Tag: Karen Lamb

Edinburgh locals net national tennis awards

The winners of the Tennis Scotland Awards 2022 have been announced, celebrating the outstanding individuals, clubs, programmes and competitions that made a significant contribution to tennis in 2021 by helping to create an accessible and welcoming environment which supported 8000 incoming club members across the nation.  

Former ITF circuit player Karen Lamb has been named as Performance Coach of the Year, an award given to an individual that has delivered a successful coaching programme in an inclusive, diverse, and safe environment, acknowledging her contributions to East of Scotland tennis and the East Wee Aces programme.  

Mary Byrne-Leitch (above) has earned the title of Senior Veteran Player of the Year as a result of her outstanding accomplishments as a member of Thistle Tennis Club, with honours including becoming a Scottish 65s ladies doubles champion.

Meanwhile, former Merchiston Castle School pupil Matt Rankin has been awarded the Junior Player of the Year after a breakthrough year on the Junior ITF tour which saw him climb to World No. 68 in the rankings and qualify for his first Junior Grand Slam tournament at the Australian Open in January.  

Elsewhere, Musselburgh Tennis Club has earned the Communities and Park award, having innovatively engaged local groups of players, both new and returning, to play tennis in a welcoming community venue setting.  

Finally, Scotland’s nominee for the LTA President Award,reserved for individuals that have gone above and beyond the call of duty to serve the tennis community, is Graeme Soutar in recognition of his services to Craigmillar Tennis Club. 

The category winners were announced on Friday (29 April), with an awards ceremony to be held for recent winners at the Davis Cup in September, as part of the celebrations marking the Emirates Arena’s role as a host of group stage matches.  

   

Blane Dodds, Tennis Scotland Chief Executive, said: “I would like to congratulate each of the winners of this year’s Tennis Scotland Awards, alongside everyone who stepped up and played their part in continuing to grow our sport by facilitating welcoming tennis environments all over the country.”     

“As the governing body, it gave us great pleasure to witness a plethora of Scottish success stories across the year, on a national and international level. I wish the very best of luck to our winners and LTA President Award nominee as they aim to pick up more accolades at the LTA Awards later this year.”  

You can view the full list of winners here: https://www.lta.org.uk/about-us/in-your-area/tennis-scotland/news/tennis-scotland-awards-2022/    

To learn more about the Tennis Scotland Awards, please visit www.tennisscotland.org or follow @TennisScotland on Twitter and Instagram.  

Edinburgh and the Lothians tennis community lauded as national tennis awards shortlist is revealed

Edinburgh and the Lothian’s tennis community has been recognised by the sport’s national governing body, which named a local club, competition and three coaches as finalists in some of the most coveted annual tennis award categories, rewarding the region’s outstanding contribution to the sport in 2021.

Musselburgh Tennis Club (above) received special acknowledgement from Tennis Scotland, having been shortlisted in both the Club of the Year and Communities and Park categories.

This highlights the club’s ongoing commitment to providing excellent opportunities for players of all levels to participate in a welcoming and accessible environment.

Both Nathan Lundy (above) and Karen Lamb have earned their place on the Performance Coach of the Year shortlist, having provided an outstanding performance programme that supported the continued development of players at Merchiston Castle School and East of Scotland respectively, throughout 2021.

Eoin Swan (above) finds himself on the shortlist for the Development Coach of the Year for his contributions at Hatton Sports Club.

The East Lothian Open has made the shortlist for the Competition of the Year after hosting a successful summer event in 2021.

Blane Dodds, Tennis Scotland Chief Executive, said: “As the governing body, we are really proud of the efforts made to grow our sport in 2021, with every member of the Scottish tennis community playing their part in the progression.

“The Tennis Scotland Awards provide the opportune platform to celebrate a small selection of the nation’s many success stories and I would like to personally congratulate each of our shortlisted nominees on receiving national recognition.”

The shortlist for the Tennis Scotland Awards 2022 recognises the contributions of individuals, clubs, programmes, and competitions that played a key role in growing the game as club memberships increased by over 8000 across Scotland in 2021.

In total, 24 nominees have been announced across 9 separate categories, with the winners scheduled to be revealed online on 29 April, prior to an awards ceremony at the Davis Cup taking place at the Emirates Arena in September. The eventual winners will also secure a place at the LTA British Tennis Awards later this year.

Amongst last year’s winners was Giffnock Tennis Squash and Hockey Club and the ‘Western Health and Racquets Club: Club Championships’, with both winners also named the UK’s top club and competition of the year at the LTA Awards.

Meanwhile, 2021 calendar-year Grand Slam winner Gordon Reid also scooped Tennis Scotland’s International Player of the Year award.

The full shortlist of finalists can be viewed here: https://www.lta.org.uk/about-us/in-your-area/tennis-scotland/news/tennis-scotland-awards-shortlist-2022/

To learn more about the Tennis Scotland Awards, please visit www.tennisscotland.org or follow @TennisScotland on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.