Winter County Cup debutant Ben Rushby said he was both “honoured” and “surprised” to be nominated twice for this year’s tennis awards – but admitted he had enjoyed his best junior year.
The 18-year-old will move up to senior level this year but he has never been put forward for the boys’ player of the year title before.
Rushby has also again been nominated as club player of year for the 2012 Derbyshire Tennis Awards, after his club Church Broughton won the Burton Tennis League.
He will be among 400 players and representatives from tennis clubs across the county who will attend the third annual Derbyshire Tennis Awards at Pride Park Stadium on Friday, February 24.
The teenager, of Hilton, said he was proud of several achievements in 2011, including representing the county at senior level for the first time when competing in the AEGON Winter County Cup.
He helped Derbyshire boys’ under-18 county cup squad secure their place in Division 3A and defended his doubles titles with fellow nominee Jacob East in the Derbyshire Tennis Dollamore tournament, for the third year in a row, and the County Closed Championships.
Rushby, who also reached the men’s doubles final at the county closed, said his last year as a junior was his best.
“I’m pretty honoured to be nominated for two awards and really surprised about the boys’ player of the year,” he said.
“I play other sports too and it means I don’t get the chance to play tennis tournaments week in and week out, although I do coaching. Some of the others are full time.
“But I’m pleased that, when I have been playing, I think I’ve been doing quite well and I’ve been enjoying it as well. It’s probably been my best year as a junior.
“It was great to get the call-up for the men’s county team for the first time because it has become a family thing.
"Both my brothers, Tom and James, are in the team, although Tom couldn’t play at the Winter County Cup, so it was great to play alongside James. My mum and sister have also represented the county.
“Sadly, we were relegated but we gave it a good go and were incredibly close to staying up. It was a good experience and great to play alongside both the new and long-standing players.”
Rushby also said he was pleased with the success of Church Broughton in 2011. It has also been nominated for the club of the year.
“In the Derby Area League, we managed to stay in our division and we won the Burton League, which was great,” he added.
“We’ve always been a Derby Area club but it was nice to win Burton and we managed to do it dropping only a few rubbers.
“I’ve been nominated for club player of the year before but it’s still brilliant to be put forward again.”
Among those nominated for the women’s player of the year is doubles world-ranked player Gemma Praditngam, 20, of Shardlow.
Praditngam, currently studying an English Literature degree at the University of Warwick, acquired her ranking after spending three months training and playing tournaments in Thailand.
“It’s wonderful to be nominated for an award and lovely to be acknowledged by the county,” she said.
“It’s been an interesting last year. I decided to go to Thailand in my gap year and it took me quite a while to adjust to the heat but I had an amazing time.
“I qualified in three $10,000 tournaments and lost in the first round but that was how I acquired my ranking.
“I’m now just trying to keep my options open. The tennis career lifestyle is a dream but it is hard work.
“While I’m studying, I’m trying to keep my fitness levels up and compete on a regular basis so that I can keep my hand in.”
Ten awards will be presented on the night for the best player, coach or team of the year in each category – volunteer, boys’ junior player, girls’ junior player, coach, men’s player, women’s player, veteran’s player, club player, club and the Derek Wardle Memorial Award.
Organiser Rob Salmon said: “We want to celebrate this by bringing everyone together as we look to reward the players, volunteers, clubs and coaches who are the heartbeat of tennis in this county.”
Shortlist for the Derbyshire Tennis Awards
Men: Chris Archer, Chris McPherson, James Rushby, Tom Rushby, Chris Simpson, Simon Thornewill.
Women: Ena Ankutse, Yasmin Clarke, Gemma Praditngam, Jane Rushby.
Boys: Bradley Buckland, Jay Clarke, Jacob East, Sam Ferguson, Harry Finney, Ben Rushby, Reuben Shahidullah.
Girls: Victoria Allen, Hannah Davey, Louise Holtum, Ciere Mullins, Olivia Nelms, Katy Wilson, Mary Langen.
Veterans: Chris Booth, Claire Bridges, Ashley Broomhead, Dave Dawkins, Nick Fulwood, Jane Rushby.
Club Player: Jonny Brooke, Graeme Gibson, Claire Hatto, Miriam Jones, Ben Rushby, Nick Wharam, Trevor Williamson.
Volunteer: Mike Bickmore, Tony Buck, Jenni Bull, Fiona Fellows, Joanne Jones, Diane Lockwood, Keith Murcutt, Martin Stevenson-Revill.
Coach: Ashley Broomhead, Mike James, Mat Lowe, James Middleton, Chris Osborne, Jane Rushby, Simon Thornewill, Phil Wilcock.
Club: Ashbourne, Chesterfield, Church Broughton, David Lloyd Derby, Duffield, Woodlands.