The Tony Blair Sports Foundation is today launching its first annual schools tennis challenge. Supported by the Lawn Tennis Association and sponsored by Northumbrian Water, the foundation invited schools from across the region to take part and the first of four area qualifiers is to be held today with The Grand Final being held in June at the Puma Tennis Centre, Sunderland.

Each school involved has entered a team of eight, four boys and four girls, who will represent their school in the hope of winning the Tony Blair Tennis Challenge Cup.

Northumbrian Water will be providing all teams with bottles of '97' water, supplying certificates, medals and goodie bags and will even be providing volunteers to help with the setting up of courts and scoring matches throughout the competition.

The tennis challenge has already proven to be hugely popular with over 80 schools wishing to take part in the first come first served competition. With 32 schools and 256 competitors taking part this year, the challenge is sure to be a success and certainly even bigger and better next year.

The schools in each area qualifier are as follows:

Northumberland Qualifier - 21st May - Northumberland County Ground
Broomley First
Prudhoe West
Ovingham First
Newbrough First
Sele First
Broomhaugh CofE
Wylam County First

Tees Valley Qualifier - 22nd May - Tennis World Middlesbrough
St Benedicts Catholic
Chandlers Ridge Primary
Green Lane Primary
Egglescliffe CofE
Durham Lane
Kader
Holy Trinity Rosehill
William Cassidi CofE

Tyne and Wear Qualifier - 23rd May - Northumberland County Ground
Fatfield Primary and Biddick Primary
Wardley Primary
Winlaton West Lane
Southridge First
St Oswalds RC
Whickham Parochial
Hadrian Park Primary

Durham Qualifier - 6th June - Puma Tennis Centre, Sunderland
Shotton Hall Juniors
St Godvics RC Primary
Westlea Primary
New Brancepeth Primary
Blue Coat CofE
Hardwick
St Francis
Kelloe Primary

Jeanette Pickard, Chief Executive of the Tony Blair Sports Foundation said:

We have had a wonderful response from all the primary school children who want to get their hands on the trophy. With Wimbledon fortnight just around the corner, tennis once again has a high profile. However, we would like to encourage children and teachers to play the game throughout the year and the more youngsters that take up the game in the North East, the better chance we have of perhaps seeing a future Wimbledon champion from our region.