The Gloucestershire Lawn Tennis Association
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Thursday, February 14, 2002
A warm welcome to Simon Pender
A warm welcome to Simon Pender, who became the country's youngest County Performance Officer when he took on the mantle of C P O for Gloucestershire on February 1st.
Cornishman Simon my be just 23, but he has packed a wealth of playing and coaching experience into his tender years and we are very lucky to have him on board.
Until a serious knee injury interrupted his career, Simon was a brilliant junior player, world ranked No. 10 in doubles and 21 in singles. His feet hardly touched the ground as he played the international tennis circuit from the age of 16 alongside contemporaries such as Tommy Haas and Marat Safin, who fought out a memorable Men's Singles semi-final at the Australian Open.
But a year and a half out of the game - after crocking himself playing football with Tim Henman at a Miami training camp - focussed his mind on coaching and he has crammed in plenty of teaching since his playing days were curtailed.
He worked his way up to become Number 2 coach in the East Region's tennis academy based in Cambridge, where he dealt with the elite 13 to 16 year-old players. He then enjoyed a fascinating two-month spell at the John Newcombe Academy in Texas, working with some of the world's top youngsters. He was tempted back to England by the possibility of our job in Gloucester, based at the superb Oxstalls Indoor Tennis Centre, and he is now champing at the bit to get going.
Simon, who will be moving shortly from his home in Newlyn, West Cornwall, says,
"I feel really comfortable about coming back to the South West. My girlfriend still lives in Cornwall and this beats commuting from Texas, believe me."
Simon started playing tennis at the age of five, under the wing of Keith Songhurst at Penzance Tennis Club, and is particularly looking forward to developing beginners in the game.
"As C.P.O. I will, of course, be managing the top juniors of the County, the ones who are on, or around, the fringes of the National Futures Programme. I'll be trying to groom them for the local academy at Bath, but I get a real kick out of coaching newcomers too. I see one of my roles as going into local primary schools and spotting kids with good co-ordination skills who had perhaps never considered playing tennis as a pastime."
Simon's own precocious talent was picked up at an early age and he has been the South West's top player through every age group from under 8. He even played in his first tournament abroad, in Denmark, at the age of 11.
"Paul Butcher (now C P O in Devon) and Roger Jones (Regional Manager at Bath) were fabulous coaches who helped me to the next level." Says Simon.
At 14 he became a boarder at the Colston Collegiate School, Bristol to further his career and hit the junior international circuit full-time at the age of 16, coached by Nick Brown, firstly at the Queen's Club in London and then in Cambridge. Two years later he was selected for the four man Laing squad whose fellow members included Martin Lee and Arvind Parmar, now both part of Britain's Davis Cup team. While partnering Lee, Simon recalls giving Jeremy Bates and Tim Henman a scare at the National Doubles Championships going down 6-4, 6-4. But it was with his regular partner, Ben Harman, that Simon got to the doubles semi-finals of Junior Wimbledon, though he rates playing in the Junior French Open as a greater competitive achievement.
"It was much tougher to qualify for the French and I had a good run until being put out by Vladimir Voltchkov"
While limping for a year with his knee problem, Simon felt he should get his coaching qualifications.
"I feel I'm now in a position to give something back and there is tremendous potential in Gloucestershire. I am young, but I've seen a lot and hope I can make an impact."
Posted at 10:06 AM [link]
Thursday, February 07, 2002
Congratulations to Richard Owen
Congratulations to Richard Owen, from Fairford, who has been achieving some excellent results around the country!
Richard who has a 6.2 rating and will not be 10 until November has been playing in Regional Challenges over the Winter at 10 years and under level.
Regional Challenges are held at indoor venues throughout the country for aspiring junior players, who are county standard or above. The event is played over 2 days and the players are in a draw of 16 contesting 4 matches each over the weekend.
For the first time Gloucestershire was able to host an event at Oxstalls Indoor Tennis Centre over the weekend of 19th - 20th January. It was here that Richard took his first title as winner of a Regional Challenge Event, beating Thomas Edden, who has a 6.2 rating from Warwickshire.
Richard followed this up by achieving another title, this time away from home at Corby. Richard put out the number 1 seed Omari Whyne, of Essex, who has a 5.2 rating in the semi-final and then went on to beat Thomas Edden again in the final.
Well done Richard!
Congratulations from all in County Training and Glos. L T A
Posted at 11:08 AM [link]
Friday, February 01, 2002
East Gloucestershire Club have been accredited with Priority Status
East Gloucestershire Club have been accredited with Priority Status by the LTA for their achievements through Club Vision.
EG has worked closely with the county and Chris Rivers, County Development Officer, and the Club Services Unit of the LTA to plan and deliver an excellent tennis programme for both juniors and adults.
The club has also addressed Child Protection issues, a Mini Tennis programme, as well as forging community links with Pates Grammar school and surrounding junior schools.
Under the guidance of Paul Hutchins, a former Davis Cup Captain, the club is now working to implement a Club Performance Programme for talented juniors.
In recognition of their achievements, along with their planned development for the future of the club and county, EG has been awarded a sizeable grant and a loan from the LTA. This will give the club modern facilities enabling them to host all present events they run and as well as future activities.
The club will now be able to implement the building of 2 new floodlit artificial grass courts, change 4 shale courts to clay, build a Kidszone for Mini Tennis and redesign and refurbish the clubhouse.
We all look forward to seeing the new look EG and wish the club well with the building work.
Chris Rivers, County Development Officer.
Posted at 9:42 PM [link]