First-time team East Arnhem win the Hot Shots competition at National Indigenous Tennis Carnival 2025, the “NITC”. In a round robin pool of 7 NT teams within the Hot Shots competition.
The team included players from the Laynhapuy Homelands (Dharlingbuy and GanGan) and Gove Peninsula Tennis Club players. One player from the town of Gove was the only player who had played at this event before, he was thrilled to be a part of the newly formed East Arnhem team this year. The Hot Shots teams consisted of 7 or 8 players and each round gave each player two matches each. A total of eight matches each round.
The NT Red Ball teams were:
– Arlparra
– Tiwi
– Jabiru
– Jilkminggan
– Woolianna
– Groote Eyelandt
– East Arnhem – first time fielding a team at this event.
In February of this year, Tennis NT visited the Gove Peninsula Tennis Club and the Laynhapuy Homelands in February to coach and play tennis, and to train local mentors, teachers and community workers in tennis. From this trip, we gained fantastic feedback from the people who did the training too. First Nations tennis coach Adam Lasky was on the trip in February along with Tennis NT staff Ben Cunningham and Emily Carroll. The Tennis NT team and the trip was heavily supported by local Head Coach Nicky Mayer who was integral to the planning and running of the February trip. As a result, the kids and their supporters were hooked on tennis and the journey to fielding a full team to this event began.
In another win for the NT, and the East Arnhem team, supervisor Djamika Ganambarr was a recipient of the Roger Cawley Supervisors Award, typically awarded to 1 event supervisor at the event but this year awarded to 2 people.
The Laynhapuy Homelands are keen to get back to community and continue the tennis program wanting to play more tennis.
A massive thank you to the following people and organisations for their support as this would not have happened without them:
– The Federal Government for their PLAY WELL grant funding
– Nicky Mayer – Head Coach and President of the Gove Peninsula Tennis Club
– Rachel Godly – Youth and Families’ Services Manager, Laynhapuy Homelands Association
– Laynhapuy Youth Workers – Djamika, Barry, Rena and Shayla.
– Layhnapuy Homelands Association for their support and assistance.
– Rio Tinto for their of their support of the East Arnhem team and the Gove Peninsula Tennis Club
National Indigenous Tennis Carnival 2025 results
18-and-under singles championships
Girls: [2] Lola Grigor (Vic) d Laylah Shawcross (Qld) 6-1 6-1
Boys: [1] Quincy Khan (NSW) d [2] Isaac Elson (NSW) 1-6 6-4 [10-4]
14-and-under singles championships
Girls: [1] Hazel Wright (NSW) d [2] Namallarri Mckenzie (SA) 6-2 6-0
Boys: [1] Will Brooks-Gay (Vic) d Oakley Baylis (NSW) 6-1 6-2
Deadly Award winners – recognises participants from each state and territory for their teamwork and behaviour
- Jayde Mitchell (ACT)
- Hazel Wright (NSW)
- Luca Toby (Qld)
- Jamain Agius (SA)
- Tori Direen (Tas)
- Brock Mitchell (Vic)
- Jackson Phillips (WA)
- Jacob Groves (NT)
Roger Cawley Supervisors Award – recognises team managers who supervise, support and coach the kids
- Sara Mohammed (WA)
- Djamika Ganambarr (NT)
Evonne Goolagong Cawley Medal of Excellence – individual award personally chosen by Evonne Goolagong Cawley
- Isaac Elson (NSW)
Ash Barty Cup – team-based award for the overall winning team based on performance
- Queensland
Hot Shots Tennis champions
- East Arnhem (NT)
Futures Stars champions
- New South Wales
Latest
NT