Page 35 - QARANC Vol 16 No 2 2018

Ex GRAND SLAM 18
It was an early start on 18 March 2018, for a group of 38 familiar and new faces, who had gathered at Gatwick North Terminal, to make their way to Spain for the 6th consecutive British Army tennis training camp – Ex Grand Slam 18. Players consisted of Regulars, Reserves and Veterans, with various ages, corps, cap-badges, ranks and abilities represented. There were several AMS players who were privileged to be selected for this tour. QARANC was represented by Lieutenant Colonel Grieves and myself.
The aim of the camp is to provide Army and corps players the opportunity to improve over an intense period of training with no work distractions. It is also a lead up to the principal tennis season. Funding for the tour was a mixture of personal contributions, as well as subsidies and contributions from Army Sports Control Board, Army Sports Lottery Board (subject to membership), Army Lawn Tennis Association and Unit/Corps Funds.
The camp was based in La Manga Club – an exclusive resort set in the Murcian hills. La Manga Club offers first- class professional sports facilities, including a 28-court tennis centre, and is arguably the best sports and leisure resort in Europe. The Tennis Centre at La Manga Club has played host to many prestigious tennis events, including the Davis Cup, Federation Cup and Association of Tennis Professionals tournaments. In fact, it is here that my sister represented Kenya in the Federation Cup in 1999, thus making it a great personal achievement to be selected to train with the British Army at the same venue many years on. It is here too that you will spot Jo Durie, a British women’s tennis legend, imparting her tennis knowledge to upcoming junior players.
The vast tennis centre has a variety of court surfaces, but we trained on the clay courts. Amongst the new faces were Jonny Kinsella and James Pugh, the new Army Men’s and Ladies’ coaches. Training was held from Monday 19 until Saturday 24 March 2018 inclusive for four hours each day with a short break for lunch. There were opportunities to play
beyond these timings, and the Army Men’s team took the opportunity of a fixture against the GB U14s team.
Training was a mix of team and individual technical and tactical work for singles and doubles. Singles and doubles matches were mixed in as part of the training. The days ended with everyone participating in fun games, which engendered a sense of team spirit, and despite battering winds the tour successfully ended with a Red v Blue team competition, with all players involved. A group and individual report was made available to all players at the end of the camp, which will allow us to continue improving our games.
All the players had a great experience and hugely benefitted from the camp in increasing their overall participation and performance. Morale and team cohesion was evident throughout, and it is with immense gratitude that I thank the AMS association for their contribution to this successful tour. I encourage AMS and other personnel of all ranks, ages and abilities to engage with the various levels of Army tennis. There is regular coaching and Corp matches at Aldershot Tennis Centre on a Wednesday, and we would love to welcome you there. If you or a colleague are interested, feel free to contact me on DPHCCWX-DCMHTID-RNMH-JNCO-4@mod.uk
Corporal M Ligale
THE GAZETTE QARANC 33