THE world may be a small place but in a time of frightening technology and communication, people can still disappear from the radar.
Tennis and its satellite world can be guiltier than most as players spread their wings. County coaches with more than one eye and resources full on the local scene, often lose touch with the travellers.
So while Birmingham might not quite be Timbuktu, credit must be offered to Northants player Evie Harrison who makes her farewell appearance at this weekend’s 18U national championships in Group 5A at Sunderland.
The 18-year-old ex-Dallington and Corby player is having the time of her life in a first year of studying sports science less than an hour’s drive away.
Yet while many within the county nerve centre believed her rackets were gathering dust in the attic, Harrison is actually training and playing more than ever and enjoying every minute.
“Evie was very pleased to get into Birmingham’s first university team (of two) and if they win their last match at Oxford they get promoted into the Premier League,” explained her mum Kerry.
Harrison, who has a 7.2 rating, has teamed up with Leicestershire player Victoria Amos whose dad Gordon coached at Market Harborough and is well known around the local circuit.
The ironies do not end there, as a recent clash of Northants players saw her face Peterhouse College and Cambridge University student Sophie Walker over the net.
“Evie rang James (Haley) as she felt she was playing well, to see if there was any chance of getting involved with the 18U championships and is delighted to be involved as the team looks very strong,” added her mum.
Both Northants’ boys and girls will be competing at Sunderland when a party of one type or another is guaranteed as it is Abigail Clifford’s 17th birthday on Thursday, when they travel up to Tyne & Wear.
The girls’ squad consists of: Rachel Kings, Jemima Potter, Alice Johns, Kate Clayson, Lauren Phillips, Lucy Horbatowski, Harrison and Clifford. They will face Hereford & Worcestershire, East of Scotland and Northumberland. East of Scotland could include former Northants junior Ellie Burns.
Coach Haley said: “We have all our highest-rated players competing (Kings at 4.2 is the highest) and this is the first time I can remember this happening for a while.
“Our first aim is to be competitive and stay up, as East of Scotland in particular could be very strong.
“However, past experience has told us you can never be sure exactly who will turn up.”
The boys squad, under Mark Taylor, has a robust look at the top end with Shakeel Manji joined by Jack Haworth, Joe Tyler and Lloyd Read while Arthur Eyles and James Cole are also on board in Group 4A where Leicestershire, Oxfordshire and East of Scotland will be facing them across the court.
Sunderland seems a long way to travel to meet two of your neighbours but then it is a small world!
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