VISITING LTA PRESIDENT LAUDS HERTFORDSHIRE TENNIS

President of the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) Peter Bretherton showed his support for tennis in Hertfordshire by taking time out to visit tennis venues and meet volunteers.

Bretherton saw how various ways to get involved were implemented in clubs in Welwyn Garden City, St Albans and Harpenden and he engaged with the people working and volunteering to help drive tennis forward in the county.

The LTA President began his day at Gosling Tennis Centre, Welwyn Garden City where a number of Britain’s top professional tennis players train, such as British No.8 Ed Corrie, and met with members of the centre as well as Director of Tennis Matt Willcocks.

Bretherton also saw programmes run to get adults and children involved as he travelled to the successful Cardio Tennis session at Harpenden Sports Centre and LTA Mini Tennis at Westminster Lodge.

He said: “I had an excellent day and I was really impressed to see so much going on in the area. Hertfordshire is proving to be a fine place to get involved in tennis no matter what your age or ability.

“The enthusiasm from the volunteers, the expertise of the coaches and the talent of the players was a joy to see, as well as the support from the local authorities. It showed how many opportunities there are to play tennis more often.”

Cardio Tennis, a tennis-based fitness class sweeping the nation, has been successfully implemented into Harpenden Sports Centre’s fitness classes and is growing quickly despite launching just three weeks ago.

The newly established LTA Mini Tennis sessions at Westminster Lodge have seen children as young as four playing on smaller courts, with smaller nets and rackets and lower bouncing balls but with all the fun and energy of the real thing, which provides the perfect introduction to the sport.

Leo Tutt, the LTA’s Tennis Development Manager for Hertfordshire, added: “It was fantastic to show Peter first-hand the work being done to increase tennis participation in the community.

“We are committed to improving tennis in Hertfordshire and continue to get more people involved and show how easy it is to play.”

To find your nearest tennis venue, coach or someone to play with please head to www.allplaytennis.com.