THE older generation were given a chance to showcase their tennis skills when a film crew from Sport England paid a visit to Totally Tennis' indoor centre.

The Club 50+ session, that runs every Wednesday morning, was put in the spotlight for a new promotional video entitled Single System for Sport.

Sean Holt, director of Sport England South East, and Mary MacAnally, the chairman of the Regional Sports Board South East, visited Basingstoke for the day's filming.

The video is being developed to show how national, regional and local sporting organisations are working together to increase physical activity by one per cent each year nationally to make England a more successful and healthier nation.

The Sport England team have been to several locations in Hampshire over the past few weeks, visiting a number of projects that are contributing to the development of sport within the community.

The final day's filming in Basingstoke focused on the delivery of sport at a local level and gave Holt and MacAnally a chance to visit a number of sessions within the Basingstoke and Deane borough.

The featured session at Totally Tennis was introduced two years ago after a need was identified to offer players over 50, who are interested in keeping fit and healthy, the opportunity to play affordable tennis in a mixed session.

The session, which is coached by tennis director Nigel Long, is a mix of drills and match-play and is growing in popularity.

Tennis has been identified as one of the 10 Sport England priority sports and the body is working closely with the Lawn Tennis Association to develop and improve tennis in this country.

Since the Sport England Lottery Fund started in 1995, tennis has received 568 awards, totalling in excess of £87million towards improving playing facilities in this country.

More than £207,000 has been invested to help increase tennis participation among ethnic communities, people with disabilities, women and girls and people on low incomes.

Totally Tennis' Jo Brett said: "It's fantastic that we were asked to be involved with the Sport England Single System for Sport initiative, especially as it focused on our very active over-50 players. This session demonstrates that sport is really for everyone - whatever the age or ability."

Anyone interested in the Club 50+ session should call Totally Tennis on 01256 358816, or visit www.totallytennis.co.uk for more information.

First published: Monday, March 20, 2006