Express & Star

The need for speed at Wollaston Lawn

The speed guns will be out as Wollaston Lawn Tennis Club opens its doors for a charity fun day this weekend.

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Free tennis sessions will be laid on, with all equipment provided, as the action begins at 2pm on Saturday.

And one of the attractions will be a fastest service competition – a chance to see who might measure up against Australian Sam Groth's official record mark of 163.7mph.

With Euro 2016 rolling on, there will also be a penalty shoot-out. And away from the sport, the club is laying on a bouncy castle, barbecue, live music – and a great Wollaston bake-off.

But there's also a serious side to the event, with all profits going to the charity Chernobyl Children's Lifeline.

It's a national organisation with a local flavour – Kinver resident Ann Becke has organised visits by children from Belarus whose health is affected by the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear explosion.

Thousands are born every year with cancer or go on to develop it. The club has hosted visits by the children for the last three years.

Club coach Richard Cartwright said: "The open day is one of the highlights of our year, a chance for us to open the facilities for anyone to come and try them out.

"We are also keen to make the afternoon a fun affair for everyone and raise funds for what is an excellent charity. We also look forward to seeing the children from Belarus later in the year."

The club goes from strength to strength, having recently completed work on upgrading all eight of its courts, and runs men's, women's and mixed teams in local leagues.

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