Serve and brolly!

THE only time I have ever had to use a tennis racquet was to swat an annoying fly that was buzzing around my living room.

So imagine my surprise — and dread — when I was invited to play tennis over the weekend at Dunwood Park in Shaw.

Hundreds of open days have been taking place across the country to encourage people to dust off their racquets and enjoy free-for-all tennis facilities as part of the Great British Tennis Weekend.

Oldham Council, with the support of a number of tennis clubs, offered free taster sessions throughout the weekend as part of an initiative to get more people, of all ages, playing the game.

One thing is for sure, the 2014 Wimbledon winner Petra Kvitova can sleep easy as my brief encounter on the tennis court was hardly inspiring.

I am not a sporty person — climbing the three flights of stairs at work constitutes as my daily exercise — and to top it all off the heavens opened.

Nevertheless, I did begin to enjoy myself and found that I could use a racquet to hit something other than a fly. On a warm, summer’s day,

“I can certainly see what the attraction would be and I will certainly keep an open mind now when looking for activities to partake in for the rest of the summer.

Council-run parks, as well as Failsworth Sports Campus and Tame Valley Tennis Club, hosted free court sessions, coaching and mini tennis events, with volunteers and coaches on hand to help out.

Although the tennis court could not be available all afternoon, due to the rain, there was an explorer orienteering trail, a brass band, donkey rides and cream teas for residents to enjoy.

Carol Hughes, from Friends of Dunwood Park, came dressed as a suffragette to pay homage to the upcoming centenary of the First World War, when the Women’s Social and Political Union —the leading militant organisation campaigning for Women’s suffrage in the United Kingdom ceased its activities.
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