Local tennis players had the opportunity to work on their skills on Aug. 29 and 30 as part of a clinic that was held at the tennis courts at the Estevan Leisure Centre.
Sessions on the first day saw 13 kids between the ages six to 12, six adult beginner players and 14 intermediate adult players work on their skills. The clinic was a partnership between the Estevan Tennis Club and Tennis Saskatchewan, and Ro Euraoba came to Estevan to guide the clinic.
“He was very good,” said Estevan Tennis Club president Angela Wiebe. “He’s with Tennis Saskatchewan, who partnered with us to get a good instructor.”
Euraoba was the coach of a Team Southeast entry that won gold at the 2016 Saskatchewan Summer Games in Estevan.
Part of the reason that the clinic was held in Estevan, according to Wiebe, was an effort to recruit young players for Team Southeast for the next Saskatchewan Summer Games in 2021 in Lloydminster.
Everybody who participated in the camp learned a lot, she said, and they enjoyed hearing from a different instructor.
On the final day of the clinic, the kids went indoors for extra instruction and games, and then they had some games. Adults played on the outdoor tennis courts near the Estevan Leisure Centre. The games played on Aug. 30 were just for fun, because they had to rotate people in and out, and they didn’t want to have people sitting and waiting for too long between games.
The cost of the clinic was included in membership this year, with $10 for one person or $20 for a family. The club had a lower membership fee this year because they weren’t able to start their season until June due to COVID-19.
Wiebe also pointed out that local tennis player Arnold Betzema held some beginner instruction on Friday nights throughout the summer to help them get going.
Monday nights has been for women’s play.
The club had 91 members this year, which would be up about 10 from 2019.
“It’s been a good year. We’ve got lots of playing in,” she said.
People seem to be more eager to play sports like tennis because it’s something they can do even with the restrictions in place for COVID-19. There has been activity on the courts almost every night.
Wiebe noted that club members will pay the membership fee and can book the tennis courts at any time at no extra cost. She also noted that Diane Wenham, the events manager for the City of Estevan, has been great to work with this year.
