Ballymena Lawn Tennis club celebrated their 12th Junior Annual Tennis Festival in The Peoples Park

A most wonderful weeks enjoyment with 40 children from 4 to 14 years of age playing fun and games, having coaching and finishing with competitions and many prizes.

It is great to welcome back such young players as Rory and Dillon travelling over to Ballymena from Wimbledon. Rory enjoyed taking part so much last year that his family phoned the club to book their holiday to coincide with the event.

Local sponsorship is what makes this such an enjoyable occassion for these enthusiastic young players and their coaches.

Financial support from - The Ulster Bank and The Bank of Ireland along with Refreshments from Sainsburys, Spar Doury Road and Spar Galgorm always makes this special for the young players.
Better still - Prizes such as six cinema seats from IMC along with 8 x £5 vouchers from an anonymous retailer in Ballymena puts the 'icing on the cake'.

The Magic Roundabout Nursery School who send children for coaching throughout the year supplied hundreds of bags of sweets and lollipops as well as having 15 children attending the event.

Their support was outstanding and the main club organisers - Fergus Barklie, Derek Calderwood and Joanne Logan, wish to thank them alongwith all our other sponsors for making this such an outstanding 2008 Junior Tennis Festival.

Fergus Barklie welcomed the Mayor, Councillor Maurice Mills who is a regular supporter of Ballymena Lawn Tennis Club. The youngest player 4 year old (on the right hand side of the group photo) shook hands with the Mayor and explained to him that that is the way to hold his tennis racket.. "shake hands with your racket" -- So the Mayor had his first tennis coaching lesson from our youngest player !!!!

Many of the non members taking part enjoyed themselves so much that they joined Ballymena Lawn Tennis Club to continue the fun and to continue playing tennis with the friends they have met throughout this week.

Ballymena Tennis Club plays throughout the twelve months of the year -- " we never stop playing " says Club Chairman Fergus Barklie.

Great discounts available for joing the club at this time of the year so join now !!

Anyone interested in joining us come along and play, get coaching at any age 4 to 70+ no problem.

Just turn up at -- Adult Social tennis Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 7pm or Saturday mornings from 10.30am

Junior Teenies Club .. Friday evenings 6.30pm to 7.30pm or Saturday mornings 9.30pm to 10.30pm

Junior Club ..............Friday evenings 7.30pm to 9pm or Saturday mornings 9am to 10.30am

Simply turn up and ask any of our coaches or club members about playing you will be most welcome.

Further details and club contact information available from The Peoples Park Pavilion - 25643081


Fergus Barklie; Club Chairman
Derek Calderwood; Club Secretary