May Half Term Tennis Camps 2019

Looking for healthy alternative for your children in the May Half Term break? Want your children to have fun and learn a new sport in school holidays? Then Totally Tennis has just the answer ……….

Children can keep active whilst having lots of fun and learn a new sport in the school holidays with the clubs popular Tennis and Multi Sport Camps that will be running at Totally Tennis’ indoor centre in the War Memorial Park (9am – 4.00pm) from Tuesday 28th until Friday 31st May with morning and afternoon sessions as well as full-day options.

The scheme has OFSTED accreditation and the sessions are run by our experienced Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) qualified and licensed coaches. Sessions at both venues will include tennis and multi-sports activities. Children must be 5 and over to stay for the full day. Each child should dress appropriately for tennis activities and need to bring a packed lunch, drinks and wear sunscreen if the weather is good. Children will be supervised throughout the day, including lunch breaks and swimming sessions.

Rackets will be provided for those who need one. Please note refunds will only be given with 24 hours notice and sessions need a minimum number of participants in order to take place. As a result of a cancellation by Totally Tennis an alternative will be offered.

For more information about the Tennis Camps at either venue please telephone Totally Tennis on 01256 358816, email tt@totallytennis.co.uk or visit the website www.totallytennis.co.uk

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Adult Doubles Tournament

Twelve players competed in our Adult Doubles Tournament last week that was followed by the club’s annual Wimbledon Draw.

The tournament format was timed twenty-minute doubles matches where players had to score as many games as they could in the timed match that accumulated towards their total score on the leaderboard. After each round everyone would change partners and play against different people.

After three rounds the scores were very close for the top three places on the leaderboard and after the final round the top 3 players were 1st Jenny Vaux, 2nd Chris Farrer and 3rd Fawad Amin.

After the competition the players got into the Wimbledon spirit by enjoying some strawberries & cream and the ballet was drawn.

Head coach James McIntosh said, “Congratulations to Jenny! It was a great finish to the event as some of the players were lucky enough to win tickets in the Wimbledon ballot.”

Cummings Wins Cardiff Tournament

Totally Tennis mini performance player Hayden Cummings has been competing in some tournaments over the past couple of months. At the beginning of this month he won the 10 & under Grade 3 Cardiff Mini Tennis tournament held at David Lloyd Club Cardiff in South Glamorgan. In the first round he beat Tom Bewley 5-3, 4-1, Nathan Shore in the quarters 4-0, 4-0 and then Matthew Mclain in the semis 5-4, 1-4, 10-8. In the final he defeated Edward Bennett 4-0, 4-1 to win the event.

Last month he competed in both the 10 & under singles and doubles at the Sutton Tennis Academy Easter Grade 2 Tournament.  In the doubles, Cummings and partner Tuna Lokman were runners-up after losing in the final against Rhys Lawlor and Jacob Cairncross 5-3, 4-0. In the quarters they beat Harry Cornhill and Conrad Plum 5-4(10), 4-1 followed by Nathaniel De Mariveles and Pavana Nrshinga in the semis 4-1, 4-2. In the singles event he competed in the qualifying stages in Group F but did not progress to the main draw after losing to both Jacob Cairncross and Alexander Farmanbar.

He also finished third at the Finchley Manor Junior Open Tournament in Middlesex after wining the third/fourth place playoff match against Charlie Ripp 4-0, 4-1. After a bye in the first round he beat Giorgio Giliberti 4-2, 4-1 before losing in the semis in a three-set battle against Denzell Darkey 2-4, 5-4(3), 1-0(4).

Head coach James McIntosh said, “Hayden has continued to progress in his lessons to improve his game and his hard work has paid off by qualifying for the National Grade 2 event and winning the Grade 3 tournament in Cardiff.” he added  “Well done Hayden, keep up the good work.”

Cummings will be representing Hampshire in the 10 & under County Cup at the end of May.

Primary Schools Tournament 2019

The annual Primary Schools Tournament took place at Totally Tennis’ indoor centre last week. This year saw the highest number of entires for the event with a total of nine schools involved and some of them bringing three teams.

The tournament was split into four boxes of group matches where teams play each other and the top two teams from each box qualified for the quarter finals. Each team had four players and they all played a singles match with timed tie breaks.

The eight teams who made it through the quarter final stage were all three teams from Sherborne St John, St Johns 1 and 3, St Mary’s Primary 1 and 2 and Winklebury 2. The St Johns 1 team beat Sherborne 2, St Mary’s 1 beat Winklebury 2, Sherborne 1 defeated St Johns 3 and St Mary’s 2 beat Sherborne 3.

In the semis St Marys 1 defeated St Johns 3-1  and Sherborne 1 beat St Marys 2 4-0 and Sherborne were declared tournament winners after beating the St Mary’s 1 team 4-0.

