Exeter Tennis Centre on top at Devon LTA Awards

The Devon LTA awards highlight the standout achievements of those who contribute to the success of tennis in Devon.

Nominees for the awards were put forward by people involved in Devon’s tennis community and voted on by an LTA Panel, who reviewed their experiences and achievements from 2013.

Located at the University of Exeter’s Streatham Campus, Exeter Tennis  Centre had nominees in seven of nine categories on offer, winning a total of four awards with a further six players awarded county colours winners.

The Centre’s acclaimed Mini Performance Programme was at the fore-front of the night’s success following an exceptional year that saw four players break the national top 10.

Local star Emily Syms scooped the inaugural Player of the Year for the 10 and Under age category. Currently ranked #6 in the UK for her age, the 10 year old Teignmouth player was nominated alongside four other players, three of whom; Jed Platts, Matt Rutter and Daniel Mountford train alongside Emily at Exeter.

Performance Manager Charlotte Wallace and Mini Red Elite Coach Simon Huddart also received top honours. 23 year old Simon won Young Coach of the Year whilst Charlotte took overall Coach of the Year.

A former top 20 UK player herself and Exeter Tennis Centre’s first ever Sports Scholar, Charlotte has overseen the development of the Centre’s Mini and Junior Performance programme and recently returned from Hungary with the British Fed Cup squad as part of Team GB’s coach development programme.

She commented: “The announcements of these awards is really brilliant for the whole team. To have so many nominations from our mini and junior performance programmes is a real testament to the hard work of our players and their families who travel up and down the country to attend training and competitions on an almost weekly basis.”

In the other categories world-ranked Jack Findel Hawkins took senior player of the year. Having achieved his first ever world ranking in the spring of 2013 whilst training with Exeter, Jack now studies in America, where he is completing a tennis scholarship at North Florida University.

Senior County Colours were also awarded to one current and two ex-Exeter Tennis Centre players; Justin Kraushar, Stephen Knowles and Oskar Wynne. Jack Findel-Hawkins was again honoured with Junior County Colours alongside fellow Exeter players Howard Scott and Lara Graney. The award recognises their longstanding commitment to county tennis through regularly competing and supporting county training and cup events.

Director of Tennis Will McNally commented: “It’s nice to be recognised in the local area for the achievements of our players and coaching staff. This is our largest ever award haul and we are all very proud to have been recognised across the board. Just to be nominated is a sign of real achievement and something to be very proud of, so to have so many nominations is no small feat.  

“2013 was standout year for us at the Tennis Centre. Jack’s [Findel-Hawkins] world ranking was a personal highlight for me, but we also had some big national tour wins, and our Mini Performance programme proving itself to be one of the best in the UK.

“Our ethos at Exeter Tennis Centre is ‘More Players, Better Players’  and we have worked hard towards this end for some time now. It is a real pleasure to work with such a talented group of players and coaches, and I look forward to continuing this long into the future.”