis Club in Bessacarr to work on our ground-stokes, drop-shots and serves. This has culminated in XP running our very own National under 14 tournament – “Road to Wimbledon” – which sees the winner progress to representing the school at regional level – with the potential for playing at Wimbledon’s world famous All-England Club!
Ten boys competed in the event which superbly showcased the progress that they had made over the last 7 weeks. The boys were divided into two leagues with the top two from each competing in the semi-finals. The competition was fierce and actually required a 3-way play-off in league 2 to decide second place but the final four was eventually made up of Tyler S and Tyler W or C23 and Bobby S and Milo T from C24.
The first semi-final saw the two Tylers locked in combat with Tyler S coming out on top with some excellent shots and a willingness to chase every ball. On the other court Bobby and Milo went head to head producing some long and skilful rallies and after a closely fought match Milo got the better of the tie and went on to face Tyler S in the final.
In a game filled with energy, skill and determination C23’s Tyler S aced XP’s first ever Tennis event emerging victorious over Milo in a match that was an absolut
e credit to all of the competitors and a very worthy final.
Tyler will now go on to represent XP in Leeds against the winners of other local schools and we will be rooting for him to make into the next round… and maybe even to Wimbledon!!
Next year – we will be aiming for bigger and better as we strive to send a boys champion and girls champion! Well done to all competitors and indeed everyone who attended the after-school club over the weeks that it ran. A special thanks to Zara Y in C21 who lent us her expertise as a coach throughout – an absolutely outstanding ambassador for our school and to our younger students.