The first term of office for new Suffolk LTA Chairman Julia Waters has certainly been a memorable one. For my final column I asked Julia to comment on this period, and despite all the high points and moments of success, she starts by reminding us quite rightly of the sad passing of tennis icon Elena Baltacha in the Spring :-
“ During the Spring all connected with Suffolk, British and World tennis were saddened to hear that Elena Baltacha, universally known as “Bally”, had lost her battle against liver cancer. Her legacy will live on through her highly successful EBAT Academy run by her widower Nino and a dedicated coaching team. Bally would have delighted in so much success, especially the Girls’ 10U team finishing 4th in the National Finals at Bolton.
The start of the 2014 Summer season saw 24 of the 52 clubs in Suffolk organize Open Days as part of the LTA Great British Tennis Weekend initiative. The number of people who tried out tennis for the first time was encouraging and all clubs gained new members. Roundwood and Stowmarket were two clubs which were particularly successful.
As always, the Suffolk tennis marquee at the Suffolk Show attracted huge interest, with at least 1,500 children and adults trying out mini tennis, and enjoying the new speed of serve competition.
The highlight of the year for Suffolk tennis was the performance of our Men’s County Cup team, who gained promotion to the highly prestigious Division 1, and will be playing next Summer on the grasscourts of Eastbourne against the very top counties in British tennis. Our 35.0 Ladies were promoted for the 3rd year running, and several of our Senior Men’s and Ladies’ team also enjoyed highly successful seasons.
Fresh after helping Suffolk Men reached Group 1, Matt Hough had a remarkable run, winning the British Tour event at Felixstowe, and brushing all opposition aside at Framlingham, where he again captured the Closed Singles and Doubles titles. On Suffolk Finals Day LTA President Cathie Sabin visited the tournament and commented on what a fantastic festival of tennis it was. Paul Midgley, a member of the Suffolk Men’s team, has done very well to be awarded a tennis scholarship to an American university.
Cathie Sabin was back in Suffolk recently to present the Elena Baltacha Award at the Suffolk Sports Evening, also visiting Christchurch Park, Culford School, and performing the opening of a new 4th court at Wortham TC named the Laurie Dickson court in memory of a former chairman. If you want to find out more about tennis in our county, follow Suffolk tennis on Twitter@LTA Suffolk, on facebook follow Suffolk LTA, and watch out shortly for our new website.
(STOP PRESS: Many congratulations to the annual Ladies’ Charity Tennis Tournament at the Ipswich Sports Club which raised £558-00 for St.Elizabeth Hospice.)