Judy Murray Visits Local Tennis Club
Backs local schoolchildren in their bid to set world record
Judy Murray, mother of tennis star Andy, came to visit a local tennis club to support children's tennis, only hours before her son crashed out of Wimbledon.
The tennis coach, whose two sons were playing at the annual international tennis event, made space in her busy diary to support a bid to break the record for the world's largest tennis lesson at a club in Chiswick before travelling back to Centre Court to watch the match.
The record attempt took place at the Hounslow Primary Schools Tennis Festival, held at Dukes Meadow Tennis Club, and Judy – who helped set the existing record in the USA earlier in the year – dropped by to lend her support in the morning.
(l-r) Cllr Mann, Judy Murray, Mayor Corinna Smart and Labour's Ruth Cadbury
Later her famous son saw his bid to win Wimbledon for the second year in a row fail as he was knocked out by the eleventh seed Grigor Dimitrov.
But Judy, who was on Centre Court for the match, backed Andy and said she was sure he would return to success. She commented: ‘Form is temporary, class is permanent.’ Her eldest son Jamie has also been playing at Wimbledon this week.
The record attempt, which took place on Wednesday, saw the 500 children, joined by teachers, support staff, and dignitaries including the Mayor Cllr Corinna Smart, and deputy leader of the council Cllr Amrit Mann, taking part in a mass tennis lesson.
Judy said: "This is a fantastic programme and event. It is great to see so many state school pupils getting an opportunity to participate in the coaching and the tennis festival.
“The opportunity to progress playing at Dukes Meadows pay and play facility is also very important. This is a marvellous partnership between Sport Impact, Dukes Meadows and The LTA. It is great to see.”
Cllr Mann said:“The sight of hundreds of children enjoying a tennis lesson together in an inflatable court is something I’ll remember for a long time!
“It was great to see them having such fun taking part in a sport they might not usually have a chance to try.
“Having a world class coach of Judy’s standing there will hopefully encourage them to enjoy tennis for years to come - she’s already inspired one Wimbledon champion, and hopefully she might have done it again today!”
The festival saw hundreds of children from 48 Hounslow primary schools participating in 628 mini-tennis matches, with the winners being chosen to represent Hounslow in the School Games finals at Crystal Palace.
The festival was organised by Sport Impact, the local not for profit organisation committed to enhancing the physical education and sport experience of all young people.
The Dukes Meadows Schools Outreach Programme visits around 60 primary schools each academic year.
To beat the world record there would have to be more then 405 people participating in a lesson inside the Dukes Meadow bubble indoor courts. This record was set in New York on world tennis day at Flushing Meadows earlier this year- the host venue for the US Open.
Unofficially’ the world record attempt was successful! The organisers believe there wereover 700 children in the lesson, almost doubling the previous record, but have to wait for official confirmation from Guinness before they celebrate.
July 4, 2014