Army Tennis Returns For Winter Season

Tennis has returned to the British Army in time for the start of the winter season.

Action kicked off at corps level in Aldershot after almost six months of a hiatus.

It has also been revealed that the Inter Services Championships in 2021 could return to Wimbledon.

At the event at Aldershot Tennis Centre, Army Tennis Association secretary Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Bill Herlihy was pleased to see how many people were ready to get back on court.

"When you’ve had a pandemic like this, you realise how much some people have missed Army sport," he said.

"I think they’re very hungry across all sports to get sport back being played again."

The venue was used for the first time since last year's partnership was announced.

Lt Col Herlihy thinks the deal with massively improve Army tennis.

He said: "It’s provided the opportunity to us to have a first class facility which will really benefit not only Army tennis, it’ll benefit the Garrison and it will benefit the local community.

"The Lawn Tennis Association regard this as a very high level tennis centre."

Former New Zealand international Clint Harris is the Head of Tennis at the centre and is pleased to work with the military.

"It’s a brilliant opportunity to work with the Army," he said.

"There’s a level of intensity and I think the standard is really good.

"I think we’ve got a lot to offer them and visa versa."

Lieutenant Colonel Alex Haig is the chairman of Army Air Corps tennis and spoke about what it was like to be back after the hiatus.

He said: "It’s been a long time and it’s been quite challenging to keep skills up.

"Now we are back and this is a great facility.

"We’re very pleased to be back."

Regarding the Inter Services next year, Lt Col Herlihy expects it to return to Wimbledon depending on the coronavirus pandemic.

"From the perspective of the All England Club, they are delighted to have us back," he said.

"Whether it will happen will be dependent on how this pandemic goes."