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IC Junior Challenge regional play-offs completed

IC Junior Challenge regional play-offs completed

All regional play-offs of the IC Junior Challenge, a bi-annual worldwide championship between International Club (IC) teams of boys and girls of 16 and under, have been completed over the last few months.

The Compass IC European Junior Challenge played in Bucharest was won by Germany who beat the holders of the trophy, Great Britain, in a closely contested match which required a tiebreak deciding set. In the North American event held in Toronto a strong Canada came first followed by the Bahamas. The South American Challenge was played in Montevideo with Argentina coming comfortably first and Uruguay second. South Africa briskly won the African Challenge in Benoni, Gauteng, beating Zimbabwe to the number two place. India won the Asian play-off in Singapore in a close final match against Japan.

This year there were 18 countries taking part with 76 players and 18 adult captains and to date, in the seven years it has been staged, more than 500 players have taken part in the challenges and finals.

Sponsorship of the regional tournaments, other than the European which was sponsored entirely by the Compass Group, was by a mixture of individual donations, local companies, local and national federations and the host ICs.
Local Compass representatives have also provided help with lunches, dinners, tee shirts and banners at some of the Challenge events.
Each Challenge was staged by the volunteer IC officers of the host countries, to whom we owe a huge debt of gratitude.

The finals which will take place during a Festival of Tennis are being run by the IC of Australia from 10 to 14 January 2012 in Adelaide in collaboration with the South Australian Government.

The teams which have qualified are:
Canada
Germany
Argentina
India
S Africa
Australia (host country)

The Compass Group, as part of their sponsorship, also provide airfare subsidies for the players to get to Adelaide to play the finals, after which all hospitality is found by the local organisers. The Government of South Australia have also made a contribution to airfares, for which we are extremely grateful.

It is safe to say that without the sponsorship of the Compass Group, this IC event could not be held and we are therefore very appreciative of their contribution to its continued success.

As part of their “trip of a lifetime” to Australia the finalists will be able to take part in junior 18 and under tournaments before the finals and a visit has also been arranged to the first two days of the Australian Open in Melbourne for all competitors.

Making friends from other countries, conducting themselves properly on court and social skills off court, are also involved in Challenges and finals despite the competitiveness of the tennis on court.

The IC motto of “Hands across the net, friendship across the oceans” is learned at a young age by all who participate and this can only make the world a better place.

For more information on the regional competitions see 'Junior Activity'
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