D’Arcy Slater women in tennis tournament: Mid West kids compete at ‘marquee regional junior event of the year’

A group of 24 kids from Geraldton and the Mid West made the trip down south recently to participate in the D’Arcy Slater and Women in Tennis Tournament. The four-day tournament — which has been running for more than 20 years — was held at the Bunbury Tennis Club and was a great opportunity for Mid West tennis juniors, who have been training hard to represent the region in the competition. The local players were among the more than 150 of the best junior tennis players from around WA’s regions to attend the tournament After an opening ceremony on Saturday, October 25 in which they mingled with the other country kids, they then hit the courts the following morning, with matches running through to finals on Wednesday October 29. The Mid West contingent was made up of three girls’ teams and one boys’ team across the divisions. Eight Mid West players made finals in the singles event, with Chloe Gough of Tarcoola Tennis Club making the grand final in the division five girls’ singles. Team manager Alana Miles said the Mid West players were “extremely competitive, especially against kids that are at State levels” “They held their own and just made us extremely proud, it was a huge event for us,” she said. The tournament was dubbed the “marquee regional junior event of the year” by Tennis West event co-ordinator Brad Ladyman. “Tennis West really appreciate all the hard work of the regional coaching providers, clubs, players and parents that make the event such a memorable experience,” he said. The D’Arcy Slater Foundation was formed in memory of the 13-year-old who drowned in the Helena River in 1991, with its support honouring the Goomalling Tennis Club junior’s love of playing in regional tournaments, while the Women in Tennis Foundation supports female players around the State.