Rowntree Park Tennis Club hosts free coaching for girls

Rowntree Park Tennis club wants to make the sport more accessible to all children, regardless of their background, and encourage the next generation of Wimbledon stars.

Volunteers from the club joined coach Jill Le Pla as about 45 girls, aged 11 to 14, from All Saints, Millthorpe and Fulford schools stepped onto the courts.

Rowntree Park Club volunteers who helped on the day when a number of secondary schools were invited to take part in a tennis competition. (Image: Submitted) The event was free in a bid to help break down any financial and social barriers that might prevent youngsters from trying out tennis which is often only possible when families can afford court hire, membership and equipment.

All Saints School pupils taking part in the tennis competition at Rowntree Park (Image: Submitted)The club is hosting another group of nine and ten-year-old girls tomorrow, Friday 4 July, from Westfield, Hob Moor and Badger Hill primary schools.

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The club was particularly keen to encourage girls as they often become less involved in sport after leaving primary school.

Rowntree Park Tennis Club is also offering two hours of free, supervised tennis to boys and girls, aged 10 to 14, every Thursday, from 4pm to 6pm, until the end of August.

Fulford School’s tennis players won the competition. (Image: Submitted) Club secretary Ian Bews said the Fulford players won the competition which also aimed to promote the benefits of exercise and making new friends through sport.

Budding tennis players from Millthorpe School threw themselves into the sporting spirit of the event.  (Image: Submitted) The club secured a grant from the Lawn Tennis Association to cover the coaching costs, and has also purchased rackets and balls for the children to use.

The club leases the six tennis courts in Rowntree Park from City of York Council and has full responsibility for their maintenance. Three courts are available for the public to hire, and the other three are for exclusive use by the 200 club members.

For information about the Thursday sessions, visit the club website or email Jill Le Pla at [email protected]