Central Region Team Challenge 2011

Central Region Team Challenge

Four Karori United Juniors were selected to take part in the third Trans Tasman Tennis Central Region Junior Team Championships which was held on 9-10th April at the Renouf Tennis Centre.  Isaac Becroft and Emily Murchland represented Wellington, and James Wallace and Ruby Lawler played for the Combined Team.

 
Isaac in action                                      Emily

Seven regional teams (Wellington, Hutt Valley, Kapi Mana, Wairarapa Wanganui, Manawatu, Taranaki) and one Combined team made up the draw. Each team comprised 8 players across the 10-16 age group bracket (one boy and one girl) who were required to play a Hopman Cup style format of singles (boys and girls) and mixed doubles. For our boys it was the first competitive mixed doubles ever!

This year, glorious weather contributed to a wonderful weekend of tennis. The Wellington team won Pool A to make the final and, after a close battle between Hutt Valley and the Combined team in the Pool B final, the Combined Team went through to face Wellington in the Championship Final. Wellington went on to win, successfully defending the title. The Combined Team were runners up and Manawatu came third.

Off the court, the teams attended a players' evening and dinner on the Saturday night where players received a talk about the Tennis Central achievements for the 2010/2011 season and where encouraged to consider, and if necessary, increase their training hours to match their worldwide age group average.

All in all, the tournament was a highly competitive, collegial and very enjoyable occasion. For full details see the below links.

Please see the following link for full event results:
http://www.tennis.org.nz/InterclubCompetitionGradesList.asp?cnID=965
Photos of the Event:
https://picasaweb.google.com/100850780106921511932/TransTasmanRepFixtureApril2011?authkey=Gv1sRgCM6BiuS6iNG61QE&feat=directlink