International tennis came to the Cardiff suburbs when Rhiwbina Tennis Club hosted an ITF (International Tennis Federation) world seniors tour event.
The Yonex YCsports Welsh Seniors Open involved more than 60 players from Wales, England, Scotland, Hong Kong and New Zealand, in age groups 35, 45, 55, and 65, singles, doubles and mixed.
There were some very competitive matches, including the ladies 35+ singles, between Ellie Lewis and Ellen Jones, which turned into a three-set epic.
Winners from Wales were:
Singles:
Men 35 – Chris Gosling-Evans
Ladies 35 – Ellen Jones (Cardiff Met)
Women 45 – Robyn Dow (Cardiff)
Men 55 – Chris Hill (Abertillery)
Women 55 – Freda Emery (Dinas Powys)
Doubles:
Men 35 – Tom James (Rhiwbina TC) & Andrew Lumb (Radyr)
Ladies 35 – Carys Howard Rees (Abergavenny) & Ellen Jones (Cardiff Met)
Men 45 – Adriano Arpino (Llantrisant TC) & Craig Arbuckle (New Zealand)
Ladies 55 – Julie Collins & Freda Emery (Dinas Powys)
Mixed 35 – Richard Jones & Janine David (Bridgend)
Mixed 55 – Paul Williams (Rhiwbina) & Freda Emery (Dinas Powys).
Peter Drew, chief executive of Tennis Wales, which supported the event, said: “The ITF seniors tour provides a high level of competition which enables players to enjoy tennis for life.
“Rhiwbina Tennis Club did an excellent job in hosting the tournament, and we were pleased to give our support. It’s great news that it will be back next year.
“I hope it will inspire people of all ages to try tennis, whether for fun or competition – it really is a sport that can be played by everyone, especially with our new formats and venues.”
The tournament will be held again at the same time in 2017.
Information on all aspects of tennis in Wales is available from Tennis Wales at 029 20 463335 or www.lta.org.uk/in-your-area/Wales/ and for regular updates follow Tennis Wales on Twitter @tenniswales
Side Notes
1. Tennis Wales is the national governing body for tennis in Wales and works in partnership with Sport Wales, the Lawn Tennis Association, the Tennis Foundation, and Disability Sport Wales.
In 2012 Tennis Wales launched their 2020 Vision Plan to significantly grow tennis participation in Wales and to produce a nation of champions. Since that time club membership has grown by more than 2,000 to reach more than 15,000, the number of schools in Wales delivering tennis has doubled to 79%, and the number of school children taking part in the annual schools team event has doubled to nearly 5,000. Tennis Wales has also now implemented 4 ‘Disability Tennis Networks’ across Wales which have so far helped nearly 200 people with a disability to become a regular tennis player. Wales currently has four players who have a senior world ranking, and in 2015 Wales won 3 medals in tennis at the Commonwealth Youth Games in Samoa. Wales has 90 registered tennis clubs or venues and Tennis Wales aims to make tennis as affordable and accessible as possible to everyone across Wales.
For more information on tennis in Wales, visit http://www3.lta.org.uk/in-your-area/wales/
2. Need help finding your local tennis courts? visit http://www.lta.org.uk/play/
English