Coaches - Meet the Team

Kate Borthwick - kate@tennisangels.co.uk
Kate's picture
Kate founded Tennis Angels in 2007 and is the company director and owner of the company. She offers private court coaching for high end clients in Bucks, Berks, Oxon area or at other venues with a travel cost.
 
She has coached tennis for 15 years and competed for 25 years in the UK, Europe and US, ranking in the UK’s Top 20. Her coaching style and ability seen her selected to coach at some of the UK's top tennis clubs, including Wimbledon AELTC, The Roehampton Club, Edgbaston Priory LTC, Harpenden LTC and also in Australia, Italy and the US.

Inspiring, energising, fun and refreshing lessons help players improve their technique, fitness, lose weight and enhance their wellbeing. Kate's sessions are infectiously fun and leave you dying to play more!

Coaching Experience:
  • Set up Tennis Angels in 2007
  • Coaching for 7 years at private courts in SW London, Bucks
  • Senior Tennis Coach for 5 years at Wimbledon AELTC
  • Assistant Tennis Coach for 2 years at Edgbaston Priory Tennis Club
  • Tennis Coach for 5 years at Batchwood ITI Tennis Centre
  • Seasonal Tennis Coach for 6 months Jensen's Tennis Centre, Sydney, Australia
  • Senior coach for 6 years, running corporate events and tennis holidays for In The Zone Sports Corporate Tennis co and Sunset Sports.

 

Qualifications:

 

  • DCA Qualified
  • LTA Licensed Tennis Coach (renewed in 2010)
  • First Aid Qualified, CRB Checked
  • Member of Tennis Coach UK & LTA Coaches 
  • Cardio Tennis qualified

 

