Following their success on local and regional levels, two Senior Tennis teams headed off recently to the Bolton Arena to play in the Aegon Team Tennis Schools Senior Students National Finals

At the national final only eight teams qualify for each event and in both the Senior Schools Girls and Mixed teams were seeded No.2.

In the Girls team were Captain, Joanne Bowen in Year 12, Hannah Clarke in Year 11 and Year 13 twins, Patricia Lieberoth-Leden and Christina Lieberoth-Leden. The Girls team were drawn initially against Colston School who they beat 6-0, Sevenoaks School, who they also beat 6-0 and then Boston Grammar. This third game was more challenging but it ended with a 4-2 victory for Ellesmere College Girls team. In the other group of schools, Queeswood School won, so that, as predicted by the LTA, the Ellesmere College team met them in the final.

Nikki Hoy, Director of the Tennis Academy explained, In ratings Queenswood School were seeded to beat us but the determination of our team brought us the national title with a 5-1 victory. We are all so proud of our Girls team and congratulate Joanne, Hannah, Patricia, Christina and reserve Sarah Bartels who all gave everything over the two days.

With this win under their belts, Joanne Bowen and Hannah Clarke then joined Year 12 students, Christian Cieslik and Constantin Louven to play in the Mixed Doubles competition. Their first game was against New Hall School which the Ellesmere College team won 3-1. Then followed 3 further games, against Wyggeston Girls Grammer School, Queen Elizabeth I College and Strathallan School. In the other group of schools, Culford School were seeded No 1 and again we were expected to meet them in the final.

This proved to be the most exciting match of the weekend ending in a tiebreak where Ellesmere narrowly lost  10-7 to Culford School, who took the title by just three points.

Nikki Hoy added, The Schools Mixed team of Joanne, Hannah, Christian and Constantin are all very talented players who know they will return next year and win this competition too. Anyone at the National Senior Schools Competition could not fail to feel the unique atmosphere that Team Tennis brings to a schools competition.

24th March 2011  Back to News