MORE than 50 children took part in the annual Gazette Primary Schools Tennis Tournament.

Teams from across the borough battled to become champions in an event that was a climax to the tennis programmes that Totally Tennis have been running at the schools.

In the Year 4 and under competition (for players aged seven to nine), St Bedes were the overall winners, with Four Lanes runners-up.

In the Year 5 and under event (for players aged nine and 10), Kempshott were the winners and North Waltham the runners-up.

The Year 6 and under competition (for players aged 10 and 11), was a nail-biting affair with everything riding on the final box match as teams from Sherborne St John and Hatch Warren battled it out to join Kempshott in the final.

The teams were still equal on points, but a countback of games won saw Hatch Warren the winners by one game. In the final, Kempshott were crowned deserved winners after winning all their matches in the tournament sponsored by The Gazette and Totally Tennis.

Organiser Adam Chadwick said: "It's great to see so many schools represented across the age groups. The event is an excellent opportunity for the players, some of whom only play at school, to put into use all the skills they have learned."

Totally Tennis schools co-ordinator Jo Brett said: "We are grateful to The Gazette, for their continued sponsorship of both this event and the Secondary Schools Tournament, and to all the teachers and parents."