Tennis for the Family

11 January 2008

A welcome return

Following the successful re-launch of the Family Tennis Championships last year, the participating opportunities have been expanded for the 2008 Championships.

The event was re-launched in 2007 with the traditional Open event for Fathers & Sons and Mothers and Daughters but also included a separate tournament for Fathers with sons 14&U and Mothers with daughters 14&U. From this year, another two categories are being offered, namely a chance for Fathers with 10&U sons and Mothers with 10&U Daughters.

Also, by popular demand, the event is expanding further with the addition of a Mixed event for parents and children. This however, is being approached on an experimental basis.

The Finals will again be played at the Next Generation Club, Dudley, Birmingham the weekend of November 1 & 2 with preliminary rounds played on a postal basis throughout the regions.

Essex collected both the 2007 Mother & Daughter titles with Malden’s Libby and Emma Eden picking up the 14&U version and Pam & Louise Rogers of Ipswich, the Open one.

Derby’s Martin & Christopher Simpson survived a tough final to become Father & Son 14&U champions while Linden Hardisty and stepson Josh Brown from Tavistock in Devon cruised through for the Open crown.

Supported by the LTA, Chief Executive Roger Draper commented: “The Family Championships offer a great chance for players of all ages and abilities to play competitively. It supports our Blueprint for British Tennis in that it provides yet another opportunity for young players to get involved in the game on a competitive level and we fully support its re-introduction into the British tennis calendar.

“Many of the sport’s champions have been introduced to the game by their parents and the event will help reinforce the important role that families play in developing young tennis players.”

15 November 2007

The Winners and Runners Up

8 October 2007

Finals Weekend

The Finals weekend of the revised Family Championships came to a successful conclusion at the Next Generation Club in Dudley over the weekend of October 6 & 7.
All the matches proved very competitive with many of the players displaying some excellent skills.

Libby & Emma Eden from Malden in Essex, defeated Libby & Gabby McKeever of Cheshire 6-2,6-2 to win the Mother & Daughter 14&U championships in the first Sunday’s title matches while Derbyshire’s Martin & Christopher Simpson found themselves embroiled in a tough second set before they were able to secure the Father & Son 14&U title 6-2,7-6(2) from David & Davis Nicholson of Hitchin, Hertfordshire.

Unfortunately no Mother & Daughter final was played with Ann & Jo Louis of Tavistock having to withdraw due to a serious illness befalling a member of their family. Pam and Louise Rogers of Essex consequently claimed the title on a walk-over.

Finally Linden Hardisty and his stepson Josh Brown, hit a devastating ‘purple patch’ to annihilate Niall & Luke Sweeney of Oxsted 6-0,6-0 to bring the day’s play and the 2007 Championship to a conclusion.

In addition to the Trophies for winners and runners-up, a number of gifts were provided by the Tennis Gallery and the Silver Tennis Collection Company.

It is hoped to have details of the 2008 Championship, with relevant entry form, available from the end of October.

RESULTS

20 March 2007

Tournament Launched

A national family tournament is the ultimate objective which the launching of The Family Championships in January, has set itself. And Tennis Today is proud to be a part of it.

The original idea came from the late Victor Kiam who, via his razor company, sponsored the championships in the eighties and early nineties. Unfortunately after a successful nine years, Remington was forced to terminate their support at a time when the economy dipped thereby making it difficult to find a replacement resulting in the demise of the tournament which, at one stage, had over 1,500 pairs competing.
Now the LTA have revived the event for Father & Son and Mother & Daughter combinations with additional support from the Daily Express, Next Generation, and Wilson in what is a virtual repeat line-up of co-sponsors supporting the vent previously.

The event is offering competitive play, on a postal basis, for the aforementioned pairings, but excluding players who have held a world ranking for the past five years. In addition, step children must be at least 20 years younger than their step parent.
The finals are currently scheduled for October/November at a venue to be decided.

The organisers believe that this competition can become as popular as its American counterpart, where it has been going from strength to strength over the past few decades. Despite having some heritage, this year is being treated as a pilot scheme but hopefully the incentive of playing with one’s parent or child, against mutual opponents, will prove strong. No longer does the parent have to sit it out on the sidelines – he or she can show how it is done, or be guided by the offspring!

And you never know, the experience could well result in a child going on to greater things in the sport! In America, for example, John McEnroe had his first introduction to competition in a Father & Son tournament while David Lloyd took his first steps in a similar club event.

At the launch Roger Draper, LTA Chief Executive, commented: “The Family Championships offer a great chance for players of all ages and abilities to play competitively.

Henry Wancke, Editor of Tennis Today who returns as Tournament Director, added: “I am delighted to be given the chance of reviving a competition I have always believed in strongly and am looking forward to overseeing an event that promotes tennis as a healthy family pursuit.

“The Family Championships broadens the scope of competition at a time when encouraging competitive play is at the forefront of the LTA’s drive to create a winning culture in British tennis.”

Most children tend to follow in their parents footsteps when it comes to tennis so this is a great opportunity for parents to encourage further participation which will also help bridge generation gaps whilst spending quality time together with their children in what should be a fun experience. In tennis terms, it is a far reaching grass-roots programme based on the recreational side of the sport whilst also providing an opportunity to develop more competitive opportunities.

This article first appeared in the 2007 Jan Feb issue of Tennis Today.