Hammersmith's future tennis stars

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Hammersmith's future tennis stars

7 students participate in Wimbledon professional coaching.

7 students from 5 Hammersmith & Fulham secondary schools were specially selected to attend a VIP training day at the Wimbledon All England Lawn Tennis Club on Friday 30 July. The students, aged 12-15 years old, from Henry Compton, Hurlingham & Chelsea, Lady Margaret, London Oratory and Phoenix High were able to develop their tennis skills during an hour of expert training from Wimbledon's Head Junior Tennis Coach, Dan Bloxham.

Jack Hills Cole, 13 years old, from Hurlingham & Chelsea, said: "It was great to have the opportunity to play in the court". Jack plays tennis for three years. He practices almost every day at the Bishop Park in Fulham, but never has had the opportunity to have such a "special and more professional" training.

Coca-Cola Great Britain hosted the event as part of its commitment to the local Hammersmith & Fulham community and encouraging young people to participate in physical activity. The students were identified as demonstrating promise, dedication or a particular enthusiasm for the sport by their school and the local council's sports department.

Clinton Joseph, partnership development manager for the LBHF sports department, said that this was the one step for developing tennis further within the borough. According to him, the local community needs more facilities for classes and more coaching opportunities. Almost all students selected never have had a one-to-one coaching section and never played on the grass before.

Bloxham said: "Those kids are certainly going to be inspired for the next two years or more."

Poppy Wilcox, 14, from Lady Margaret School, she is now planning to try a career as a tennis player. She said: "This was an amazing experience, an opportunity in a life time to play at the Wimbledon."

The 7 students who participate were:

Mark Adkins, Lian Curkan and Joseph Regan, from the London Oratory School.

Murdhanya Dave, from the Phoenix High School.

Jack Hills Cole, from the Hurlingham & Chelsea School.

Ryan Rackham-Roach, from the Henry Compton School.

Poppy Wilcox, from the Lady Margaret School.

....

Nicola Skilton, Citizenship Manager at Coca-Cola Great Britain, said: "As a local business in the Borough, we were delighted to offer this unique sporting opportunity to the young people in Hammersmith & Fulham. We were able to celebrate their sporting achievements to date and encourage them to reach their personal best in the future."

Coca-Cola also maintains other programmes locally, such Valued Youth, a cross-age reading and tutoring initiative targeting students in years 9 - 11 in six local schools

August 07, 2004

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