Students take to the court for team tennis day

By Matthew Kappos

Apr 2, 2024

All action: Echuca South netball courts were packed with primary school students battling to qualify for regionals. Photo by Aidan Briggs

Schools across Campaspe Shire have taken part in a team tennis day at Echuca South netball courts.

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The event saw more than 270 students compete in teams of eight, battling to represent Campaspe at the regional team tennis event in Swan Hill, to be held in October.

Students from Kyabram P-12 and St Augustine’s schools took part in the day, with St Augustine’s claiming third place in the girls championship division.

St Augustine’s finished fifth in the boys/mixed championship division while Kyabram P-12 came sixth.

Tongala Primary School won the girls’ category and St Mary’s won the boys’/mixed championship.

In the other divisions, St Augustine’s won Pool C.

Games in the team tournament were played on modified ‘Hot Shots’ courts, which are a quarter of the usual size, with the format to replace traditional full-court tennis completely from next year.

“There are Hot Shot rackets and Hot Shot balls, so the balls and the rackets and the nets are all modified, and this is going to be the way forward for school sport tennis,” Campaspe division co-ordinator Rob Morris said.

“This is going to replace normal tennis in the future.”

Morris said the format allowed for more kids and schools to take part in primary school tennis.

“We had finals last week, trials for the yellow ball down at the lawn courts, and we had 12 girls and 12 boys,” he said.

“Because you only need eight (players), schools like Elmore and the little rural places can come, so it gives them an opportunity to join in and be a part of it.”