Tennis Archives - Aberdeen Voice

New Head Coach At City Tennis Centre

Sep 182015

With thanks to Dave Macdermid.

Westburn Tennis Centre has appointed a new Head Coach whose remit is to steer the direction of the venue’s coaching programmes and work with Sport Aberdeen to increase the breadth of programmes on offer.

Glaswegian David Campbell joins the centre from Thorn Park, where he worked with several junior national players and before that he was head coach at Drumchapel Tennis Club.

The 24 year old is looking forward to his latest challenge.

“Westburn has huge potential that I’ll be looking to capitalise on and I’m very confident indeed that in the team there and their ability to grow and develop tennis there.”

Sport Aberdeen Tennis Development Officer Matt Kerswell added:

“We’re delighted to have David on board. He’ll take a lead on the development of the coaching team through on-court mentoring and regular support and will manage the centre’s members, including the entering of teams in the local leagues for the first time.

“David will also assist with the marketing and business support relating to the Westburn programme and his appointment will result in a significant enhancement of what the centre will have the ability to deliver going forward.”

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Tennis For Free At Westburn Park This Weekend

Aberdeen City, Sport No Responses »

Mar 272015

With thanks to Dave Macdermid.

This Saturday sees the re-launch of the ever-popular ‘Tennis For Free’ (TFF) initiative at Aberdeen’s Westburn Park.
TFF provides free weekly fun tennis sessions for all the family and the charity’s Chief Executive Officer Paul Jessop is excited at the prospect of it returning to The Granite City.

“We want as many people as possible to visit Wesburn Park on Saturday and have a go. It’s free, you will have top quality tennis coaches to teach you, so what more could you want.”

Coaching will be delivered in association with TFF, Tennis Scotland and Sport Aberdeen and Tennis Development Officer Matt Kerswell is anticipating a large turnout.

“Our TFF re-launch will be taking place this Saturday (28th March) at the tennis courts in Westburn Park from 2 – 4 pm.

“The Westburn coaching team will deliver sessions for all ages and abilities, splitting the courts up and running a range of different activities and tennis games.

“Register yourself and family members onto the session at www.tffwestburn.co.uk, using your login details, and remember the session is FREE.”

Local Tennis Star Selected For Scottish Schools Team

Aberdeen City, Sport No Responses »

Jun 202014

With thanks to Dave Macdermid.

It’s promising to be a busy summer for local teenage tennis star Ross Martin who has been selected to represent a Scottish Schools team this weekend to play in a challenge match against the South African team, which is touring Britain.

The match will be played at St Georges School in Edinburgh on Saturday.

The Robert Gordon’s College pupil has just returned from competing in a Tennis Europe event in Oslo, winning two matches in qualifying, followed by two in the main draw to reach the quarter finals before losing to the Norwegian No 2 Under 14 6-3, 6-4 but in the process, gaining him his first European ranking points.

13 year old Ross, who plays at David Lloyd was part of the North County U14 team, which came 3rd in the British County Championships last month.

Financial Boost For Bruce

Aberdeen City, Featured, Sport No Responses »

Apr 262013

With thanks to Dave Macdermid.

A North East subsea services and training company is the latest organisation to provide financial support for Aberdeen tennis player Bruce Strachan, in his bid to build a full time career in the sport.
Tullos-based SUBC Engineering Ltd, which operates globally, will assist the 18-year-old with equipment, training, subsistence and tournament entry fees.

Colin Burney, the Managing Director of SUBC believes it’s vital to give Bruce every chance of succeeding in what is one of the world’s most competitive sports.

“It’s fantastic that Bruce is attempting to follow in Andy Murray’s footsteps and SUBC is only too happy to play a small part in helping to make that happen. He’s a real talent and certainly deserves to succeed in his quest.”

Bruce recently lifted his first title of the year, winning the Stirling Grand Prix and in the process defeating former Australian Open Junior Doubles champion Graeme Dyce 7-6 (6), 7-5 in the final.

In addition to SUBC Engineering, Bruce is supported by a number of organisations and individuals including the Paul Lawrie Foundation and David Lloyd.

The North East Open Men’s Singles champion for the past two years, Bruce is currently in the middle of a hectic competition schedule featuring the AEGON British Tour and the ITF Futures event, with a couple of events on mainland Europe planned for later in the spring.

