It’s that time of year when I become hopelessly unproductive for two weeks. The Wimbledon Tennis Championships have started!
I certainly can’t be described as a big fan of watching sport, but tennis is the exception. Every year, the last week in June and the first week in July have me in a frenzy of excitement, as I try to juggle work and family commitments so I can watch as much tennis as possible.
I’ve always loved tennis. My mum got me hooked as a child; when Wimbledon was on, she’d have me sprinting home from school so she could carry on watching the coverage. Her enthusiasm was infectious, and sharing the excitement of epic matches between Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe with her is a really lovely childhood memory for me.
I played tennis at school, and would spend many an evening at the courts with my best friend. We even did a sponsored tennis-athon dressed as clowns! I’ve encouraged my kids to have tennis lessons too; as well as being a fun, healthy hobby, I think it offers many skills which they can use elsewhere in life, like independence, self-control and being a good sport.
Great British Tennis Weekend – Lewisham – May ’15
I’ve enjoyed live tennis in my home city of Nottingham, and also at Queens and Wimbledon; next time I get lucky in the Wimbledon ticket draw I’d love to take my mum with me. I can’t wait to take my kids to a live event too; it’s such a fantastic experience and the atmosphere is very family-friendly.
Tennis is a great game to play as a family too, as the grown-ups can help even out any age and ability differences. We often head down to our local courts for a family knock-about; I love the fact that, no matter what your ability, you can always pick up a racquet and have a go.
To encourage families to give tennis a try, the Lawn Tennis Association have organised the Great British Tennis Weekend. On Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th July, you can try tennis for free at thousands of events across the UK.
There are sessions available to suit all ages: Highland Spring mini tennis, family time, free play, cardio tennis and more. You don’t even need a racket or balls, as all equipment is provided.
It’s really easy to book a free Great British Tennis Weekend session; you just pop your postcode into the ClubSpark website, and it shows you all the events happening at your local clubs. We’ve booked a Family Time session for all of us, and a Tennis All Stars session for the kids. I can’t wait!
Great British Tennis Weekend, Florence Park, Oxford. Aug ’13
The Great British Tennis Weekend is taking place on 16th & 17th July. To find your local events and book sessions visit the ClubSpark website. Will you be giving tennis a try at this fun family event?
I’m working with the Lawn Tennis Association on their #GBTW campaign. Sign up for your FREE tennis activity here.
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