Schools across Campaspe Shire have taken part in a team tennis day at Echuca South netball courts.
The event saw more than 270 students compete in teams of eight, battling to represent Campaspe at the regional team tennis event in Swan Hill, to be held in October.
For the first time, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Elmore took part in the event, along with returning local schools Rochester Primary School and St Joseph’s.
In the championship divisions, Rochester PS took fourth place in both the girls’ and boys’/mixed divisions.
Tongala Primary School won the girls’ category and St Mary’s won the boys’/mixed championship.
In the other divisions, St Joseph’s won Pool F, while Rochester PS took out Pool G.
Games in the team tournament were played on modified ‘Hot Shots’ courts, which are a quarter of the usual size, with the format to replace traditional full-court tennis completely from next year.
“There are Hot Shot rackets and Hot Shot balls, so the balls and the rackets and the nets are all modified, and this is going to be the way forward for school sport tennis,” Campaspe division co-ordinator Rob Morris said.
“This is going to replace normal tennis in the future.”
Morris says the format allows for more kids and schools to take part in primary school tennis.
“We had finals last week, trials for the yellow ball down at the lawn courts, and we had 12 girls and 12 boys,” he said.
“Because you only need eight (players), schools like Elmore and the little rural places can come, so it gives them an opportunity to join in and be a part of it.”
Campaspe schools team tennis day results
Championship divisions
Girls’: 1st Tongala, 2nd St Mary’s PS, 3rd St Augustine’s
Boys’/Mixed: 1st St Mary’s PS, 2nd Echuca East PS, 3rd Echuca PS
Pool winners
Pool A: Echuca East PS
Pool B: St Mary’s PS
Pool C: St Augustine’s
Pool D: St Mary’s
Pool E: Echuca East PS
Pool F: St Joseph’s
Pool G: Rochester PS