SEATON Tennis Club’s adult and junior performance coach Derek Blackmore was named the Devon LTA’s Coach of the Year during the association’s annual awards ceremony at Buckerell Lodge in Exeter.

Talented junior Bella Brown was also awarded county colours for her services to tennis and the part she played in Devon’s victory in the National Under-18s Aegon Tennis County Cup last year, as well as their promotion.

Blackmore’s ‘Pay and Play’ coaching sessions have welcomed large numbers of adults keen to improve their tennis skills.

He encourages those attending with fun and energetic doubles coaching sessions, while he also fosters social gatherings, organises club tournaments, tennis weekends and holidays overseas.

In addition, he has, over many years, supported and encouraged many young players and coaches beginning their tennis careers, including Ben Elliott, who won the Devon LTA Coach of the Year award in 2012 and is now the performance coach at Bath University.

Blackmore also mentored Emma Hurst, who is currently competing in both university and adult open tournaments.

Hurst reached the quarter-finals of the Aegon British Tour in Corby last week and was the only player to take a set from the number two seed until she lost a closely-fought final, despite being the only student competing against full-time tour players.

Proving Blackmore’s inspiration as a coach at club level, the Seaton ladies’ B team are on their way to success at the top of Division Three of the Exeter & District Winter League, following on from the spectacular progress of the A team in leading Division Two.

Both teams are currently 19 points ahead of their nearest rivals, meaning the ladies will reach the top two divisions in just two years in the Winter League.

Meanwhile, Seaton has a full range of junior, teen and adult coaching programmes, ranging from beginners to performance standard.

There are seven sessions during the week and more, including cardio tennis and Tennis Xpress for adult beginners, are set to start from Easter.

The LTA Great British Tennis Weekend will be held at Seaton on Saturday, May 16 to welcome anyone interested in tennis to join existing members in finding out what the club has to offer.

There are more than 100 juniors at Seaton with coaching sessions catering for all ages and abilities.

For details, contact Jason Martin on 07931743168 or email jas@jasonmartinsports.com, while general club information can be found at seatontennis.net or via Jeremy Warner (seatontennis@gmail.com or 07973506312).