Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Club rewarded by county
Tennis
It was an evening of celebration for Canterbury LTC as Kent Tennis honoured players and coaches at their annual awards ceremony held at the Tudor Park Marriott Hotel in Bearsted. Twelve-year-old Ben Gusicwan took the Kent Junior Player of the Year award.
The Canterbury player had an amazing 2019, winning the 12 and under Boys’ British National Singles and Doubles Championships and being the first British junior since Andy Murray to win the Junior Orange Bowl title in Florida. Kent Performance Coach of the Year was Simon Grieve who has coached Ben since he was five.
In making the award, Kent Tennis acknowledged Grieve’s achievement in fostering a wealth of talent at Canterbury with several of his junior players having represented their county in 2019 and older players now going on to earn scholarships to play tennis at American universities.
Nick Wibberley was named Kent Club Coach of the Year. Wibberley heads up Canterbury’s junior club programme and last year he instigated new sessions for beginners, parents and existing players and extended the club’s disability tennis programme. He leads a team of coaches who are keen to make tennis fun and help youngsters develop personal skills that will benefit them in life.
Two of Canterbury’s young tennis leaders were nominated for the Kent Young Person of the
Year Award.
Sacha Trofimov and Ed Glover (both 16) regularly assist the coaches in delivering tennis lessons and are actively engaged in extending the social side of the club.
Charlie Mcardle, one of the club’s committee members, was nominated for Volunteer of the
Year for his commitment to the club and invaluable assistance in governance, competition support and making Canterbury Tennis Club a friendly place to play.
Winners from the county will be included in the British Tennis Regional Awards to be held in April.