Jason Graham - jason@tennisangels.co.uk
Jason Graham's picture
Jason joined Tennis Angels in 2008. He coaches at Private Courts in Berks, Bucks, Surrey & Oxon and coaches at our clubs.
Jason playing at the age of 6 under the tuition of Dragons Den’s Peter Jones and LTA  performance coach award tutor Paul Dent, based at Windsor lawn tennis club in Berkshire. Represented the club on a junior level whilst also playing in the senior teams. Completed LTA selection to train as part of the county tennis squad. Continued to play until the age of 18 before taking some time off for studies.
Coaching Experience:
Completing studies and spending time as an English language tutor to international students took Jason back to tennis where he secured a position under former junior international Paul Delgado and heading up the part time Delgado tennis program at St Pirans school Maidenhead. His career has also included coaching at Eton College which he continues to do today, working with both the squads and complete beginners. 
Qualifications:
  • LTA Licensed, DCA LTA qualified
  • CRB Checked & First Aid
  • He now holds a diploma from the London School of Sports massage as well as level 2 certificates in Kinesio taping for rehabilitation.
  • 8 years of tennis coaching has now led Jason to follow and complete a line of study in sports massage and rehabilitation. 
Paul Davey - paul@tennisangels.co.uk
Paul Davey's picture
Paul joined the team in 2011 and runs the Tennis Angels Academy for talented junior players and offers private house coaching in Berks, Bucks & Oxon.
Paul has been coaching performance players for over 20 years and he is a great asset to the Tennis Angels team. Previously a full time player himself, he competes to a very high standard! He has an excellent knowledge of the game, having played full time and coached for over 20 years and has an amazing ability to give technical feedback to players of all standards! 
Coaching Experience:
  • Senior Performance Coach Gerrards Cross, Tennace since 2007
  • Tennis Manager at Stoke Park Club: taking the club upto 750 members
  • Full time coach in Paris a
  • Head Pro at Riverside Club Chiswick, running program for 1000 members
  • Head Pro at The Connaught Club
Qualifications:
  • LTA Performance Coach
  • LTA Licensed
  • CRB Checked & First Aid Qualified
  • Ex Full Time Player
Alison Lees - alison@tennisangels.co.uk
Alison Lees's picture
Alison joined Tennis Angels in 2010. She runs the club programs at Hambleden & Henley Tennis Clubs, and offers private court coaching in Bucks, Berks & Oxon.
"I am passionate and committed to my tennis, as a player, and as a Coach (in UK & Austria). I love being able to help and develop students to progress and enjoy their tennis as much as I do." 
Coaching Experience:
Whilst tennis is always FUN in my lessons, I am a professional, enthusiastic, and friendly coach (equally committed to self, and Player improvement). Whilst I have a Business Studies Degree, and European Sales & Marketing experience; it is my 28 years as a tennis player that fuels my passion for tennis coaching, and particularly Rusty Rackets. I enjoy coaching, both Adults and Juniors, on their journey from Beginner to High Intermediate level. I have been known to say that tennis is like life. It is important to work hard, practice, and enjoy every moment that you can.
Qualifications:
  • 2006 LTA DCA award
  • Member of TenniscoachUK since 2007
  • Licensed Tennis Coach renewed April 2010
  • Cardio Tennis Qualified
Jonathan Ripper - JonathanRipper@tennisangels.co.uk
Jonathan's picture
Jonathan is based in Guildford and works for Tennis Angels in Surrey, Hampshire and surrounding areas. He joined the team in 2010. A fantastic coach, he particularly enjoys teaching teenagers and adults. 
Coaching Experience:
  • 2010: Harpers Leisure Centre (Dorking) minis & kids
  • 2010: Rydes Hill School, Guildford & Selbourne Primary: After School Kids lessons
  • 2008-2010: Alton Tennis Club Head Coach (adults & juniors)
  • 2008-2010: DC Leisure - Alton & Petersfield: Juniors Saturday Mornings & 1/2
  • 2008-2009: Cranleigh Tennis Club Coach:  Adults & Juniors (After School) & Weekends 2009: Alfold Tennis Club Coaching: Sunday pm - Adults & Juniors
Qualifications:
  • LTA Level 1 Tennis Assistant (Loughborough University) OCt 2006
  • LTA Level 2 Community Coach (Cambridge) Aug 2008
  • Working towards taking the Lta L3 Club Coach exam in Spring/Summer 2011 LTA Licensed Coach
Playing Experience
U/14 Avon County Singles Restricted Champion
Reading University 1st V1 player - got to the last 16 of the UAU ( Inter University Competition)
Worpledon Tennis Club (WTC) - Mens Doubles Champion 2010, 2009 WTC Singles & Mens Doubles R/U
Chris Marshall - chris@tennisangels.co.uk
Chris's picture
Chris joined Tennis Angels in Jan 2011 and works in SW London & Bucks/Oxon. Chris is LTA level 4 Senior Performance Tennis Coach.  He has been coaching for over 9 years, mainly in the West Yorkshire area as well as 6 months at the national tennis centre in Wellington, New Zealand.  Chris is a very enthusiastic individual who has an ability to motivate players to love the game of tennis.   He has breadth of coaching experience, working with juniors, adults, mini tennis and performance players who include Gavin Davison (former number 3 in Britain under 18) and Nichole Peterson (former top 10 under 16 in Britain). 
Coaching Experience:
  • Started with Tennis Angels in 2011 alongside working at the NTC in Roehampton.
  • David Lloyd Leeds, April 2009 to Jan 2011
  • Heaton Tennis & Squash Club January 2002 - October 2006
  • Salts Tennis Club April 04 – Oct 2006
Qualifications:
  • LTA CCA, Nottingham August 2006
  • Senior Performance Coach upgrade, Leeds July 2010 
  • A Level PE grade C, Music grade C, Design Technology grade C
  • Yorkshire League Division 1 winner 2005 and 2006
  • Bradford Parks Tennis League winner 2006
  • David Lloyd Racquetball club champion 2010   
Andrew Hodgson - andrew@tennisangels.co.uk

Andrew Hodgson has been playing competitive tennis for 30 years and has been involved in coaching for the last 10 years. He was a nationally ranked junior and a playing contemporary of Tim Henman. Andrew had ambitions to play on the Pro tour and began playing on the satellite circuit aged 17 in both the UK and in France, Belgium and Germany until a serious knee injury curtailed his professional playing ambitions and he decided to pursue a quality education which he did graduating with an Economics degree from Manchester University.

Coaching Experience:
Since his serious playing career ended Andrew has maintained a high standard of playing and as a long standing member of the Queen's Club in London he has regularly represnted the club in the Middlesex Premier Division. As well as pursuing a career in various industry sectors which include media and publishing, IT and most recently insurance, Andrew has developed his interest in coaching as well as playing tennis and has trained at both the Harry Hopman Tennis centre and Nick Bolletteri Tennis Academy in Florida, and been a student at the Warren Jaques Tennis Academy in London. He has gained both his LTA coaching badge and is also a registered PTR (Professional Tennis Registry). 
 
