Unusual. This Tarn Tennis club won a Coupe de France, but off the courts

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Yes, yes Tarn is not the most famous place when it comes to Tennis, a local club has found a way to shine outside the courts. To the point of winning a French Cup.

This is the Travet Castres Tennis Club. Who has even just won a double national title. During the Coupe de France… tennis club vegetable gardens! A very serious competition organized by the Landestini association in partnership with the French Tennis Federation.

The Castres club distinguished itself in the category “Let’s save the soil” and especially with the big general price all categories.

A former French number 1 who played in Castres

The awards ceremony took place at the beginning of December in Colombes (Hauts-de-Seine). “Coincidence and icing on the cake” is Pierre Barthès who announced this result, rejoices the club. Pierre Barthès, for young readers, is one of the best French tennis players of the 1960s and 1970s. A national number 1 (in 1972) who was born in Béziers, but kicked the yellow ball in Castres when he was a teenager.

With an impressive career thereafter. Finalist in Auckland against world number one Roy Emerson or against Bob Hewitt at the Paris Open in 1965, he beat the best players of the time, including the legendary Rod LaverAndrés Gimeno, Fred Stolle… But above all, he excelled in doubles, winning seven tournaments including the 1970 US Open with Nikola Pilić facing Roy Emerson and Rod Laver.

Strengthening nature, but also connections

The organizer of the competition, Landestini, wishes to encourage the creation of vegetable gardens within clubs. “Spaces can be set up for the establishment of vegetable gardens: in containers, in the ground, on small plots or larger ones, any space can accommodate your plantations”, estimates the association, which recalls the advantages: that “ strengthens refuges for local wildlifefixes the various pollutants, improves air quality, creates freshnessprovides access to nature in urban areas…”. And also, for club members, it allows them to “come together around an activity that strengthens bonds, while raising awareness of healthy eating”.

A jury of experts in vegetable gardening, biodiversity, food and sport therefore chose Castres as a land of excellence in this area. Prizes were distributed in 10 categories different to the winning teams (What resourcefulness, It feeds us, Biodiversity, it's square, Together, we go further, etc.)…

Another champion

And, among other rewards, the club will receive a visit from another champion sponsor of the event: Pierre-Hugues Herbertwho, among others, achieved the career Grand Slam in doubles, (with Nicolas Mahut), winning the US Open 2015, Wimbledon 2016, Roland-Garros 2018 and 2021 and the Australian Open 2019…

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