WITH Wimbledon over for another year, 220 Year Four school pupils from the Weymouth area got to take their first steps on the road to SW19 as part of a festival at Weymouth Tennis Club.

Arranged by the West Dorset School Sport Partnership in conjunction with Wey Valley School & Sports College and the club, the festival provided ace youngsters with a smashing time.

Children from Bincombe Valley, St John’s, Radipole, St Andrew’s and St Nicholas & St Laurence Primary Schools, as well as Wyvern Special School, took to the court during Wimbledon fortnight to hone their skills and dream of one day joining Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Andy Murray on Centre Court.

The festival was organised and run by 38 Year Nine and 10 Wey Valley BTEC Sports Leaders as part of their BTEC Sport course.

Prior to the festival, the sports leaders had several lessons developing their leadership skills, including sessions with Weymouth Tennis coach Julien Lawes.

The purpose of the festival is to provide the Wey Valley Sports Leaders with an opportunity to develop their leadership skills, confidence and event organisation within a club setting.

It also enabled the primary school pupils to celebrate the skills they have developed during their tennis coaching and to have a chance to visit their local tennis club.

The festival aims to forge links between the local schools and the Weymouth Tennis Club and encourage more youngsters to play tennis and join the club as junior members.

Although it was a very hot day all the Year Four pupils got into the Wimbledon spirit and worked extremely hard to show off their skills in style.

All pupils went away with a certificate of participation and the Year Nine and 10 sports leaders were asked to present a sticker to a pupil they thought had worked exceptionally hard.

The partnership wishes to say a big thank you to Weymouth Lawn Tennis Club for providing the facilities free of charge.