Chance to serve up business rivalries

BENDIGO Regional Tennis is preparing to host its inaugural corporate tennis championship.

The competition was devised by Allison Gook who joined the tennis facility as centre manager earlier this year.

“Part of my role is to look at different things we can do to promote the sport locally to get more people out on the courts,” she said.

“So I came up with this idea of a corporate tennis challenge.”

Bendigo Regional Tennis Centre has 26 courts as well as a function centre and cafe that Ms Gook said they want people to utilise more.

To promote the centre, Ms Gook registered Bendigo tennis with Be.Bendigo and pitched the challenge to the chamber of commerce as a fundraiser.

Proceeds from the competition’s registration fees will go towards upgrades at the tennis centre.

“We’re really hoping that it will take off and it will become a yearly challenge, you know a bit of healthy rivalry between the businesses,” Ms Gook said

The competition will consist of games of doubles played in a round robin format at beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels.

Ms Gook said small businesses could team up together and is hopeful that the challenge will promote connection as well as healthy rivalry.

The comp will take to the courts every Tuesday night from 19 September through to 31 October and will be followed by networking opportunities at the tennis centre’s bar.

“It will give different businesses an opportunity to network and have some fun and make new contacts every Tuesday night,” said Ms Gook.

Businesses have until close of business tomorrow, 25 August, to register their interest in joining the competition.