Wimbledon tickets up for grabs

(Date of issue: Monday, 18 May 2009)

Bitts Park’s first ever tennis tournament will be held this Saturday (23 May) and will include the chance to win tickets for this year’s Wimbledon.

Budding tennis stars of all ages and abilities are being invited along to the free family event, scheduled to take place between 12noon and 3pm. In support of the event, the Tennis Foundation has donated a family pass for Wimbledon (four tickets). Anyone attending the festival will receive a free raffle ticket with one winner will be chosen, as part of a free prize draw, at the end of the event.

Organised by Carlisle City Council and Carlisle Leisure Limited, activities will include cardio-tennis (tennis aerobics to music), adult tennis taster sessions, mini-tennis and the tennis factory (inflatable tennis equipment). Guided walks around Bitts Park will also be available throughout the afternoon.

Cllr Ray Bloxham, Portfolio holder for Environment and Infrastructure, said:

“The Tennis Festival is an opportunity to sample the high quality facilities and coaching opportunities on offer at Bitts Park. We’ve arranged a range of activities for all ages including Mini and Junior coaching sessions for ages 5 and upwards, adult coaching and cardio tennis. It doesn’t matter whether you’ve played before or are a complete beginner, we want local residents to come down and have a go. There will be something for all the family to enjoy.”

Nick Holland, Outdoor Business Development Officer for Carlisle Leisure limited who manage the facility on behalf of Carlisle City Council added:

“This first tennis festival is a great opportunity for anybody interested in tennis to come down and see the facilities we now have in Carlisle. We’re very proud of the new facilities we have in place for tennis at Bitts Park and this festival lets people see first hand what is available.”

The new tennis facility at Bitts Park was opened in January 2008 after £280,000 was spent upgrading the courts. The Carlisle City Council project was made possible after £125,000 was received from the LTA and other partnership arrangements.

The facilities are managed by Carlisle Leisure Limited on behalf of Carlisle City Council and include four new hardcourts, two of which are covered by an airdome between October and March to allow tennis to be played all year round.

For further information about the event or to book onto any of the sessions available on the day, please telephone Carlisle City Council on 01228 817581.