Australia’s leading junior tennis players will compete at the Toowoomba Regional Tennis Courts in style at the School Sport Australia National Championships.
Darling Downs School Sport will host the School Sport Australia 19 Years & Under National School Tennis Championships in Toowoomba from Sunday 29 April – Saturday 5 May.
Seven teams from representing states of Australia made up of 8 male and 8 female players will do battle in the School Sport Australia Pizzey Cup and Tennis Australia National Junior Championships at the new Toowoomba Regional Tennis Centre at the USQ, and Toowoomba Grammar School Courts. The championships are run as a joint championship between Tennis Australia and School Sport Australia and will see competition play in the single championships and team events over 7 days.
These Championships have been running for 49 years in its current format and have seen Pat Rafter, Roy Emmerson and Rod Laver represent their state. Which future stars will be on show during the week of the Championships?
The defending champions New South Wales will be challenged by a strong Queensland team which will be led in the boys draw by local players Mark Richards (Concordia Lutheran College) and Madison Simmons (Toowoomba Grammar School).
Play will commence each day at 8.30 a.m. with the team events followed by the singles championships at 12.00 noon. The finals will be played at the Tennis Centre on Saturday afternoon 5 May. This is the first time these championships have been played in Toowoomba with the new complex allowing the event to be held in the City.
Not to be outdone the future of Queensland Rugby League will be on show at the Queensland School Sport 15 Years & Under Rugby League Championships being held in the same week at the Clive Berghofer Stadium (Athletic Oval).
Twelve teams from across all regions around the State will descend onto the oval on Thursday 3 May and will play for four days with the final being played at 12.30 p.m. on Sunday 6 May. This championship will see the future Queensland Rugby League players battle over the four days to be named as State Champions and be selected in the Queensland Maroon & White Teams to compete in Darwin in August.
Many current NRL and Queensland players have been present in previous championships – Darren Lockyer, Steven Price, Andrew McCullough, David Taylor, Greg Inglis and Jonathon Thurston have all played in these championships. See who will be playing in the NRL in a few years time!
Games will commence each day at 9.00 a.m.
The Darling Downs team plays the strong Northern Region (NQ) in the first game on Thursday morning. The team is hoping for a strong showing in their game to ensure they progress to the top championship round on day 2.
Darling Downs School Sport is looking forward to hosting these championships in a very busy week.
Draw for the Tennis & RL Championships.
Regional trials for the 12 years rugby league and athletics with disabilities cross country trials will also be held during the week with local Downs students hoping to represent the region at their championships later in the year.
For further information please contact the Regional Sports Officer,
Wayne Beeston on 0419 731 493.
