Martial arts, junior rugby and tennis news updates

GREAT Sankey youngsters competed in the Matt Fiddes Martial Arts Northern Championship at Halton Leisure Centre in Widnes.

They were among more than 300 participants at the first event at the new centre, with competitors travelling from as far as Scotland to be involved.

The Sankey children, all aged eight or nine, are members of Steve James’ Matt Fiddes school in Great Sankey.

From left, Matt iddes Martial Arts Great Sankey school’s Callen Bewley, Alfred Astall and Joshua Connor (Image: Contributed)

Students who took part from the Great Sankey club were Alexander Percival, Alfred Astall, Caitlin Bewley, Callen Bewley, Charlie Harris, Ethan Kirkham, Harvey Kendall, Hasan Akhtar, Hreyansh Walia, Jacob Tryanor-Brown, Joey Grimshaw, Joshua Connor, Karina Yuen, Lilly Ion, Owen Crossley and Prithwin Ananthatheesan.

With Matt Fiddes is Harvey Kendall, Joshua Connor and Ethan Kirkham (Image: Contributed)

For more information about the local Matt Fiddes schools book a free trial class at www.mattfiddes.com

Rugby league

Rylands Sharks under 12s tasted success in their last Rhinos Challenge event played at Butlin’s in Skegness.

Michelle Holbrook, the team manager, said: “We won Pool 4 for under 12s, which is a fantastic way to end an era but then they announced the under 12s player-of-steel award and it was our very own half-back Tate Yarwood. This is an extraordinary achievement.”

Rylands Sharks under 12s (Image: Contributed)

Tennis

STOCKTON Heath Lawn Tennis Club held a charity fundraising day which saw two ex-Davis Cup tennis players run workshops for all ages.

The tennis charity ‘Bright Ideas for Tennis’ led by Danny Sapsford attended the south Warrington club and players aged six to 70 took part in skills sessions for tennis and pickleball.

Sapsford was accompanied by Jonny Marray, who won the Wimbledon doubles title in 2012 and was an ex-top 15 world doubles player.

In the final exhibition game, the SHLTC duo of Nick Fance and Dan Urey – the current Cheshire doubles champions – beat Sapsford and Marray in a tight tie-break set, winning 7-6 in games.

SHLTC members collected a large amount of tennis kit and racquets, to be donated to support a tennis academy in Zimbabwe.

Money from the day will also help the club’s ongoing partnership with Fox Wood School, Woolston.

The club have their annual St Rocco’s charity day on Sunday, August 9.

If you are interested in taster sessions for pickleball or tennis, contact the club via their website https://clubspark.lta.org.uk/StocktonHeathLTC/

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