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LTA Awards

The LTA Tennis Awards presented by Lexus 2024 recognise & reward individuals, clubs and organisations for their contribution to the development of Tennis in Middlesex throughout 2023.
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The 2024 Middlesex LTA winners were as follows;

• Tennis for all: Hadley Wood LTC
• Hadley Wood started their project with Oaktree SEN school in September 2023 with Bright Ideas for Tennis who provided volunteers with a 3-hour training session.
  From delivering the sessions we’ve noticed a number of the children have exceptional hand eye coordination. These children have not only demonstrated a real love of the game but also extraordinary tennis talent. These children are now benefiting from additional coaching, on a 1:2 basis and inclusion into the squads for free. Many Oaktree Special school families are struggling financially and additional tennis coaching is out of reach. Working with Bright Ideas, Middlesex County and the Dan Maskell Trust we’ve ensured these children won’t miss out - providing them with the skills to enjoy the sport of a lifetime, perhaps a future career in tennis coaching or a grand slam title!
  
• University of the Year: UCL
• UCL Tennis offers many opportunities to play tennis at all skill levels. Firstly, we have our open-to-all Recreational and Development (R&D) sessions run by our team players, bringing in players from our competitive teams unites all of UCL tennis to create fun, upbeat, interpersonal sessions.
  Our committee is the backbone of our society and works very hard to deliver the events and recreational sessions to the rest of our student-base and ensuring we have a comprehensive range of competitive teams centred around inclusion, diversity, teamwork, and leadership. Inclusivity is extremely important to us, and we do our best to ensure accessibility for everyone. We host many charity tournaments, consisting of fun-packed days of matches and socialising, where all profits are donated to a local charity selected by our charities officer. Our biggest event of the year is Varsity, where our top players beat King’s College London’s top players (for the last four years at least), cheered on by members from every part of the society.
• Competition Award: Georgians Open
• The Georgian's Open had excellent organisation at a great venue with wonderful facilities. It was clear the organisers went the extra mile to ensure it was enjoyable a high quality. The LTA umpires on finals day made it extra special for players and spectators alike.
  
