This unique tennis experience began in 1991 after the loss of one of Derry, New Hampshire's finest young men, Dana Ball. Dana died that year from leukemia.  He didn't even know he had the deadly disease. Earlier in the spring he trained for only two weeks, and then he ran the Boston Marathon to completion with his wife who had been training all year! The week before his death, he captured the championship at the Derry Fest Men's Doubles Tennis Tournament with his brother, Darren. Then, he was gone.

     Dana was an even tempered athlete who often volunteered his time to teach tennis to local youths; he also spent much time at Hood Pond helping out with summer recreation programs. He was and intense and talented competitor, yet a gentleman, and as his brother Doug wrote in a poem for Dana's funeral: "a great big teddy bear."

     Because of Dana's never ending joy and involvement with life, the tournament was reorganized and expanded. In 1992, it was renamed in his honor and structured into a charity event. With the assistance of the town of Derry's Parks and Recreation Department, especially Mike Jesson and Eric Bodenrader, as well as the tireless efforts of the Derry Village Rotary Club, and tourney director, John Pelkey, USPTA, Dana's Tourney has become Southern New Hampshire's premier tennis event. In 2007, 159 players participated!

     Every summer, tourney earnings are transferred to our charity partner organization, the Derry Village Rotary Club. Each year proceeds are earmarked for aid to leukemia or cancer research or victims of these tragedies. Monies are also applied to improve youth recreation endeavors in Derry, a noted Ball family interest. It should be emphasized that beyond the costs of running the event, which include tourney tees, awards, balls, and food for the cook-out, 100% of the net profits are given to charity. No one is paid for their volunteer efforts.

     Please join us each summer for a wonderful tournament experience!

     The teddy bear became the appropriate tournament mascot because Doug, Dana's older brother, eulogized him in an original poem, calling Dana a "great big teddy bear." Mrs. Ball said of Dana, "Every family has its own characterization for each of their children, and in our case, Dana was the family 'teddy bear.' Easy to talk to, a good listener, constructively critical, always complimentary, witty, helpful when you needed him, patient and fun to be with, Dana was a person who invited hugs. . . just like a teddy bear!"