Sport Archives - Page 4 of 4

Ackworth Table Tennis Teams in Double Delight

Mar 19, 2020 | Ackworth School, Sport, table tennis

The Under-16 Boys and Under-16 Girls celebrated an emphatic win at the annual Butterfly School Team Championship finals as they both came away as National Champions last week.

The boys clinched the Leah-Carrington Cup whilst the girls took home the Mick Betts Memorial Cup.

The teams proved to be a cut above the competition, with the boys winning all three matches 8-0. Ackworth’s Felix believed it was their winning mentality which helped them through:

“We were very confident and came in with a mindset that we were going to win.

“Against London Academy, there were difficult moments, a couple of fifth-setters, but we fought through. I think we’ve learned how to deal with pressure quite well.”

The quality of the girls’ team also shone through, epitomised by an 8-0 victory over third-placed George Spencer Academy. The girls only dropped three individual matches all day. One of the top performers of the day, Sandy echoed the sentiments that a strong team mentality was a large factor:

“We expected to win but we knew it was going to be difficult because it’s national level and we felt a lot of pressure because of that.

“We all stuck together and cheered each other on.”

Ackworth School prides itself on its exceptional Table Tennis Academy with a number of pupils going on to play at an international level.

Ackworth School tennis coach named Yorkshire Tennis Coach of the Year

Feb 13, 2020 | Sport

It’s game, set and match for our very own tennis coach Alice Robson as she is named as Tennis Coach of the Year for Yorkshire.

The prestigious award is in recognition of Alice’s hard work in turning around Ackworth Tennis Club, while introducing more of the local community to tennis in an inclusive and welcoming way.

Since becoming Head Coach 18 months ago, LTA accredited Alice has helped to transform Ackworth Tennis Club, playing a major role in increasing its membership from just 17 members to 130 members today, with the club bringing in new programmes to develop and encourage more tennis players.

Now over 100 children and 30 adults regularly playing tennis at the club, with a further 2,000 school children at 17 local primary schools being introduced to tennis through Alice’s work with the community, which also includes organising open days and supporting fellow coaches.

Alice’s down to earth coaching skills and strong leadership has brought together Ackworth School, Yorkshire Tennis, The Tim Henman Foundation and the social mobility network BECSLink, to make tennis accessible, safe and enjoyable for all.

The whole school is very proud of Alice, says Anton Maree, Head of Ackworth School.

“Alice brings great dedication, inclusiveness and innovation to coaching all our students, so it comes as no surprise these skills have now been recognised, she thoroughly deserves the title of coach of the year”.

Alice concluded; “There have been so many fantastic coaches who have won this award in the past, so it’s a massive honour to receive this. It’s such a pleasure working at Ackworth School and Ackworth Tennis Club, and it’s a joy seeing tennis being played at our school and the local area, helping to create a strong community of sport lovers, young and old”.

Well done Alice. We look forward to seeing tennis continue to go from strength to strength at our school and in the region.