  Well done Willem and team.
• Connecting Communities: The Queen's Club Foundation
• The Queens Club Foundation has a vision of “improving lives through racket sports”. In 2023 the QCF has delivered a wide range of community opportunities, including
  🎾launching seniors' dementia friendly tennis classes for adults in the Hammersmith & Fulham community
  🎾delivering racket sports coaching to a further 502 children and young people within Hammersmith and Fulham
  🎾delivering a coaching session for 16 girls from a local state school at the NTC led by Emma Raducanu
  🎾 expanding its youth volunteer workforce by training 30 new LTA Tennis Leaders
  🎾In August 2023, the QCF teamed up with Fulham Reach Boat Club to deliver a summer ‘rave’ camp at St. Paul’s School giving 50 local young people aged 14-16 the chance to play tennis. 26 SEND participants, 74% from diverse ethnic communities, 62% girls and 100% on free school meals. 
• Official of the Year: Nick Esposito
• Nicky Esposito has proved to be, in my opinion, the friendliest and most skilful referee on the competition scene. He always greets participants in an extremely pleasant and welcoming manner, making them feel at ease and maintains this tone of warmth and respect right up until when they are leaving. This is important of setting the expectations for both parents and competitors. He has the rare combination of being knowledgeable about the game and the rules, but also having an understanding and empathy for people’s emotions. I’ve seen how he deals with children when they get emotional and stressed and; he listens to them, let’s them express their frustrations, as well as talking and explaining, which means he often de-escalates problems and prevents situations from happening.  He has a disarming kindness and uses common sense and emotional intelligence -  very necessary to being a good referee. I’ve observed him at many tournaments and can see what a difference he makes to the experiences of both players and parents at the events he runs and monitors.
• Club of the Year: Vicars Moor LTC
• Some of the many 2023 highlights:
  🎾 Secured the club’s future by obtaining the freehold
  🎾 Asset of Community Value status reconfirmed
  🎾 Strong membership levels, boosted financial reserves
  🎾 Focus on Junior programme including “Munchkins” programme, linked to 6 local schools, “Grand Slam Girls squad”, Family Cardio tennis
  🎾 Host Mini Red and Mini Orange events for Middlesex County Championships
  🎾 Boosted ESG engagement (tennis ball recycling, support for local foodbank and hospice)
• Performance Coach of the Year: Natalia Ilkow
• A Level 5 Master Performance coach, Natalia has had a brilliant year in 2023, developing a strong group of girls 10U/11U age group who are all competing strongly nationally including wins at grade 1 and grade 2 national tournaments, and achieving a number 1 ranking in their age group. Natalia creates a challenging but supportive environment to get the best out of her players.
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  "Natalia has given Layla confidence, encouragement and supported her on her tennis journey so far"
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  ‍"Natalia is very passionate, knowledgeable and has the necessary natural skills to relate to players as individuals and not a collective. Natalia not only focuses on the physical ability but also a player’s mental capabilities which gives players the confidence to be themselves and to train well."
• Volunteer of the Year: Simon Shipman
• Sport including tennis is not always a friendly, welcoming, safe space for people from the LGBTQ+ community. Simon's dedication to breaking this narrative is unrelenting.
  Simon has coordinated over 40 LGBTQ+ inclusive doubles sessions, 4 tournaments - providing safe and welcoming introduction to competition. Wearing his rainbow wristbands and hanging up his rainbow flags each session, Simon's visibility demonstrates to the LGBTQ+ community that tennis is a sport FOR THEM and creates a space where people can be their true selves..
  Alongside the rest of the committee, Simon helped introduce free and discounted places at sessions for women and non-binary participants, constantly monitoring the uptake from these demographics within the sessions to ensure this remains a key focus for the group.
• Young Person of the Year: Amelie Brooks
• We are nominating Amelie Brooks for the Middlesex Rising Star Award for 2024. In the past year Amelie has completed her Level 1 and is undertaking her Level 2 coaching qualifications, supported by her club, Halton. Amelie is developing her coaching skills and passing on her passion to younger players. She is supporting the county training program and is a role model to the next crop of Middlesex players by helping out at our 14U sessions and supported Monica Becerra and our 10U girls competing at the 12 Counties competition. Amelie supports their warm-up, and uses her playing experience to give advice and motivate players from the bench.  Amelie appreciates how diverse tennis is and the different people tennis can reach.  
  On court, Amelie had a successful 2023 picking up two British Tour titles and finalist of another, which led her to qualifying to the British Tour Masters event. She picked up her first ITF win and represented Middlesex across the 18s and Women's County Cup competitions throughout the year.   
• Development Coach of the Year: James Mott
• James has enabled a remarkable transformation at Bounds Green, increasing membership from 57 to over 150 and has over 170 juniors playing weekly. James works with six local schools to increase engagement in tennis including West Lea SEN School and established weekly Down Syndrome classes.
  James has also tutored over 100 school teachers and teaching assistants and mentored over 20 coaches trough LTA Qualifications.
  James is also now working with Bush Hill Park and Broomfield Park. He continues to play representing Hazelwood in the Middlesex Premier Division and Middlesex Men's 35s at County cup. James also captains the Boys 9U and 10U Middlesex teams.
• Parks Award: Finsbury Park (Access to Sport)
• Finsbury Park paves the way as a park’s programmes. Over this year, we have implemented various community-focused initiatives to enhance accessibility and inclusivity in tennis: 
  🎾 10 weeks of free junior holiday camps
  🎾 Holiday and Food programme for local families eligible for Free School Meals
  🎾 Set up free Afro-Caribbean Tennis sessions to increase visibility and opportunities for black tennis players
  🎾 Hosted 1 junior, 3 men’s, and 1women’s team in the Middlesex League, and 4 LGBTQ+ inclusive competitions, showing parks can host formalised competition
  🎾 Host 5 weekly LGBTQ+ inclusive sessions with the North London Lob-sters
• Lifetime Achievement Award: Julia Ginger
• Julia has sat on the Headstone committee for 50 years, helping the club provide a warm, helpful supportive environment to members new and old as well as parents. Julia is a force to be reckoned with and with support from our social committee, runs many events to raise much needed funds for our club. Julia gives freely of her time, her energy, and her boundless enthusiasm for tennis.
  A trailblazer in opening up tennis to enable more people to play and enjoy tennis Julia keeps up to date with initiatives from the LTA, bringing new ideas to the committee for consideration at Headstone. She is relentless in taking the club forward, thinking of ideas and encouraging others to get involved. This is best demonstrated by her action over 10 years ago when the club was near to folding and likely to merge with another club to survive. Has shown consideration of diversity, inclusion and safeguarding This is a strong area for Julia. Headstone is in Harrow, which is a very diverse London Borough. This is reflected in the membership at Headstone, where people from all ethnicities, backgrounds and abilities are encouraged. Julia has the ability to make everyone feel included, she has time for all children, parents and members. Membership from minority ethnic groups has increased substantially over time, thanks to Julia, her approach and openness. Has shown an open mind-set and a willingness to adapt as tennis has changed.
  She is simply the heartbeat of our club!
• School of the Year: West Lea SEN School
• This nomination recognises the hard work of the pupils, teachers and coaches at Broomfield Park (Enfield).  It specifically spotlights the transformative impact of the West Lea School Tennis Coaching Program over the past two years. This relationship between the park, school and tennis coaching programme was initially set up by the Palmers Green Community Cafe in Broomfield Park. Under the guidance of James Mott, an LTA Level 4 Coach, and the dedicated support from teachers within the school, this programme has become a beacon of inclusive excellence.
  Serving up tennis coaching during curriculum time, the initiative has engaged up to four different class groups weekly, catering to the diverse spectrum of students' needs, including physical and cognitive impairments. This programme caters for over 80 students and school teachers bring 2 different class groups in one day, this involves school bus trips and also helping wheelchair users and pupils with restricted mobility.  Participants have experienced notable enhancements in confidence, physical skills, and cognitive abilities. Moreover, the positive impact extends beyond the tennis court, influencing improved performance in other academic subjects. This holistic development underscores the programme's effectiveness in nurturing well-rounded individuals.
• LTA Presidents Award Nominee Christian Gallan's Lovetennis
• Christian Gallan’s LOVEtennis is a coaching organisation based in West London that caters for tennis in their local community through schools and charities as well as abroad in Malawi.  Their outreach work includes:  
  🎾 Community Shield Schools competition (bringing together local primary schools to compete as a team and introduce new players to tennis competition)
  🎾 Malawi Sponsor a tennis academy, providing clothes, shoes and tennis rackets. Organise transport for children from home to tennis courts. Involved in a building project for tennis courts.
  🎾 Shepherds Bush Family Project by donating foods to families.
  
