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New under-eight tennis champion of Cumbria
 September 4 – Workington boy Danny Barnes is the new Cumbria U8 boys’ tennis
champion.
After winning through the early group stages
Danny continued his fine run of form by making it to the final where he
overcame a spirited challenge from Carlisle’s James Hale.
The event, at Chatsworth Tennis Club in Carlisle,
attracted 15 of the finest young players from all over Cumbria including West
Cumbrians Harrison Savage, Shane Paden Gale and Jake Armstrong, who are all
from Maryport.
Martin
Hutton, Times & Star
 Duns
youngsters retain tennis title
September 2 –
Last Saturday saw the annual Helen Proudfoot Under 16 mixed pairs tennis
competition at Peebles, where Duns pair Lisa Kerr and Andrew McQuarrie
retained the title for a second year.
Some excellent tennis was played to a very high standard
throughout the afternoon. Lisa and Andrew came through five round robin
matches undefeated to reach the final.
In a very close and exciting final, Lisa and Andrew became mixed doubles
champions, beating Lewis Armstrong and Ailsa Jackson who were representing St
Boswells, 7.5.
Lisa and Andrew are only the second pair to retain the Helen Proudfoot
trophy, which has been played for since 1973.
By Kirsty Smyth, Berwickshire News
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Tennis prodigy stars at national
championships
 August 28 –
Tennis prodigy Freya Christie, of Hucknall, has underlined her talent again
by finishing runner-up in the national junior championships.
The 11-year-old, of Beardall Street, was seeded
two for the prestigious, Aegon-sponsored tournament for 12-year-olds and
under at the West Hampshire Club in Bournemouth.
And she duly reached the final before coming unstuck against her doubles
partner, Lana Rush.
In a keenly-contested first set, both players held their nerve until Christie
was broken in the 12th game to lose 7-5. Sadly she couldn't recover and lost
the second set 6-0.
After the match, Freya admitted she didn't play as well as she could.
"I'm happy to have got to the final," said Freya, who has ambitions
of playing at Wimbledon one day.
"It was quite funny playing my doubles partner. But if I was going to
lose to anyone, then I would much rather lose to her because she is a good
friend.
"She was just better on the day. I'm really proud to have got this
far."
Freya won four matches to reach the final, kicking off with a First Round
victory over Oxford's Patricia Valimaa 6-4 6-0.
In the Second Round, she outclassed Elaine Whittaker, of Cornwall, 6-0 6-1
and then didn't concede a game in her quarter-final 6-0 6-0 win over Avon's
Alice Snart. She booked her place in the final with a 6-4 6-3 win over Maia
Lumsden, of West Scotland.
Despite her disappointment in the final, Freya did lift some silverware at
the tournament.
For she teamed up with Rush to take the under-12s' doubles title. And her
success was particularly poignant after losing her father, who died in June.
Freya has now set her sights on taking part in one of the world's most
prestigious junior tournaments, the Orange Bowl in Florida, USA.
The tournament brings together the best young players in the world. But to make
it, Freya needs to secure sponsorship.
Anyone willing to lend a hand should contact her mum, Carol Bloomer, on 07967
439295
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Teenager enjoys
success
 August 28 – Teenage tennis star
Alexander Havercroft has enjoyed a number of successes in recent weeks.
The 14-year-old, who started playing the game at the
tender age of six, won the Boy's Under 14 singles at the Eastern Tennis
Academy Open Championships, where he was also runner-up in the Under 16
section.
He followed this success by entering the Hunstanton Tennis Tournament last
week, where he eventually met James Neidemier in a closely-fought Under 14
final, to win 7-6 6-2.
Hot on the heels of his singles win, he secured the runner-up spot in the
Under 14 Boys' Doubles with Tom Hinks before winning the Under 14 Mixed
Doubles with his partner Honor De Winton.
The youngster, a member of West Norfolk Tennis Club, has also represented the
county in the Under 10, 12 and 14 age groups and is coached by Bob
Havercroft, LTA licenced coach, at the Premier Racquets tennis centre, at
Sedgeford.
Havercroft travels weekly to the Esporta Tennis Club in Norwich for squad and
individual coaching by county performance coach Stuart Sylvester and is due
to compete in the Grade three Norfolk Closed competition in Norwich this
week.
Other West Norfolk Tennis Club members also had a fine week at Hunstanton.
Leanne Skinner, playing with Rachel Hodgkinson, won the Junior Veterans
Ladies Doubles. This is the third time they have won the event.
Stan Roffe, having already reached the later stages in tournaments at
Swansea, Jersey and Framlingham this summer, was runner-up in the Boy's
Singles 16 and under.
West Norfolk Tennis Club is holding its annual junior tournament on
Wednesday, September 2.
There are still places available to any young players interested. Please
contact Mike Hadfield on 01553 631430 to enter.
While the grass court season will shortly end, the club, based in North
Runcton, also has two hard courts available to members throughout the year.
Applications from prospective new members are welcomed at any time of the
year. Please contact Mike Hadfield for an application form
Lynn News
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