With the 2012 summer season drawing to a close, it was great to see 4 of Thongsbridge’s talented youngsters receiving invitations to the Summer Regional Tour Finals. The event sees the players who have performed best over the summer regional events from all over the country, being invited to compete against each other in this end of season finale.

The event was played in glorious September sunshine at the impressive Nottingham Tennis Centre for the older age groups, and the National Tennis Centre in Roehampton for the younger children.

And Thongsbridge were well represented across the age groups, with 2 players at each venue.

Oliver Vesely was in fine form in the under 9s, and had some fantastic wins, coming 2nd overall in a strong field, and only narrowly losing in an exciting final.

Barney Fitzpatrick continues to impress, and competed well in the under 10s. He had some great wins, and a couple of narrow defeats, and managed a respectable 6th place at the end of an exhausting weekend of tennis.

Andrew Atkinson, under 16s, was looking strong, and he too secured some excellent wins, with a couple of losses by the tightest of margins, coming 3rd.

Kim Atkinson also finished 3rd in the under 18s, with progress through the event sadly being hampered by a niggling injury problem.

It is testament to the superb performance programme at Thongsbridge, that the club produced 4 finalists across the age groups for this prestigious invitation only event, and as the programme continues to flourish, the winter season looks promising for the local juniors.

Oliver Vesely

Barney Fitzpatrick