For further information contact Dave Macdermid on 07710 580148, dave.macdermid@tennisscotland.org

Support Continues For Tennis Star Bruce

Aberdeen City, Sport No Responses »

Mar 212013

The Paul Lawrie Foundation and David Lloyd Leisure are the latest organisations to assist teenage tennis star Bruce Strachan in his bid to forge a full time career as a professional player.

With thanks to Dave Macdermid.

Bruce Strachan, the 18 year old Aberdonian tennis player who trains full time at Stirling University, has received financial support from the Paul Lawrie Foundation which also donated auction items for a recent fundraising dinner, hosted by David Lloyd Aberdeen, which raised over £7,000.

David Lloyd Leisure has also granted Bruce use of the facilities at all of its leisure complexes throughout the United Kingdom while, in the north east, various individuals and organisations have assisted to help him with equipment, training, subsistence and tournament entry fees.

Bruce, who has been the North East Open men’s singles champion for the past two years, is currently in the middle of a hectic competition schedule featuring AEGON British tour and ITF Futures events, with a couple of events on mainland Europe planned for later in the spring.

Tennis At Westburn: Latest

Aberdeen City, Sport No Responses »

Nov 192012

The past few days has witnessed more than 80 junior matches being played in the North East. With thanks to Dave Macdermid.

The NESLTA Mini Tennis Red event at Westburn Tennis Centre saw the players split into four groups, the top two players from each progressing to a knockout draw.

Alford’s Ewan Smith was on top form, winning all his group matches.

He went onto win both his quarter and semi-finals easily before defeating Rubislaw’s Benjamin Hine 10-4 in an excellent final.

District Coach Vikki Paterson said,

“It was great to see so many new red players entering this event. Out of the 22 players, we had eight who were playing for the first time.”

This month’s orange event provided a great final with Cameron Jappy (Rubislaw) recovering from a first set loss to Ewan Smith to win the final 2-7, 7-2, 7-3.

In the Green event Cults youngster Angus Edward continued to impress, winning the event 4-2 in a final against Rubislaw’s Jamie Connel. Alford’s Greg Smith beat Harrsha Pradeep Kumar (Cults) in the 3rd and 4th place playoff.

Vikki said,

“This has been a really busy weekend of tennis with many good matches. The standard of tennis was really good and the improvement in the players has been great”

Next month the North East will host the annual North of Scotland Inter County District Competition, the North East U8, U9 and U10 teams will battle it out against Tayside, Highlands and Central.

Vikki Picks Up Award

Aberdeen City, Sport No Responses »

Aug 312012

With thanks to Dave Macdermid.

North East District tennis coach Vikki Paterson is seen here being presented with the sportscotland Aberdeen City Council Development Coach of the Year award by Tennis Scotland’s Andrew Raitt.
In addition to being NESLTA coach, Vikki, who lives in Kintore, is the club coach for Banchory and Westhill and is also the voluntary organiser for the nine North County age group teams.

Sport Aberdeen’s John Purcell, who nominated Vikki for the award, said.

“NESLTA has recently agreed a demanding development plan with Tennis Scotland, with the emphasis very much on increasing participation and Vikki’s input to this will be crucial to its success.

“Her current work with the Active Schools team in Aberdeen and her organisation of the inaugural Glacier Energy Under 12 Grand Prix series at Westburn are excellent illustrations of the innovative work she is undertaking.”

Busy Sporting Weekend Ahead At Westburn

Aberdeen City, Sport No Responses »

Aug 232012

London 2012 Paralympic Games fever comes to Aberdeen this weekend, with some top class sporting action in prospect in the centre of Aberdeen. With thanks to Dave Macdermid.

On Saturday Westburn Park Bowling Centre hosts the Scottish Disability Sport Lawn Bowls Championships.

It is supported by Aberdeen Disability Sport and Sport Aberdeen, with the top 70 bowlers from around the country competing for their respective national titles. Players include members of the Scottish National Squad, ranked second in the world.

Play takes place throughout the day with the finals scheduled for 3.50 p.m. and presentation of prizes at 4.35 p.m.

Westburn’s Indoor Tennis Centre takes centre stage the following day, Sunday, with the inaugural Sport Aberdeen Wheelchair Tennis Tournament, part of the Tennis Foundation Wheelchair Tennis Series.

