AFTER a wet start to the new tennis season, the weather turned hot and sunny to provide a perfect morning for Rogate Tennis Club’s under-tens red ball tournament.

This is part of the national Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) Quorn Family Tennis Cup, which provides families with the opportunity to play tennis in a fun, local competition using low bouncing red balls and mini rackets and nets.

Open to members and non-members, this year 23 children and adult pairs from 15 families took part, watched by an enthusiastic crowd of siblings, parents and friends.

The four mini courts were kept busy all morning as the organisers wrestled with the complications of a scoring system involving four separate age groups. A bouncy castle and barbecue kept everyone refuelled and lots of competitive tennis was played by all ages.

Three winners emerged and Andy Robertson, the club’s oldest member, presented the prizes.

The overall winner was Emily Freya Pearce, playing with her father, Grant, and they will now get the chance to go to one of LTA’s summer tournaments, probably at Eastbourne, to play other local winners and to watch the professionals in action.

The runner-up was James Palfrey, playing with his mother, Fi.

The winner of the six years old age group was Archie Strike, playing with father, Pete.

For more information on Rogate Tennis Club visit www.sites.google.com/site/rogatetennisclub