Private School News

School serves up tennis treat

Pupils, staff and parents at Mount St Mary’s College got into the Wimbledon spirit by taking part in their very own version of the tennis tournament.

They gathered at the Derbyshire school for a Wimbledon Sunday competition, which featured a series of fixtures including mixed American doubles in rounds followed by semi-finals and finals.

Organised by the Mount St Mary’s Parents’ Association, there were prizes for juniors, seniors and the fastest serve.

Junior coaching was also organised by Pete Leadbetter from Beauchief Tennis Club and money raised on the day will be used to support other activities in school.

Diane Burkinshaw, Chair of the Parents’ Association at Mount St Mary’s College, said: “The tournament was great fun and fantastic way to encourage pupils, staff and parents to pick up a racket and get into the summer tennis spirit.

“It was also really competitive and there was lots of friendly rivalry for the fastest serve title! One of the semi-finals even lasted an hour, showing the skill and determination of the pairs.”

An enthralling final saw parent Ian Appleyard and school boarder Virginia Faixat, from Spain, beat Mount St Mary’s head of boarding Mr Wessel Du Randt and Winnie Yeung, from Doncaster.

Virginia also won the fastest serve competition, while fellow boarders Joaquim Llimona took the junior male fastest serve title and Max Hassler won the prize for the fastest senior male serve.

Parent Mrs Tara Thompson, from Spinkhill, won the senior female fastest serve.