Big tennis - little tennis (From Penarth Times)

Big tennis - little tennis

IT'S WEEK one in the Penarth Lawn Tennis Championships. The rain has fallen and so have some of the former champions, but the balls are flying thick and fast as the junior and senior championships head towards a climactic second week.

Day one and the juniors are off to a flying start. Even those who were unfortunate to have lost in the first round are making a determined effort to get to the finals of the various plate events.

Meanwhile, in the Ladies Championships, former champion Di Selley sustains an injury in the first round of the doubles.

As only a true champ could do, she plays on with partner Vanessa Parselle to clinch victory, but is forced to withdraw from the singles event.

Day two and the rain falls all day. Not much play and the contestants are forced to wait another day.

Day Three. The sun is out and so is another former champion. In an epic fight on Court One two former champions fight it out. One has to go. Which one will it be?

Steve Parselle (1983) and Giles Gray (1996/98), both with recurring tennis injuries that have forced them out of team tennis for much of the year, are locked in battle. It is the match of the first round and no-one is disappointed except Giles, who vows to come back and stake his claim on the title next year.

Day four and the courts are full once again. No major shocks today, but some of the juniors are really excited. Robert Booth, Chris Lewis, Matthew Sutton and Jacob Cozens are in the U-12 and U-14 Plate Finals and will all receive silverware for their efforts.

Day five and the tournament is in full swing. Ladies champion Alex Hennessey is on form again. Alex has won the championship nine times in the past 11 years, but that has not deterred the other ladies from entering.

Maybe inspired by the giantkillers at Wimbledon who saw off Sampras, Safin and Agassi in the first week, they all thought they would have a go but no-one has rocked her boat so far.

Day six and most of the junior finalists have been decided. Hannah Parry and Emily Scammell will contest the U-12s Girls, Rebecca Williams and Anna Symonds the U-18 Girls, Dominic Hughes and Tom Pegg the U-18s Boys and Max Locke and Rhys Elias the U-14s Boys.

The remaining junior events are in the closing stages with all to play for, so expect some exciting matches later this week.

Day seven and the end of the first week, despite the rain and a few remaining National Club League matches that had to be played this Saturday, July 20, starting at 2pm.

The Club, in Rectory Road, is proud to be associated with Sport Relief, the initiative of BBC/Comic Relief. Already several hundred pounds have been raised by the members from their efforts in the 24 hour Tennisathon and all this and more will be on its way to help some of the poor and needy children as seen in the TV show last week.

Well done to all those who helped to make the event a great success and please keep the money rolling in.