Two local tennis stars qualify for state event

Two local tennis players will head off to Sydney next month where they will compete at the NSW Champion of Champions state event following an impressive showing at the Northern
NSW Tennis Foundation Champion of Champions event in Inverell last weekend.

Young guns Charlotte Murphy and Sophie Hartnett were two of the eight players representing Narrabri Tennis on the North West Tennis team that went head-to-head with players from North East Tennis.

The North East team is made up of players from the Upper and Lower North Coast.

Eight-year-old Charlotte competed in the 10-years girls division and she finished sixth overall after placing third in her pool. Twelve-year-old Sophie played in the 12-years girls division and she too placed third in her pool and then finished sixth overall.

The top eight players in each age division qualify for the state finals, meaning the two girls will now take on some of NSW’s best competitors at the next level on November 26 and 27.

Narrabri Tennis head coach Shane Murphy told The Courier that he was proud of both Charlotte and Sophie.

“It’s fantastic that they’ve qualified for the state finals,” Murphy said.

“That’s going to be huge for them.

“It’s going to be another step up. They’ll basically be taking on all the metro players.

“It’s really going to be an awesome weekend for them.”

The eight Narrabri Tennis representatives who competed at the Northern NSW Tennis Foundation Champion of Champions event in Inverell last weekend – Matilda Murphy, Charlie Butler, Jack and Sophie Hartnett, George Bennett, Callum Wales, Charlotte Murphy and Lucas Dowdell.

The Northern NSW Champion of Champions event is a prestigious one that dates all the way back to the 1970s when Narrabri gun Jason Stoltenberg was a junior tennis sensation rising up the ranks.

Joining Charlotte and Sophie at the 2022 event held at Inverell across the weekend were Narrabri Tennis’ Lucas Dowdell, Matilda Murphy, Charlie Butler, Jack Hartnett, George Bennett and Callum Wales.

Lucas competed in the 10-years boys division, Matilda in the 10-years girls, Charlie the 12-years boys, Jack the 14-years boys, and George and Callum the 16-years boys.

Their coach said that he was proud of all eight players for qualifying for the event in Inverell.

“It’s a great achievement,” Murphy said.

“We have the 10 RMS events in the lead up to it, and it’s only a select few that get to actually qualify to represent the region at this.

“The Champion of Champions tournament covers the whole of Northern NSW, and it’s just a huge achievement to just get there.”