The Flyer
Sport
Saturday racquet at The Grove
Former Davis Cup players in Walden to inspire the next generation
On Saturday 14th March over 80
tennis players: old and young;
talented and less so, braved a stiff
westerly to enjoy some world-class
tennis coaching. The Grove tennis
club in Saffron Walden hosted former
Davis Cup players Danny Sapsford
and Andrew Richardson for the day.
They provided 3 one hour sessions
to different levels of player, and then
entertained the crowd with a light-
hearted exhibition match.
Sapsford, whose career high was
reaching the 3rd round of Wimbledon
in 1999 (where he lost to eventual
champion Pete Sampras) now runs
the Bright Ideas for Tennis charity
which allows him to travel the country
sharing his obvious enthusiasm for
the game. “I’m so lucky to have a job I
love” Sapsford explained, “my county
doubles partner has done rather well
for himself in the City and has been
generous enough to fund Bright Ideas.
We’re up to about 150 clubs now that
we’ve visited, and it is such a privilege to
be able to visit different clubs and leave
just a little bit of inspiration behind”. An
unusual case of a banker being a hero.
Sapsford played on the ATP tour from
1987 to 1999 reaching a career high of
170 and playing in 4 Grand Slams. His
win roster includes Henman, Rusedski,
Gilbert and Kuerten. He founded Bright
Ideas for Tennis in 2013 after a long spell
running the LTA’s successful junior squad.
On Saturday, he certainly achieved his
mission statement: ‘Helping more people
play more tennis’.
In addition to Sapsford’s bouncy
encouragement, Walden players
benefi ted from the coaching skills
of a second Davis Cup player, in the
6’7’’ form of Andrew Richardson, who
is now Head Pro at Suffolk’s Culford
School. Richardson also reached the
3rd round of Wimbledon and claims
Pat Rafter as his most famous scalp.
“What’s impressed me most about
The Grove”, enthused Sapsford, “is
the quality of players across all age
ranges: from Juniors right up to the
vets. Normally there is a drop off of
interest from the teenagers, but that
doesn’t seem to have happened here-
and that’s a credit to the coaches”
Assistant Coach, Tom Bowers was
the architect of the open day. He
explained, “I wanted to do something
to kick start the season early. After
some research I was introduced to
Danny and Bright Ideas and couldn’t
believe my luck. The guys have given
their time free today, meaning that
all the money we have raised can go
back to the club to subsidise coaching
or to maintain the club facilities. It’s
just great to see our courts so full
of people of all ages and standards
playing tennis. I’m very proud to have
helped bring these world-class players
along to share a few golden nuggets
with us.”
The Grove had a very successful
year last year with 7 of their teams
being promoted up the leagues. The
mens and the ladies fi rst teams play
in the top Cambs. Leagues and will
be needing all of Sapsford’s tips to
compete for titles. Current Men’s
Champion, Cliff Humphries and
Bowers didn’t look totally out of place
when they took to the court for the
exhibition match with Sapsford and
Richardson, and Bowers will be able
to boast to his grandchildren that he
aced a man who, in the distant past,
had beaten a Wimbledon Champion.
The exhibition match was high on
entertainment value, although low
on tension. The highlight being when
Sapsford decided to serve four balls
in quick succession, with each player
having to volley like a Murray to keep
them all in play at the same time.
The bank of daffodils nodded their
heads in sage approval as Chairman
Simon Howell delivered his summary
of the day, “It’s been so brilliant to
see the youngsters so inspired today.
We’ve had three generations on
the court at the same tim