By Mrs Scott, PE 

Keen tennis players in Years 7-9 were invited to participate in the first stage of the Road to Wimbledon Tournament – the official title being the National 14 and Under Challenge 2021. Each year group had a separate competition, to allow more competitors to participate and to maintain our Covid bubbles!

The format was a round robin singles tournament, where every point won counted towards the final total. This was a fun event, so although matches were fiercely contested, it was played with good humour and a sense of camaraderie, with players not on court assisting with umpiring and scoring. Incredibly, the rain held off, the thunderstorms abated, and all competitions were completed.

Each participant will receive a certificate to commemorate the occasion, and the overall winner was presented with a medal on finals day. 

The Finals Day involved a round robin between the winner of each year group.

Final results:

1st  Zahara H Year 8

2nd  Hannah K Year 9

3rd Sophia DJ Year 7

The runners up from each year group also played a round robin to decide their overall placings. 

Runner up results:

4th Emmeline L Year 8

5th Nico M Year 7

6th Ellie C Year 9

Thank you to Beatrice C and Maanvi K for officiating this event. 

Zahara now goes through to the Middlesex County Round on 10th and 11th July at Elmwood and South Hampstead Tennis Club, although it is possible that some of the runners up may also be invited, so fingers crossed that NHEHS may have more than one representative. 

Winners at this stage will be invited to play at Wimbledon in August- a prestigious prize which includes playing on the grass courts,  and the chance to experience the magic of Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Club. 

Well done to everyone who took part, and hopefully you will all be inspired to play as much tennis as you can, both in and out of school during the summer.