BT/0526

Tennis stars net £30,000 for Omagh
Players serve up fund boost
By Claire McGahan

THE appeal fund for the victims of Ulster's worst atrocity has received a big boost from German tennis ace Boris Becker and British champ Greg Rusedski.
The celebrated tennis stars served up a sporting treat as they battled it out on court at an exclusive charity playoff in London in aid of the Omagh Fund.
In the end it was Rusedski who took the honours in the unique match, which ended 6-4, 6-4.
But the final score hardly mattered as it was the Omagh Fund which was the winner, with at least £30,000 raised.
A fall-house of 1,000 spectators watched last night's two-set match a the David Lloyd Centre in Raynes Park.
VIP tickets were sold for £45 each - but most people paid more to be at the event, which was organised by the German Embassy it London.
All proceeds go directly to the Omagh Fund.
Children from Henriques Tennis School in Belfast had been training since Saturday at Wimbledon as ball boys and girls.
The youngsters come from both sides of the community.
The event was also attended by Omagh Fund chairman Brian Oliphant and German ambassador Gebhardt Von Moltke.
Mr Oliphant accepted a symbolic cheque for £30,000 on behalf of the Omagh Fund - although the final total will be more - from the German Ambassador
The celebrity match was a prelim to a state visit to the UK by German President Oman Herzog.
A spokesman at the German Embassy said: It was wonderful, a great event.
Both players were in fantastic form and very eager to show how important it was for them to be there to help.