Roger Draper, Chief Executive of the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), has praised Cambridgeshire tennis clubs and coaches for their work in improving access to the sport in rural areas.
The chief executive of the LTA was a special guest at Cambridgeshire LTA’s annual general meeting in the Old Library at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, yesterday evening where he spoke to 60 players, coaches and officials from the county’s clubs about the LTA’s support for their efforts to enhance facilities, improve access to the sport and increase opportunities to play for local people of all ages and abilities.
Draper highlighted accessible facilities such as Cherry Hinton Tennis Club at Netherhall School and Sixth Form College in Cambridge which was awarded ‘Beacon’ status as part of the AEGON Parks Tennis programme last October in recognition of its high quality, affordable community tennis programmes. He also answered questions from local tennis players and officials about the LTA’s funding programmes and support for local tennis.
Draper said: "These are the volunteers, the players, officials and coaches who make our sport happen in Cambridgeshire, so it’s been really useful to talk to so many of them, and set out how the LTA is committed to supporting them.
"It’s important that we all work together closely at this challenging time economically in order to help more people play tennis."
Cambridgeshire LTA chairman Richard Barnes welcomed Draper to the AGM, adding: "It was an excellent AGM, and great to have Roger here to listen to thoughts and questions from tennis people in Cambridgeshire. There’s a lot of good work going on in the local clubs here, and I’m really pleased that Roger got the chance to hear about it firsthand."
The meeting also heard from Justin Chacksfield, the talent and performance coordinator for Tennis East, about new pathways for spotting and nurturing talented local players, while East Region Tennis Operations Manager John Golding welcomed Draper to the meeting as he outlined the LTA’s work in improving tennis programmes and facilities throughout the county.
Golding explained that another two places to play tennis in Cambridgeshire are expected to be awarded Beacon status this year, while the number of juniors competing regularly in the county has grown to more than 500 and is expected to reach 600 by the end of September due in part to the excellent progress made in schools and colleges.
Golding said: "It was great to have Roger with us and to have the opportunity to talk to him about our work supporting Places to Play, increasing opportunities to play tennis in Cambridgeshire, and improving pathways for talented youngsters identified by our coaches."