All courts at the club’s two locations in Kendall were filled with 76 children playing for their schools for a place in the final to be held at Sydney Olympic Park Tennis Centre in November.

Earning a place in the final were four students from St Joseph’s Primary School Laurieton.

Runner up was the team from Nambucca Valley Christian Community School.

Schools from Nambucca to Moorland were represented at the gala day.

The tournament, a Tennis Australia Hot Shots initiative, is a newly-modified competition for year three and four students.

The games are played on smaller courts with a lower net and low compression balls, which don’t bounce as much.

The players form teams and play boys singles, girls singles and then mixed doubles, with the winning team from the various “zone days” progressing through to the play-offs in Sydney in November 8 and 9.

John Ferguson from Tennis Australia was in Kendall on Friday for the tournament. He said the program was part of a larger education program encouraging physical fitness in school students, and praised the support at the Kendall Tennis Club.

“This club is recognised as one of the leading tennis clubs in Australia. The community support here is amazing,” Ferguson said.

“There are PSSA Woodbridge Cup rounds being held all over Australia and between 32 and 35 teams will play in the finals in Sydney.”