District Park to Come to Life with Todd Woodbridge Cup and Regional State League Finals
Newcastle’s District Park Tennis Centre will come to life this Friday to Sunday as it hosts the State’s largest single-day Todd Woodbridge Cup event, followed by the New South Wales Regional State League Finals.
Schools set to have a ball at Todd Woodbridge Cup school tennis competition
Students from Primary Schools around Newcastle and the Hunter are preparing to put their tennis skills to the test as they take part in the Todd Woodbridge Cup school tennis competition to be held on Friday 18 August at District Park Tennis Centre in Broadmeadow, in what is the State’s largest single-day zone event. Approximately 300 students from grades 3 to 6 will take part in the modified Tennis Hot Shots program which aims to provide more opportunities for children to pick up a racquet and play.
Designed to provide a pathway for students to participate in inter school sport, the Todd Woodbridge Cup provides the opportunity for students of all abilities to play with their school friends and meet other students from surrounding schools. For many, this may be their first experience representing their school.
“There is more to tennis than just what happens on the court; The Tennis Hot Shots program and schools initiatives are a great opportunity to meet students from other schools, to help foster their social and emotional development and to teach young people the importance of sport and physical education in their lives” Darren Simpson– CEO Tennis NSW.
With a round robin style draw, the schools play doubles matches with simple scoring and time keeping ensuring all students are actively able to participate on the day. While the focus is on sportsmanship and camaraderie, schools have the opportunity to progress to regional playoff events and ultimately to the State Final in Sydney this November.
The Todd Woodbridge Cup school tennis competition is an important piece of the pathway for NSW Primary Schools Sports Association (NSWPSSA).
Jonathan Russel, the NSWPSSA Tennis Convener said, “We look forward to working in conjunction with Tennis NSW well into the future to help propel the number of students participating in grassroots sport and fostering a love for the sport of tennis.”
What: Todd Woodbridge Cup – Newcastle Zone Event
Where: District Park Tennis Centre – Cnr Lambton Rd & Curley Rd Broadmeadow
When: Friday 18 August, 9:00am – 2:00pm (approx.)
State’s top country talent in town for Regional State League Finals
District Park will this weekend play host to Regional NSW’s rising talent, with the Tennis NSW Regional State League Finals taking place on Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th August.
Players will be representing their region across three age groups – 11 & under; 13 & under; and 15 & under. The Regional State League Finals brings together teams from six regional areas – Northumberland (Newcastle/Hunter/Central Coast); North East; North West; Central West; South East and South West.
With regions having so far played events in Parkes & Ulladulla (South Region) and Inverell & Grafton (North Region), the finals will pit all six teams together for the first time in order to crown an overall winner.
Northumberland’s Team Manager and former professional Trudi Musgrave-Edwards says “Northumberland were overall winners in Inverell and were also overall winners in an extremely close final in Grafton. We are hoping to continue our good form into the finals and will be trying our best to finish on top in front of our home supporters”.
The Northumberland Team:
11 & Under Boys
Mitchell Coventry-Searle (Tuggerah)
Caleb Gwinnell-Sheather (Gwandalan)
13 & Under Boys
Veljko Maksimovic (Speers Point)
Jack Smith (Caves Beach)
15 & Under Boys
Flynn Coventry-Searle (Tuggerah)
Ben Whelan (Phoenix Park)
11 & Under Girls
Emily Liang (Wahroonga)
Matisse McLeaod (Singleton)
13 & Under Girls
Kira Slomka (Merewether)
Rachel Jenkins (Girvan)
15 & Under Girls
Jessica Kelly (Nords Wharf)
Bridget Broome (Kincumber)
Tuggerah’s Flynn Coventry-Searle is one of the region’s top rising stars, having represented NSW in a second-place performance at the 2023 Australian Teams Championships in June. He is also a member of Tennis Australia’s National Development Squad.
What: Tennis NSW Regional State League Finals
Where: District Park Tennis Centre – Cnr Lambton Rd & Curley Rd Broadmeadow
When: Saturday 19 August – Sunday 20 August 2023
