Tennis Victoria

Bruce Cup

Tennis Victoria supports the School Sport Victoria (SSV) in their delivery of the SSV State Championships and the national primary school teams’ event – the Bruce Cup. The events provide all Victorian primary school children with an opportunity to participate in this national event starting with local district trials all the way through to representing Victoria at the national primary school teams’ event, the Bruce Cup.

The Bruce Cup is a prestigious national schools tennis championships open to girls and boys aged 12/u. In Victoria, this means students may be in year seven, grade six or grade five. The Bruce Cup is conducted by School Sport Australia (SSA) in partnership with Tennis Australia. The national event attracts Australian ranking points.

SSV selects a state representative team of seven boys and seven girls to compete in this annual national team competition through a series of local school events, starting with district trials, then regional championships culminating in the SSV State Championships. Victoria has finished runner-up to QLD for the last three years. To be considered for the Bruce Cup, players must participate in the SSV district, region or state championships.

Approximately 1500 primary school students compete annually in the SSV Tennis Championships and/or region and district championships.

The Bruce Cup has been played since 1938 and was first presented by the Hon HA Bruce, MLA, a former Minister of Education in Queensland. Many players who won Wimbledon and become the finest players in the world played their first representative matches for their state in the Bruce Cup.

Rod Laver, arguably one of the greatest tennis players ever, represented Queensland in the Bruce Cup. Lew Hoad, Jan Lehane, Fred Stolle, John Alexander and Wally Masur all represented their state in the Bruce Cup. More recently, past Bruce Cup participants Jason Stoltenberg, Pat Rafter, Todd Woodbridge, Mark Philippoussis, Rachel McQuillan and Evie Dominokovic have all performed with distinction on the international scene.

Bruce Cup 2013 trials – 12/u boys and girls

Age eligibility: 12 years and under born  2001, 2002, 2003, as 31 December 2013. Please note, students turning 9 or 13 years in 2013 are ineligible.
Trial levy: Nil – if invited to trial the cost will be $15
Nominations: Will be available in late January 2013
Championship venue and dates: Brisbane, QLD, 19 – 26 October 2013

Trial/Process:

1. Players will nominate online and must meet the Australian Ranking Criteria before they will be considered to be invited to attend the State Selection (Team Vic) Trials:
2. 32 boys and 32 girls will then be invited to attend the State Selection Trials
3. Invited players will be notified if they are required to attend one or both the Trial Days.

The top 8 ranked players to nominate (confirmation will be received via email) will receive a bye first day and will be required Day 2.  All other players will be required Day 1 for a compass knockout draw.  Winners will go on to Day 2 for a round robin draw.

Maximum seven boys and seven girls to be selected

Trial Dates:

Tuesday 4 June 2013 9:30am to 3:00pm
Wednesday 5 June 2013 9:30am to 3:00opm
Back up date in case of wash outs is Thursday 6 June 2013.

Venue:

Pakenham Regional Tennis Centre,
11 Webster Way, Pakenham (Melways 317 – F11)
A full canteen will be open on the trial days

2012 Bruce Cup Team:

Congratulations to the following players who have been selected to represent Victoria in the Bruce Cup 2012;

• Codey Gunn
• Connor Di Marco
• Jack Clements
• Marcus Bulmuga
• Stefan Milenkovic
• Emmanuel Kifle
• Campbell Salmon
• Gabriela Ruffels
• Peta Valos
• Jasmin Starr
• Taylah Mielczarek
• Jessica Zaviacic
• Natasha Ilic
• Kirsten Waters

For further information about SSV tennis competitions, please visit their website.