Four talented Wimmera youth enjoyed an opportunity to represent the region at a prestigious tournament at Kooyong Tennis Club at the weekend. 

Harry Allan, Eli Bailey, Adele Joseph and Emma Streeter represented the region at the Alicia Molik Cup after winning selection to a 12 and under team. The Wimmera outfit finished 10th out of 15 teams competing at the Melbourne venue. 

Wimmera Regional Tennis events co-ordinator Sandra Casey said the result was ‘an awesome effort’. 

“The kids did very well,” she said. 

“Their team manager said the kids all enjoyed the experience and it was a lot of fun.

“They did well, too, winning some matches. It’s only onward and upward for these players. There are bigger things to come.”

On Sunday, 40 juniors contested their first regional tournament of the season, at Central Park Tennis Club in Horsham.

“The juniors all played singles. They embraced the change in format, which aligns with Tennis Australia ranking events, and gave singles a red-hot go,” Mrs Casey said. 

“It was a co-ed event and in a round-robin format with players of similar standard. That proved pretty successful based on the length of some of the matches.”

Tournament pool winners were: 15-plus, Aiden Richardson; 14A, Cielo Demaria O’Sullivan; 14B, Tara McIntyre; 14C, Luke Johns; 12A, Eve Wear; 12B, Jack Reading; 12C, Karter Nitschke; 10A, Nicholas Gillespie; 10B, Archer Reading. 

The next regional tournaments will be in Stawell on February 5 and Horsham Lawn on February 19.

“Tournaments will conclude with an event in Warracknabeal on March 5. Formats are yet to be determined but doubles will be back,” Mrs Casey said. 

– Sarah Matthews

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