Flybe champions County tennis with new Mini Masters’ Series
Leading regional airline announces new sponsorship deal to find the next Wimbledon champion!
Flybe, Europe’s largest regional airline and the UK’s number one domestic carrier, has today announced a new sponsorship deal in support of young tennis players across Cornwall and Devon with the launch of the Flybe Mini Masters’ Series in conjunction with the local Lawn Tennis County Associations.
The news was announced at the Tarka Tennis Centre in Barnstaple by Flybe’s Director of Marketing, Simon Lilley who was joined by Exeter-born Lucie Ahl, former British Number 1 women’s player and Jo-Anne Downing of the Devon & Cornwall Lawn Tennis Associations (LTA).
The Flybe Mini Masters is open to all young tennis players up to the age of 10 years old regardless of whether or not they are existing tennis club members. Competitions will take place at 14 tennis centres and clubs throughout Cornwall and Devon between now and March 2010, the top eight players from each county and age group (8U; 9U and 10U) will go through to compete in the Mini Masters Final in Devon with the ultimate winners receiving a holiday for all their family to La Manga Club in Spain, with exclusive entrance to the La Manga tennis academy during their stay.
Mr Lilley says: “With the growth in our Exeter and Newquay networks, we are delighted to be able to support this counties’-wide project.”We are no strangers to championing sporting events in local communities and we hope that our new Mini Masters’ programme will encourage and inspire many more potential champions to hit their local tennis courts in the upcoming months.”
The Flybe Mini Masters’ is supported by both Devon and Cornwall LTA whose Tennis Development Manager, Jo-Anne Downing comments: “Devon LTA & Cornwall LTA are delighted to secure Flybe as the sponsor for the Devon and Cornwall Mini Masters Series. The young players will be able to track their progress online over a circuit of 111 local competitions and feel like they are involved in something similar to the professional ATP/WTA tours. The involvement of such a high-profile local sponsor has many benefits to tennis across Devon & Cornwall. Primarily it will enable us to raise the profile of the Mini Tennis Circuit Competition which will encourage more children to enter in their local clubs and compete.”
Adds Mr Lilley: “The chance to play our part in the search for the next British tennis star is exciting. We hope this new event will help the county LTA in attracting wider interest in mini tennis: and with the chance to treat our winning players and their families to a holiday at the world renowned tennis academy in La Manga Club in Spain, we are sure we will attract some budding champions.”
More information and entry details
on competition available through Flybe website, www.flybe.com
ENDS
Editors’ Notes:
Participating Clubs Cornwall:
- Heron Tennis Centre Newquay
- Penzance Tennis Club
- Truro Tennis Club
- Dragon Leisure Centre Bodmin
Participating Clubs Devon:
- East Devon Tennis Centre
- Sidmouth Tennis Club
- Torquay Tennis Club
- Tarka Tennis Centre Barnstaple
- Taw Tennis Academy at Park Lane Tennis Club Barnstaple
- Westward Ho! Tennis Club North Devon
- KGS Tennis at Hill Lane Tennis Club Plymouth
- KGS Tennis at South Devon Tennis Centre Ivybridge
- Exeter Tennis Centre
- Exeter Golf & Country Club
For more information on the Flybe Mini Masters Tennis Competition visit the LTA website www.lta.org.uk see “players” & “competition”
Contact:
Jo-Anne Downing joanne.downing@LTA.org.uk
Tennis Development Manager
Devon LTA devon@lta.org.uk 01752 892664
Cornwall LTA cornwall@lta.org.uk 01637 839136
