Tennis players compete for top honours | Taranaki Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Taranaki

TWENTY children representing rural schools competed for the prestigious Amy Smith and Don Walter tennis trophies on Monday, December 3. The tournament was held at Stratford High School, with players coming from Makahu, Toko, Midhirst, Ngaere, Rawhitiroa and Huiakama schools.

Callum Old from Makahu won the boys competition and was awarded the Amy Smith Barometer. Callum played great tennis throughout the day scoring a maximum 140 points, winning all of his matches. Second place went to Shane Jury, also from makahu with 126 points, followed closely by Connor Hobbs of Ngaere with 125 points.

Kelly Jury from Makahu won the girls title and the Don Walter Cup, with 84 points. Second equal with 72 points were Megan Collins from Huiakama and Connie Poletti from Makahu.

The tournament originated in Douglas in 1952, as a memorial to the late Amy Smith (nee Walter), a young mother of Douglas, a keen tennis player and ardent supporter of the sport.

The competition was formerly played between Douglas and surrounding schools (Matau, Tututawa, Huiroa, Makahu, Huiakama and Whangamomona) as both a doubles and singles tournament.

In recent years, other central Taranaki rural schools (Ngaere, Midhirst, Pembroke and Rawhitiroa) have joined the tournament, with the format being changed to singles play.

The annual eastern districts primary schools tennis tournament committee would like to thank Stratford New World for generously donating juice, fruit and chocolate bars for each competitor.