HARTFORD Tennis Club is looking to give a deserving youngster their lucky break by awarding them a junior scholarship.
The club has written to schools in the area asking teachers to nominate children they think should be awarded a free membership and mentoring at the club.
"Tennis still has a reputation for being an elitist sport and we are doing our best to overcome that," said the club's head coach John Walsh.
"The junior that is awarded the scholarship will receive a free membership and group coaching, but will also learn from the older kids who act as great role models."
Hartford Tennis Club's scholarship will be awarded to someone who might otherwise not be able to afford to play tennis or someone who just deserves it.
They will be a youngster who, in future, will hopefully go on to set an example to the next generation of players coming through the ranks.
This week John, who lives in Davenham, said there was now a club structure that allowed juniors to flourish and work their way up into the senior teams.
"We are seeing more and more teenagers coming through into the teams who started off at Hartford when they could just manage to swing a racket," he said.
"It is great to see so many active kids at a time when there is so much concern about youngsters sat in their bedrooms playing on their computer or watching television."
Hartford now has more junior members than ever with more than 400 joining last year.
Through the winter months up to 80 children have been learning tennis during coaching sessions on a Saturday morning.
In previous years the courts emptied in winter, but with six floodlit courts and increased coaching opportunties the club is almost as busy as it is in summer.
Club chairman John Melluish said the winner of the junior scholarship - which will be decided by the club's committee - would benefit from life lessons as much as tennis skills by joining the club.
"What always impresses me about the young people at our club is that they grow up into such mature, good sports," he said. "John Walsh and his team have really helped create an atmosphere that helps the juniors thrive and, as a club, we have definitely made them a higher priority over the years."
To nominate a junior for a scholarship go to the club's website hartfordtennisclub.co.uk
Hartford Win Clash Of The Clubs
Hartford hosted the return leg of the Clash of the clubs against Hale last Sunday (7th March). Having lost the first encounter 15 matches to 3, the team were determined to put up a better performance.
The day was run by head coaches from both clubs, John Walsh and Mark Furness. They ran a coaching masterclass for a couple of hours before battle commenced.
Hale put up stern resistance fielding a stronger team than their first encounter, and got off to a good start winning two of the opening rubbers.
Hartford soon found their feet and after news filterd through to the players that the first rubber had been sucured more quickly followed.
The tie could have gone either way with the middle section of matches looking as though either club could have won them, however Hartford showed greater determination and sucured the win, running out eventual winners by 12 rubbers to 6.
The day was a great success and the club looks forward to hosting similar events against other clubs in the future.
Harvey Goes On To Represent County
Club youngster Harvey Mottram, was selected to represent Cheshire in an inter county match. The team of three boys and three girls played against Lancashire & Yorkshire. Harvey pitted his skills against six more experienced opponents and put up a sterling effort. He won half of his matches and was only narrowly defeated in the other half. Club coach John Walsh stated " it is truly remarkable that someone who has only been playing the game for such a short time has acheived so much. Harvey has a bright future in the game if he continues to work hard on areas of his game that need improvement". Harvey will be competing in the county championships in a few weeks, hoping to retain his title from last year. We all wish him well.
