Linkside Tennis Club hosts junior finals day with high quality matches on show aged Under-8 to Under-16

There were many notable performances at the Overton Drive club in Wanstead, none more impressive than that of Levi Lowe-Lennon, who took the boys 16 and under singles title, and 11-year-old Ivayla Mitkova, who not only won her own age group title but punched above her weight to triumph in the girls 14 and under singles competition too.

n School children were given the opportunity to try their hand at the sport as the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) set up a court at Lee Valley White Water Centre.

The LTA and Tennis Foundation, the UK’s leading tennis charity, are working with Lee Valley Regional Authority to turn the Paralympics’ wheelchair tennis venue at Eton Manor into the Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre, which is set to open in spring 2014.

To promote this, the LTA set up a court at the White Water Centre during a Lee Valley schools event to start building interest among the local communities within East London and plenty took the chance to pick up a racket and play tennis.

The LTA and Tennis Foundation have agreed to grant £500,000 for the building costs of the venue which will include four indoor courts, six all-weather outdoor floodlit courts and two hockey pitches.

Alissa Ayling, LTA tennis development manager for East London, said: “It was great to be involved in the Lee Valley schools event as it was a great platform to introduce some informal tennis to young people from the area.

“We thought the day would be good for getting the message across that this centre has an inclusive, affordable and open approach in regards to attracting people into the sport.

“The facility is very exciting and will create opportunities for sections of the community to easily participate in tennis and hopefully play regularly.”

For more information on the upcoming Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre visit www.visitleevalley.org.uk/en/content/cms/london2012/lee-valley-hockey-tennis/#lvtennis.