Gerrards Cross Bull Lane awards evening

The Tenth Academy Awards were presented in the Clubhouse to the junior players involved in GXLTC Bull Lane’s Academy and tennace Performance Mini Tennis. Everyone had a great evening; celebrating 2012 and re living the climax of Andy Murray’s first Grand Slam win!

Director and Head Professional Andy Scholfield thanked treasurer Amanda Hobbs, and tennace Coaching Team James Martin, Sam Scowen and Alison Sharp; an excellent tennace coaching team available to all levels of players.  GXLTC Acadedemy continues to help subsidise younger performance players with a new Aspirantes Programme initiated in September. GXLTC Academy and Mini Tennis Performance Squads offer a great opportunity for players to progress to a higher level but they must have the desire to seize the opportunity to play as often as possible. It was not coincidence that the main awards went to players who compete and train the most ! This is the 11^th year of the Academy and has been a year of stability. A special presentation of thanks went to Performance Coach Paul Davey who is leaving the club shortly. His expertise has helped many players to develop their tennis to a very high level.  The new Junior Ambassadors are Nick Rennie (18 Wycombe Grammar school) and Izzy Grysztar (18. Chalfont Community College). They are excellent role models for the club having trained at the Club for over 9 years. They both represent the Club at all levels from Aegon Team Tennis, Bucks County Shield and under 18 teams.   Elliot Hobbs (11),  Lavinia Champion (10), James McCord, (16 John Hampden School), Rahil Sachak-Patwa (18, Dr Challoners Grammar)  won ‘Best Intensity in training’. The more intense players are in training the quicker they will improve !       All parents were thanked for all their support and captaincy of teams; awards given to Mrs Amanda Hobbs, Mrs Debbie Dalston, Mr Wayne Cairns, Mrs sandra Buckeldee, Mr Will Coomber.

Male Player of the year was Nick Rennie who became the youngest winner of the GXLTC Men s singles since the 1980’s and significantly the first GXLTC Academy player to win this event in the past 10 years !     Imogen Scarles (12) (Wycombe abbey School) won female player of the year for becoming under 12 County Champion.. The Best Team Category was outstanding this year with seven teams becoming County division winners: under 16 boys, under 12 girls, under 12 boys (two teams), Green  (under 10), Orange (under 9) and Red (under 8) teams:  Dan Buckeldee (12) achieved most improved player; Olivia Mason (11) and Matt Clarke (16) won most committed performers. Mini Tennis awards were presented to over 18 players in categories for ‘Most Committed’, Best Effort in training’ and Most improved. However andy emphasised the coaches were delighted with all players efforts ! Tennace GXLTC Academy will continue to evolve with many tournament tours organised for 2013, at Easter players will compete in Grade 3 tournaments Maidenhead and Rickmansworth. The tennace at GXLTC club opportunities have also increased with the Aegon Team Tennis starting in April, One Day tournaments, Road to Wimbledon and Club Championships starting after Easter.

All players were presented with free T shirts at the end of the Awards.

Andy Scholfield, tennace GXLTC Academy Director.  For more information contact Andy on 07791912490 and see www.tennace.com.