A trip to South Africa was meant to be a reward for Bradford Grammar School's Midland Bank national tennis champions.

But they certainly didn't kick their heels on their eight-day tour of Cape Town, cramming in five matches.

They won three and lost two, winning and losing 37 rubbers each against some high-quality opposition, but jet-lag contributed to a 5-1 opening defeat against Rondebosch School, who included six nationally-ranked players.

Richard Binns was Bradford's only winner, although four matches were lost in three sets.

Then Wynberg School were despatched 12-3, eight out of ten singles being won, and every player notched a victory in the 10-5 defeat of SACS.

Bradford were 3-2 behind after the doubles against the prestigious Bishops School, but triumphed 9-6, and the final match in the Cape wine growing region was lost 10-5 to Paarl School.

Tour record (out of ten matches): Richard Binns won nine, one no result; Stuart Brumfitt won seven, one no result; Jonathan Davies won six; James Thornton won six; Ben Pearson won five; Jonathan Yip won five; Charlie Hodgson won five; Oliver Wilson won two; Richard Vint won two; Robert Stephenson won one.

Bradford Girls Grammar School tennis team are through to the North East regional Midland Bank finals at Sunderland a week on Monday.

The BGGS girls won through the Bradford area final to reach the North East section of the national tournament and, in a preliminary regional round tie, they beat Pocklington School 6-0 before beating Rydale School, York and Polam Hall, Darlington both 6-0 to reach the same final.

There they faced a much sterner test against Central Newcastle at Heaton Tennis Club. The teams were level on matches 3-3, but Bradford went through by winning more games, 27-20.

They meet Wakefield Girls High School or Leeds Girls High School in the final and the winners play the winners of the North West or Scotland on the same day.

Bradford's successful team is Lara and Suzanne Celensu, Sarah Pearson and Abigail Mason.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.