A group of eight teenage boys from Thornden Tennis Club, Chandlers Ford, along with Head Coach Paul Scullard and Juniors’ Coach Josh Gook spent the October half-term break at the Sotogrande Tennis Academy in Southern Spain. The tennis centre, led by former British Number 1 doubles player Daniel Kiernan, is known for its excellent facilities and is a favourite training resort for serious tennis players, including UK national champions, Luke Hammond and Savannah Yardley, as well as many other players from Europe and beyond.
The boys left England early Sunday morning hoping for sunnier weather and a whole week of uninterrupted tennis and fitness training. The week went extremely well and the boys spent the majority of the time improving their tennis and fitness skills and playing matches against other groups at the academy. Unusually there was some rain during the week but whilst it stopped play on the clay courts Coach Josh Gook wasn’t letting them off the hook and took the boys for extra fitness training!
As well as improving their tennis skills - thanks to their own coaches and those at the Spanish Academy - and increasing their general fitness, the boys also found time for a little sight-seeing with a day trip to Gibraltar and generally had a fantastic week.
More details about Thornden Tennis Club can be found at www.thorndentennisclub.co.uk or by contacting the Membership Secretary, Liz Taylor via email: emt_home@hotmail.com or Head Coach Paul Scullard on 07876 598777.
Thornden Tennis is running a Grade 4 Christmas Tournament sponsored by A & A from Sat 22nd to Sunday 23rd December. Enter online via LTA with website code - HAM12W5998