Four players will play a round robin singles event followed by an exhibition doubles. They are Neil Duncan from Kintore, Richard Craig from Inverurie, David Hogg from Midlothian, and last year’s UK Development Series Champion Keith Thom from Dumfries, who plays at the Winning Wheels Club in Edinburgh.

Andrinne Craig, Disability Sport Regional Manager, believes anyone going along on either day is in for a treat.

“The standard in both the bowling and tennis is extremely high and there are some fantastic games in prospect.

“While bowls is not a Paralympic Sport, it is a para sport at the Commonwealth Games and many of those playing will undoubtedly be at Glasgow 2014. We are also very grateful for the support of 30 local bowlers who volunteer at the event.

“Wheelchair Tennis is a Paralympic sport and Helensburgh’s Gordon Reid will take part in the men’s singles in the Paralympic Games at London 2012, starting on 29th August. Anyone local who is interested can get involved in the weekly coaching at Westburn, every Wednesday between 11 a.m. and noon.”

Entry for spectators at both events is free.

For further information contact Dave Macdermid, dave.macdermid@bigpartnership.co.uk telephone 07805 436988

Image credit: Wikimedia Commons. Licence info: File:Bowls%26Kitty.JPG

North East Successes At Elgin

Aberdeenshire, Sport No Responses »

Aug 032012

With thanks to Dave Macdermid.

North East Scotland Lawn Tennis Association District Coach Vikki Paterson’s decision to lead a team of no fewer than 25 players to Elgin’s North of Scotland Championships proved extremely worthwhile with the party picking up a clutch of titles between them.

Cults youngsters Jason Alexander and Lucy Whelan continued their recent impressive form lifting the Under 12 boys and Under 16 girls competitions respectively while Fiona Hamilton defeated Jemima Curran in an all-Rubislaw Under 18 singles final.

Jemima then teamed up with Ben Soutar (Cults) to lift the Under 18 mixed doubles event while Stonehaven pair Aoife Aitken and Annabel Burns were runners-up in both the Under 14 and Under 16 doubles.

Vikki herself enjoyed a successful event, being pipped 10-4 in the Champions tie-break by the host club’s Catherine Sim in the women’s singles final but winning both the women’s handicap singles and doubles events, partnered in the latter by Westhill clubmate Karina Waddle.

NESLTA President Brian Morgan commented:

“Vikki has once again done a great job organising this trip for the players and they all showed fantastic effort and character throughout the week.”

For further information please contact Dave Macdermid on dave.macdermid@bigpartnership.co.uk; or on mobile 07805 436988.

American Collegiate System Comes to North East

Aberdeen City, Sport No Responses »

Aug 032012

WTA tour professional Sarah Borwell is in Aberdeen on Friday evening to give a presentation on the opportunities within the extremely successful US collegiate system. With thanks to Dave Macdermid

Sarah, who has established Tennis Smart, a company that looks after player welfare in the US, is currently undergoing rehabilitation after an injury and plans to return to competitive action later this year.

The visit to Cults Tennis Club was coordinated by well known local coach Kris Soutar who explains that while tennis is the main focus of the event, there will be plenty to interest players, coaches and parents of other sports:

“You only have to see how many successful athletes in the London Olympics have come through the collegiate system in a whole variety of sports to realise how successful it is and of course these are the high profile examples.

“The US system also has a massive emphasis on the educational aspects of students’ development and those receiving scholarships may end up in law, accountancy, journalism or whatever, often in a vocation still connected with their chosen sport.”

Sarah, who came through the collegiate system herself, is under no doubts as to the benefits it can offer:

“By offering an attainable goal of a sports scholarship, we give kids something to strive for, which is in reach. We inspire youngsters to want to keep working hard and most importantly playing their chosen sport. College helped me be successful. I wasn’t ready at 17 to turn pro, so I stayed in education, developed, grew up and, by 22, I knew I was ready to turn pro.”

Aberdeen’s Joanna Henderson, one of the country’s best teenage players, commenced a tennis scholarship last August in Tennessee where she currently stars for the University’s tennis team.

Entry to Sarah’s presentation at Cults Tennis Club, which gets underway at 7pm on 3rd August, is free.

For further information, contact Dave Macdermid at dave.macdermid@bigpartnership.co.uk or on 07805 436988

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