Rain fails to stop the marathon

6 May 2015

SHOCKING weather conditions did not deter members of Newcastle Tennis Club who staged a 24-hour tennis marathon at the weekend.

There was huge community support for the event which raised money for the Search and Rescue Dog Association and the Newcastle branch of the suicide prevention charity, PIPS.

Members and non-members took to the courts showing great community spirit in raising money for these two causes in true need of financial support.

Starting in sunshine, the Club was very lucky with the weather for the most part, before enduring torrential rain in the final hours of Saturday morning.

Some of those who played during the night really entered into the fun element and turned up in their cosiest onesies, which was just as well as it was getting very cold by then, and not a little windy.

There was drama at midnight when the court lights went out but the players stayed on court and valiantly tried to hit in the dark, not willing to break the pledge of 24 hours of continuous play. Luckily, one of the players was an electrician, who soon restored light and the courts quickly filled up again.

People of all ages and all walks of life arrived throughout the 24-hour period, giving their time and money in an overwhelmingly generous fashion.

Local businesses got involved, sponsoring the event by supplying plentiful amounts of apples and oranges, ice cream and sweets, waterproof ponchos and time on the courts playing tennis and raising money.

A club spokesman thanks people from the greater Newcastle area and beyond for contributing to the event.

“So many people from all over the town and beyond contributed to this event,” he said. “It just goes to show what a fantastic community we have in this small town, where people give so freely of their time and energy to help people that they may not even know.

“These two charities work tirelessly for this community, and are deeply grateful for the help and support they have received from everyone who joined in, donated time or money, or who supported those playing on court.

“Newcastle Tennis Club would also like to thank the very local neighbours of the Club, who so kindly did not object to the court lights being on all night or the noise from the eejits playing tennis in the middle of the night either,” he added.

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