The Helen Newman trophy is awarded each year to the Most Improved Player at the Dorset County Closed in the memory of Helen Newman who volunteered for many years with Dorset Junior Tennis.
Greta Newman, Helen's daughter, kindly presented the trophy to the winner and gave the following speech:
"Helen Newman, my mother, would have been more than delighted to praise not only in words, but also give the trophy, with a small token, to the most improved player in Dorset junior tennis.
The fundamentals have not changed much in the last 34 years! But more of that in a moment.
A huge thank you should go to the parents, who are often forgotten, for the dedication they give to the game and the progress of their offspring. That is, in the form of ‘acting taxi’ all over the country and even abroad plus costs. So well done to the parents, there should be a trophy for them!
I did say 34 years ago; - Two nights ago still sorting through my mother’s papers, I came across two letters to myself;
The first dated Wednesday 30th August 1979 (34 years ago tomorrow) – “I was exhausted after our tennis week, but am perking up now. Sunday a.m. down to Talbot Heath and County trials.”
The 2nd letter, dated Friday 3rd October 1980 – “Am writing this outside in gorgeous sunshine – another super day as was yesterday when I drove up from Bodmin and on to a junior committee meeting at West Hants in the evening. Tomorrow I’m ‘On Duty’ for regional training at Street and on Sunday afternoon, I’m taking some girls for a team practice at Blandford. On Monday, the regional executives are meeting the Bath and West Show president at Shepton Mallet to talk over the possibilities of making a Regional Tennis Centre there in some of their existing buildings – all very interesting and we are to be given lunch!”
So, no change, but the improvement of the standard of tennis has soared in the last 34 years and you will all keep soaring higher as you improve.
Personally, I greatly admire Roger Federer. He is more than an all-round player of a huge standard – both mentally as well as physically. He is cool, calm and collected in manner and no drama queen (as many are), which makes the game even more inspiring to be part of.
There is a wonderful quote from Heyward Hale Brown, a sports commentator: “Sports do not build character, they reveal it.”
Enjoy, keep cool, improve steadily and you will make your mark in the world of tennis."