Anyone for Tennis? Join The Great British Tennis Weekend #GBTW
I have loved tennis since I was a child. I can distinctly remember starting to play each year as soon as Wimbledon started on TV. From around the age of 9, I would go around my friend, Julia’s house and we would set up a net in her cul-de-sac close and one of her neighbours would join in. We would take it in turns to act as the umpire. Then, as I got older, we had the benefit of a bigger driveway so my sister and I could be found out playing most evenings.
I caught onto the rules of tennis quickly and, as it is pretty easy to understand (don’t get me started on the off-side football rule!) I would look forward to every single day that Wimbledon was on. I watched the likes of Martina Navratilova, John McEnroe and Chris Evett. Then, along came Boris (no, not that Boris!).
Boris Becker was 17 when he won Wimbledon back on 7th July 1985. He was the first unseeded player and the first German to win the singles title, defeating Kevin Curren in four sets. It was one of those moments I remember really well. It was a hot summers day and me and my sister were due to go and watch an open air concert at Polesden Lacey with my Grandma. But the match went on a while and we were finding it so hard to tear ourselves away. In the end we listened to the rest of the match on the radio in the car. From that point on he became a bit of a heartthrob for me and my friends. I had his poster on my wall and, when my sister made the trek to Wimbledon a few years later, she brought me back an official postcard with Boris’ picture on it.
As the years have passed, tennis has been given a bit of a back seat by me so when I attended #BML16 recently, I met up with the Lawn Tennis Association who had erected a court in a room at the Brewery and I was surprised to see that I still had it! One of the team kindly videoed me playing.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BHFD16KhEgL/?taken-by=vicwelton
I am starting to think that maybe this bug which one bit me may have a chance at a second bite as I have signed up us for our free, local session and the great thing is, so can you!
Club Spark are running thousands of free events across the country on 16th and 17th July with tennis sessions to suit the whole family. All you need to do is go across to their website and find your nearest centre by entering your postcode. It was easy – we live in the middle of nowhere and still found one 5 miles away! Apparently theirs is an open morning from 9am until 1pm with plenty of chances to get involved – plus they have a special offer on the day.
I’m working with the Lawn Tennis Association on their #GBTW campaign. Sign up for your FREE tennis activity here.
I could totally see you lifting the trophy on Centre Court – come on Tim, I mean Vic 🙂
Hahaha! Two hopes there mate! 😀
So many great memories! And love the photo of you on court at BritMums!
So many! Thank you 🙂 x
You have so many wonderful tennis memories of all the greats. I’m going to some tennis sessions with my family – I can’t wait!
I certainly do! Nor can we 🙂 x
Yay, another one who remembers the Boris years (and Chris Evert and John McEnroe). What a trip down memory lane. I have so many fond memories of tennis myself and we are looking forward to our free sessions in Nottingham #GBTW
I am so glad you do too! It is fab all this reminiscing 🙂 x
We must be about the same age, they were all my childhood favourites too. Boris won Wimbledon on my birthday and I was delighted, I had bet £5 with my cousin at the start of the tournament that he could do it. I still love Wimbledon, it is the best two weeks of the year. This is such a great campaign to be promoting – we all play tennis and it really is a fabulous family activity xx
I am so glad you remembered Boris’ win too – and on your birthday 🙂 I totally agree with you x
Oh I remember the dawn of Boris well! Like you I played tennis with friends and neighbours as a kid, the balls were rubbish and the ages were all different but we had loads of fun. Fab video! #GBTW
Yay! I am so glad so many remember Boris 🙂 You sound like you had a similar experience to me 🙂 x
Lovely to see your ‘on court’ shot taken at #BML16! You look like a pro! I hope your free session at #GBTW goes well:-)
Thank you Nadine 🙂 I wish I was! x
Annoyingly, we’d have to travel nearly 20 miles for us because none of our local clubs (of which there’s about 7) are doing it. And we’re not around on the day that the further afield ones are on anyway, N’s been doing tennis at school though and playing at BML did make me think I need to go and sign up
Crikey! That is a long way!! It is great to hear that N is learning at school. We have a tennis court just up the road from us which appears to be rarely used. I think we need to start putting it into practice 🙂
love the video. Great to hear about your tennis memories! We’ve signed up and can’t wait to go!
Thanks Rebecca 🙂 I hope you have a great time x