Mirfield hosts schools tennis festival

Pupils from schools across Mirfield and the surrounding area enjoyed a brilliant day of tennis earlier this month at the 2026 Mirfield Schools Tennis Festival. Organised by Coach ‘Tee’ Tawona Moyo, the day saw outstanding performances, great teamwork, and plenty of smiles on and off the court.
 
Funded through the Redmayne Bentley and Yorkshire Tennis & Padel community engagement fund, the festival featured two divisions for Years 3/4 and Years 5/6, beginning with round‑robin matches with the top players progressing to the knockout rounds.
 
Battyeford Primary School twins Maeve and Mannix were the standout performers of the day in the year 3/4 division. Dominating both the boys’ and girls’ sections, they went unbeaten throughout the round‑robin stages, they went on to secure both individual titles with confident serving and impressive match play.
Adam led the charge for Roberttown CofE Primary School in the boys’ year 5/6 competition, dispatching all opponents comfortably in the round‑robin stage. He carried that form into the final, conceding just one point to defeat last year’s runner‑up Owney from Battyeford Primary School in a commanding 7–1 victory.
 
In a tightly contested girls’ division, Robyn from Roberttown CofE battled her way into the knockout rounds and faced Avery from Hopton Primary in the final.
Although the match looked even on paper, Robyn’s determination shone through as she secured the title 10–8, taking control in the middle phase of the match.
 
Hopton Primary  claimed the overall Year 3/4 schools title thanks to strong group‑stage performances from Archie (unbeaten), Dimpie, Teddy, and Zidan, who posted consistently high scores throughout the morning.
 
The Year 5/6 School Title went to Roberttown C of E Primary School, making their debut in the festival. Their girls’ team delivered an exceptional set of results, helping the school finish with 46 points and secure top spot. Crossley Fields Junior & Infant School also performed strongly, finishing runners‑up with a determined boys‑only squad. 
 
Mirfield Tennis Club’s Chairperson praised the event, highlighting the club’s commitment to providing inclusive, high‑quality tennis opportunities for the community. The club continues to offer excellent facilities, strong safeguarding standards, and competitive pathways for juniors and adults.
 
The event also showcased exceptional sportsmanship across all schools. This year’s Outstanding Sportsmanship Awards were presented to Myiesha (Botthroyd Primary Academy) and Zainuddin (Crossley Fields Junior & Infant School) for their exemplary attitude, respect and encouragement of fellow players.
 
Anna Crump, head of governance and culture at Redmayne Bentley, said: “It is a privilege for Redmayne Bentley to partner with Yorkshire tennis and establish the Engagement Fund.  Seeing the recipients of grants use the money to engage people in grass roots tennis, who may otherwise not have access to their local club, is really exciting and I am humbled by the amazing volunteers who make these opportunities happen. ” 
 
Festival convenor and the club’s head Coach Tee thanked Yorkshire Tennis & Padel and Redmayne Bentley for their generous support. He also celebrated the rising standard of play and the success of the club’s Schools Outreach Programme, which helps identify and support young players with County‑level potential. The programme continues with School taster sessions in the Autumn term.