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Well done ‘Granty’

What a remarkable year it has been for one of our tennis members. Grant Ridley, a member of Lanchester Lawn Tennis Club, is not only the boy’s captain but is developing into an effective coach working alongside other TBSF members Dennis Laycock (Tennis Dennis) and Michael Hume bringing on the next generation of players.

What started out just as something to do on a Monday night has rapidly turned into something very positive for Grant.  In February he achieved his Level 1 tennis coaching qualification with great feedback telling him to apply straight for a Level 2 course.  With help from the Tony Blair Sports Foundation, “Granty” as he is known to his young players, has just passed his Level 2 this month - an amazing achievement considering he is only 16 and has had to juggle this alongside revising for his GCSE’s and starting sixth form.  He has recently started A-Levels in Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Maths, as his ambition is to become a doctor.

Grant has been heavily involved in the Tony Blair Sports Foundation Year 3 Tennis Challenge Cup and back in June as a reward for all his volunteering commitments, he had the unique opportunity of playing a doubles match against Tony Blair at the club! 

Grant recently told us:

“Overall, I feel the whole coaching experience to date has helped my own game, given me more confidence and I’ve definitely developed more patience!  As a Level 2 coach, I can now offer more personalised coaching sessions to the young players by working with them in smaller groups and I intend to go into local primary schools and work with more Year 3 pupils so they can enter the competitions.”

Furthermore, Grant has been tasked with finding other potential coaches from his peers at school and the Foundation in partnership with the LTA, are going to train them as Tennis Leaders and Competition Organisers so they too can volunteer and engage more young people in the sport.

We’re so proud of Grant and what he has achieved in such a short time.  If you’re interested in getting involved in sport, becoming a coach or helping run our competitions then get in touch at info@tonyblairsportsfoundation.org and we’ll tell you how easy it is!