On Thursday, 27th April a team of four represented Gisburn in the Yrs. 3 & 4 inter-schools mini tennis tournament held at the Ribble Valley indoor tennis centre, Clitheroe.
With three of last year’s tournament winning team remaining eligible for this year’s competition we knew we had a good chance but, as defending champions, the pressure was on!
14 teams took part in the tournament and matches comprised four games of singles. Gisburn were drawn in a very hard group, alongside tournament favourites Pendle, St Leonard’s, Langho and Oakhill B. Having beaten Oakhill B 3-1 and emerged 3-1 victors from a tussle with St Leonards it was on to Pendle in a match to decide group winners. Wins by our number one boy and girl gave us a 2-0 advantage before our number two boy edged a victory over his strong Pendle opponent, to put Gisburn into the semi-finals. In the semis we played Salesbury A and more great play saw another win for Gisburn to reach the final. Waiting for us in the final was Pendle, who had qualified for the semis as ‘lucky losers’ and had come through. Gisburn scored an emphatic 3-1 victory to win the tournament for the second successive year.
The team then represented Ribble Valley district at the Lancashire Games in Blackpool in early July.
Many thanks to Cathy Holmes for once again helping with the team and to FOGS for purchase of a net for practice.
Biggest thanks of all to the team for devotedly practicing outside throughout the winter term in all weathers (without complaint) and for playing superbly on tournament day!
Well done Team Gisburn!