Tiger spirit will be embraced by Northants 10U boys this winter when they represent the county in regional events.
The girls meanwhile, will be sticking their necks out, and battling for success on court.
A fresh sponsorship initiative by Rushden company Ravensden plc which is worth £5,000 in total, saw Northants 10U mini players presented with smart new hooded tops before the opening round of matches on Saturday of the winter-long 12 Counties tournament, which will all be staged at the Corby Tennis Centre.
Sue Pape, a long time supporter of the Northamptonshire tennis scene, was on hand to present the tops and also T-shirts which had tiger (for boys) and giraffe (for girls) motifs as well as the Ravensden plc logo, testifying to the company’s business in dealing with theme toys for the leisure, wholesale and promotional market. The whole deal will be part of an overall package to county tennis worth £5,000.
Mrs Pape said: “Ravensden is thrilled to be involved with this initiative and the whole company is behind us.”
Northants came third in both boys and girls categories on the day, although there was some heartening success en route to that result.
Both Elita Silins and Abigail Pearce managed two wins each, with the former defeating Sarah Skaria from Essex as well as Anisha Sood from Leicestershire while Pearce was successful against Natalya Ogunwale from Bedfordshire and Eleanor Shaw from Leicestershire.
Emily York beat Evie Lester while in the boys’ competition there were single wins for Sam Ball, Max Graham and Harry Collins, all against opposition from Bedfordshire.”
JUNE 30 DEADLINE SET AT AGM
Monday night’s AGM of the Wilson’s Northampton League saw the only rule proposal submitted on the night, unanimously passed. Clubs will now have to play all internal matches by June 30 at the latest, irrespective of any weather conditions from mid-April.
The League’s flagship section, Men’s Division One, looks like losing one of its principle players in 2013 with Rushmere only entering two men’s teams next summer. On current evidence it appears likely the club’s A team will be performing further down the pecking order than present, due to several leading players either quitting the sport, or jumping ship...
However, on a more upbeat note for Rushmere, Northampton based coach Scott Fleming is poised to take a hand in the club’s recruitment drive and can be contacted on 07931 778099.
The League may look like starting 2013 with just 21 clubs following the withdrawal of Kilsby and Scaldwell in the last 12 months, but there are several inspirational angles to the whole business.
Not least the challenge faced by Wollaston men in adapting to life in the top flight, while the blossoming circuit at Duston United will see them enter no fewer than seven league teams in 2013, on a par with County and Dallington and just one less than Northampton.
The Mendip Road base hosted Monday night’s meeting when it confirmed its current reputation as a well-oiled and efficient concern.
While division sizes are yet to be finalised for next year a poll among clubs has revealed 12 to be the optimum figure.
Meanwhile, League chairman Barry Searle went on record as thanking retiring Fixtures’ Secretary Brian Tunbridge for his huge contribution, after nine years service in this role.
Searle remarked: “I said 12 months ago that with his work with the fixtures and the web-site Brian was the only person on the committee who was indispensible. These words have now come back to haunt me.”
PLENTY GOING ON AT ABINGTON LTC
Abington LTC may focus business chiefly on grass court tennis during the summer, but its winter months are by no means idle.
The busy social network within the Abington committee is planning a Games Night on Saturday January 26 and an evening of greyhound racing (full details to be arranged) as well as an inter-club quiz also to be held at the Abington Bowls Club premises on Park Avenue South on March 16 next year.
Anyone interested in finding out more can contact dom_dodger@yahoo.co.uk or by calling/texting 07590 203048.
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