This is the biggest opportunity for children to play against one another in the area.
- Scott Eulenstein
Tennis participation was the biggest winner of the Todd Woodbridge Cup held at the Hume Tennis Centre on Wednesday, September 11.
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Some 96 students from Yass, Dalton, Bowning, Wee Jasper, Gunning, Bongongo Public and Mount Carmel School were involved.
The tennis tournament, which is named after former Australian professional tennis player Todd Woodbridge, is a gala day and competition for students from years three and four.
It is the largest school-based competition in NSW with over 5000 participants.
"This is the biggest opportunity for children to play against one another in the area," co-organiser Scott Eulenstein from Spinifex said.
Eulenstein said the day went really well and participation numbers were high.
"We had fantastic numbers in terms of participation, excellent sportsmanship and great camaraderie between our regional schools," Eulenstein said.
"We look at students who are new to the sport and provide an opportunity for kids to get out and gain some skills and experience that may not have been available in the past.
"We want to encourage local schools to link up with the local tennis club and to join in some coaching programs throughout the year.
"In the first year, year three and four students from Jugiong played and went onto play in Sydney on the Centre Court.
"Some of the children had never been to Sydney.
"It's good to get regional schools in and provide a pathway."
The schools formed teams of four boys and four girls and at the end of the day, the Yass Public School team won the overall final.
The Mount Carmel school team followed closely in second as the two schools were pretty evenly matched.
Brittney Hughes from Tennis ACT said the event was "an awesome pathway for children to be able to go onto play in Sydney."
"It's breaking down the stigma of tennis being an individual sport.
"It's also teaching the children respect as they shake hands with their partner and each other at the end."
Both Yass Public School and Mount Carmel School qualified for the regional finals which will be played at the Murrumbateman Tennis Club later this year.
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