Head coach James McIntosh said, “The final was a repeat from last year but This time it was the Sherborne team that came out top with each player winning their matches.” he added, “All of the players enjoyed competing for their respective school. The standard of the competition was good and there were some very close matches played throughout the day. Congratulations to the Sherborne team!”

Good luck to Sherborne team who will now go on to compete in the Hampshire Games taking place in June.

 

April In Pictures

Performance player Dean Cooper Kirby training at the Gomez Tennis Academy in Florida  (above) and training for his ITF event in Guadeloupe in the Caribbean (below)

Pirates and Indians squads with coach Liam and assistants

Our coaching and admin teams brushed up on their First Aid skills

Performance player and coach Liam Hignett won the Solent Cup with his teammates from Warsash Tennis ClubSpring has sprung! Head Coach James McIntosh on the outdoor courts during one of our adult morning sessions

Coach Jamie on court with the Tennis Tots at the taster session

Easter Tennis Camp fun

Kevin Karjalainen won two runner-up trophies in Easter holiday tournaments

Junior players and parents took play in the family tennis event The Quorn™ Family Cup 2019 which was won by father and son Ben and Hayden Cummings (below)

Meet Our Coaches – Did you read Liam, Jamie, Steph and Julia’s coach profiles this month?

Meet Our Coaches: Julia Moore

Coach Profile: Julia Moore

Coaching Qualification?  Level 3, Accredited + coach

How old were you when you first started playing tennis?

I was 11 which is a bit late for juniors 

How were you introduced to the sport?

My mum and dad used to play and have me sat at the side when I was very young but eventually I bugged them to let me try. They gave me a very old large wooden racket which was far too big!! No such thing as mini tennis when I started. I taught myself by hitting against a wall. Once I started hitting with my family, my dad used to rush the net after the first shot of every rally. He’s 6’1 so that was quite fun for a kid! Once I started beating him, I tried out for a club scholarship which I got and went on from there.

What made you come to work at Totally Tennis?

Nigel taught me on my level 3 course and so I know that I’ll continue to develop as a coach with him. I also did some research and knew that Totally Tennis offered a good programme for all sorts of different standards of players and ages. The coaching is well respected in tennis circles – put simply, it’s a proper tennis club and programme.

Who is your favourite professional tennis player?

Dominika Cibulkova because she’s quite short for a tennis player yet she’s a force to be reckoned with on court. It’s all to do with her athleticism and attitude. She’s got one of the best fighting attitudes out there, in my opinion, plus she makes sure to enjoy her life outside of tennis. I think mental attitude and life balance is sometimes neglected in professional tennis and I think it can help someone have longevity in the game. Her go-getting attitude is very similar to Rafa Nadal who I love too.

Years ago, my favourites were Steffi Graf and Andre Agassi because of their huge groundstrokes, especially forehands! She was always classy on court and treated everyone with respect, while obviously being a hugely competitive player. Andre Agassi likewise; his autobiography is one of the best tennis books I’ve read and such a good story that I even recommend it to people who don’t play tennis.

What do you like most about coaching tennis?

I love it when someone suddenly understands something and then they can do it. I also really like it when I can help a good player become better when they realise how important mental toughness is.

How often do you coach?

About 4-5 days a week

Do you play any other sport?

Golf and sometimes skiing

What is your greatest achievement in tennis so far?

I’ve got two – one personal and one due to someone else’s achievement. Firstly, I’m glad I started playing competitively again about four years ago and eventually, I won my first ITF seniors tournament last year. Secondly, I’m so proud of a young girl I sometimes hit with who is a top junior in Britain and has just flown off to play a round of international ITF tournaments – she’s not only talented and ambitious but a kind girl.

Cummings Win The Quorn™ Family Cup 2019

Father and son duo Hayden and Ben Cummings won the Quorn™ Family Cup 2019 event held at the indoor centre yesterday. The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) event, run by coach Miles Bromilow, is a family tournament that give players the opportunity to compete in an informal and fun competition with an adult family member. The event also promotes playing tennis more frequently and eat healthy food as part of an active lifestyle.

Sixteen players entered the competition playing in two boxes of four pairings. The top two teams in each box progressed to the semis and the bottom two played consolation matches against each other. The Cummings, who also won the event back in 2016, defeated Roksana and Chris Jelonek in the final 10-5.

Bromilow who said, “We had a great turnout and lots of prizes were given out. Congratulations to our winning pair Hayden and Ben.”

As club winner’s Hayden and Ben will be invited to a Red Ball Festival Day hosted at an LTA Summer Grass Court event in June. The Festival Days include some more, fun Red Ball tennis as well as goodies and prizes for all the junior players. After enjoying lunch, players and parents are free to enjoy watching the professional players in action.

Read more about The Quorn™ Family Cup HERE