Local tennis aces qualify for the 2025 state championships tournament

Four Narrabri Tennis athletes travelled to play at the 2025 Northern Foundation RMS Champion of Champions tournament in Inverell across the weekend, three of whom qualified to compete at the next level at the state championships next month.

The Inverell event brought together North West and North East junior players who qualified by finishing in the top eight of their age groups through RMS tournaments held throughout the year.

Sophie Hartnett, Charlotte Murphy, Charlie Butler and Lucas Dowdell all represented North West, while Charlotte’s brother Austin Murphy was a North West champion but did not play in Inverell due to the tournament not including an under-8s age group.

Charlotte played in the 12-years girls’ division and Charlie lined up in the 16-years boys’, and they both placed fourth overall after going down in their semi-final matches.

Sophie competed in the 16-years girls’ division and placed fifth.

Those results saw that trio all qualify for the state championships in Penrith and Springwood in November.

Lucas finished 15th overall in the 14-years boys’ division and he learned plenty of valuable lessons across the weekend.

Charlotte and Charlie also played in a doubles tournament between the two teams on Friday, which North West won to claim the Gordan O’Brien doubles shield for the first time. They prevailed on a games countback after being tied on 25 sets with North East.

Narrabri Tennis’ head coach Shane Murphy was an official at the tournament across the weekend, and he told The Courier that he was thrilled with the four players’ efforts and achievements.

“Overall, the weekend was a great success for Narrabri Tennis,” Murphy said.

“Out of the select few from the North West and the combined Lower North East and Upper North East, to get two semi-finalists and a fifth overall was sensational.

“Charlotte and Charlie only lost two matches all weekend, and Sophie only lost three matches all weekend. Their quality of tennis shows what a good standing these athletes are in at the moment.

“We’ve had someone go through to the state championships pretty much every year for a while now. To get three go through is really good.

“It’s a big step up for them. They will be playing champion of champions from all over NSW.

“Even though Lucas didn’t win many matches, he kept competing and developing. It was his first year in a tough age group. He was in a really tough pool, and he stuck in there to get a win and come 15th.”