Rosie Fox wins Chatteris Tennis Club Julie Wing Junior Coaching Award

Rosie Fox, a junior in coaching in recent years at Chatteris Tennis Club, became the pride of her family, especially her mum Katy, when she was announced as winner of the coveted Julie Wing Junior Coaching Award for 2019 at the club’s annual junior coaching tournament on Sunday.

She has emulated her mum, Katy, who started to play tennis at a similar age and also won her club’s junior tennis award.

Katy’s tennis days were cut short by an accident which has confined her to a wheelchair ever since.

Rosie’s mum Katy and dad Andy and godparents, too, who regularly attend her coaching sessions as spectators, expressed their delight that the family’s love of tennis will now be carried forward by Rosie.

When presenting Rosie with her award, Dave Wing, who now runs junior club nights, described her as an outstanding role model for young ladies.

Uniquely this year, two winners were granted the award, now in its fifth year. Francis Antonio (15) was also presented with the award. Dave highlighted how Francis, who has also attended coaching for several years, has demonstrated exceptional progress.

Francis has been invited to play on all club nights with the adult members, too, and was runner-up in the flagship Priddey Cup mixed doubles tournament.

This week he is due to play his first league match for the men’s C team in the HPT League. Both Rosie and Francis will now receive, as part of the award, four one-to-one, one-hour coaching sessions with club coach Lisa Kennedy.

The junior coaching tournament, which was held in glorious sunshine, featured 30 young players aged 5-plus.

Their families, friends and club members swelled the attendance to a record 80-plus.

Winners of the individual tournaments for each category of juniors were – Krillen Millwood, Louise Gardner, Samuel Clews, Archie Ronald and Liam Garcia. Tony Brown won the adults in coaching tournament.

The day before, the club also provided an event for the whole community by hosting, in association with British Tennis, a “Come & Try Tennis For Free” afternoon sponsored by Nature Valley.

Members were on hand to welcome people of all ages.

All afternoon the courts were packed. Coaching sessions for children aged 5+ resume on September 8 after a break for the school holidays.

A significant number of families signed up for the special summer holiday family membership, which the club has introduced this year.

The club was delighted by how many people attended this weekend’s activities, being grateful, too, for the local sponsorship extended by Jacks. Visit www.chatteristennis.com for more information about CTC.