  On court, LOVEtennis is known for their hard work, dedication, and passion. They listen to their clients, and work with players to provide honest feedback in a positive way to build their confidence. Building not only strong players but also building friendships. They facilitate players to compete through local Middlesex and LTA National league competitions as a team and have a lot of fun on court. They also encourage players to take the next step and compete individually at local competitions with a number of players going on to be selected for Middlesex County squads and more.  
• LTA Meritorius Award Nominee: Michelle Barber
• Seniors Tennis GB (STGB)
  Michelle has been the Treasurer of Seniors Tennis GB since 2011, having previously supported Seniors tennis in a number of ways. Her role has included helping set budgets, carrying out book keeping, managing and reporting on the finances and dealing with the GB players’ expenses and insurance claims. Michelle has worked well with the LTA team linking in with their processes and requirements. In addition Michelle has played a key role in supporting the successful Seniors Participation Grant Scheme which started in 2015. To be in this critical position as a volunteer for so many years is highly creditable. Michelle manages the finances extremely effectively.  
  ‍Middlesex Tennis Michelle joined the Middlesex Tennis Board as Treasurer in 2022.  She came into her role at the end of the pandemic assessing losses and stabilizing budgeting processes going forward so that Middx may continue to flourish. In 2024 Middlesex Tennis will re-open its loan scheme under her stewardship. Prior to her Board role Michelle had been, and continues to be, the Middx Tennis Seniors Coordinator, captaining and playing in a number of the teams and effectively managing all of the Middx County senior age group teams.    
  ‍The Cumberland Lawn Tennis Club & as a player Michelle is very closely involved at The Cumberland Club, playing and captaining various teams and competing in the club championships.  She has won the Seniors event 9 times! She has also competed regularly in Seniors of GB events - Wimbledon, Bournemouth etc over many years. A tenacious and consistent player always giving her all just as she does with her many voluntary roles in the sport.  Over the years she has organised the club tournament, social tennis,and club nights.
  Michelle is totally mad about tennis.  She plays 6 times a week and loves competition, irrespective of the outcome. So determined to continue playing and competing she learned to play left- handed, not to be undone by her right arm failing her. She now plays in teams and tournaments left -handed. 
  
  Michelle is also a director of the charity, Friends of Freddie Krivine, that gets Israeli and Arab youngsters together to enjoy tennis and interact socially. The Freddie Krivine Initiative manages projects combining tennis with a professional curriculum. Intercultural dialogue, social inclusion, gender equality and youth engagement.
  
  Michelle is a highly respected member of the Seniors Tennis GB, Middlesex Tennis and Cumberland Club teams. Her commitment to tennis over many years has been exemplary. Always asking ‘to the point’ questions and acting in a fair and practical way.