Ivybridge Tennis Academy, the coaching arm of Ivybridge Tennis Club has once again been on tour to Penzance.

It is an annual event and this year 31 juniors from the Academy competed in the Grade three Open Tournament, facing tough competition from players all over the country.

There was a difficult start to the week with torrential rain on the first day but play continued regardless!

The weather then improved rapidly with a fine week of sunshine providing excellent playing conditions with some great results from the players.

The week was rounded off with all the players jointly receiving the tournament’s Fair Play Award, which was proudly accepted by tennis director Paul Butcher and the team.

This award was testament to the exemplary behaviour of the players both on and off court.

In the main draws, Leighton Starkie reached the semi finals of the Boys under 12 Singles with Robert Lee and George Nadin reaching the same stage of the equivalent doubles. Joe Kellett and Piran Rolls reached the semi finals of the Under 16 Boys Doubles.

The highlight though was the Academy’s coaches, Rhys Dunford and Jonathan Cooksley, who ran out winners of the men’s doubles setting a great target for the boys and girls to aspire to in the future.

There are consolation events for first round losers providing more match play opportunities and tournament experience for everyone. Winners of these events were Harvey Johnson in the Boys under 14, Joe Kellett in the Boys under 16 and Olivia Tutty on the Girls under 18.

Rhys Dunford was on the winners rostrum again in the Men’s consolation while Harvey Johnson also won again, this time teamed up with Daniel Beavis in the Boys under 14 consolation. Joshua Orrell was the runner-up in the Boys under 18 singles consolation.

This week, the focus at the South Devon Tennis Centre in Ivybridge has moved on to the most important event of the season for junior players, the Devon Junior County Championships.

The tournament started on Monday with finals day taking place today.

Many of the Ivybridge Tennis Academy players, who receive coaching at the centre, are competing against the best junior players from around the county.