Since moving to Oxfordshire in 2008, Andrew has coached at the David Lloyd health and fitness club in Oxford as well as providing tailored private coaching at home to a select group of high net worth individuals across Oxfordshire who appreciate both Andrew's playing and coaching ability as well as his personality and interests outside of the tennis court.
Qualifications:
  • LTA Licensed, CRB Checked, First Aid Qualified
  • PTR Qualified (Professional Tennis Registry)
Saad Abbas - Saad@tennisangels.co.uk
Saad's picture
Joined the Tennis Angels team in Spring 2011 working in ELondon and Oxon. Saad is an amazing tennis player obtaining the following achievements as a player in his 14 years competitive career: 
  • Won over 40 tournaments as a junior singles and doubles
  • Qualified for National Grand Prix finals held in Spain (2003), the event being aired on Sky Sports
  • Represented Yorkshire at all age groups
  • Team achievements include Captaining my club side to the national club semi-finals in 2002, Yorkshire League Champions 2004-07, BUSA Semi Finals with Loughborough University 2005-07
  • Competed on the British Tour and ITF Futures circuit, playing in Europe, America, Middle East and Asia.
  • Current LTA rating 3.2 (previously 2.1)
Coaching Experience:
Saad has 9 years coaching experience. Including being big part of Tennis Heaton between 2002-2009.  He has coached all age groups and abilities – including international juniors, top 20 national juniors and top 5 county juniors. Has breadth of coaching experience spans from squads to sports camps to beginners to county players to clients homes. 
Qualifications:
  • Professional Tennis Registry (PTR) Instructor qualification
  • CRB checked, First Aid qualified
  • 2:1 Computing & Management Degree from Lougborough University
Simon Harmer - simon@tennisangels.co.uk
Simon's picture
 
Joined Tennis Angels in 2011, Simon coaches on private courts in Cotswolds & Gloucs area. Simon is an LTA Licensed Level 4 Tennis Coach who currently coaches part time whilst also running the East Glos Club in Cheltenham. Having played to junior county standard, he first started coaching 15 years ago, before taking a sideways step towards managing tennis clubs. Whilst working at Clubs in Barnes, Kensington and Farnham, Simon maintained his coaching by teaching a variety of clients in London, Surrey and West Sussex. Having now moved to the Cotswolds he continues to see these clients, but now less frequently due to the distances involved! Simon is able to teach players of all ages and abilities and really enjoys his on court time as a great escape from the office!
Coaching Experience:
  • Aug 1994 – Sept 1998: Full Time Tennis Coach, London
  • Sept 1998 – Jun 2001: Centre Manager, Rocks Lane Tennis Centre, Barnes, London
  • Jun 2001 – Mar 2004: Deputy Manager, Westway Sports Centre, London
  • Mar 2004 – Sept 2010: Club Manager, The Bourne Club, Farnham, Surrey
  • Sept 2010 to date: Club Manager, East Glos Club, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
Qualifications:
  • LTA Development Coach Award (DCA)
  • LTA Club Coach Award (CCA)
  • LTA Senior Club Coach Award
  • LTA Licensed Level 4 Tennis Coach
  • CRB Checked, First Aid Qualified
Jackie Lucas - jackie@tennisangels.co.uk
Jackie Lucas's picture
Jackie stated playing tennis at the age of 11 in her hometown of Sydney Australia.  She competed in many tournaments as a junior both regionally and internationally, for her club and school.  She was a top junior in her age group from the ages of 14 till 18.  Jackie travel overseas in 2004 and competed on the international tennis federation (ITF) circuit in singles and doubles in Europe for 2 ½ years. 
Currently Jackie is based in central London where she works as a qualified nanny for 4 days while she continues her coaching with Tennis Angels and tennis training.
Coaching Experience:
  • Jackie has been able to travel the world doing something she loves.  She spent the last four summers 2006-2010 in Nantucket MA USA competing in tournament and coaching juniors.  She enjoys the great outdoor hiking, skiing, cycling and anything adventurous.  
  • While she was training in Australia she setup and ran her own private tennis coaching business in Sydney’s northern suburbs.  She ran it for 5 years before she left for the circuit overseas. 
  • For the last 5 years Jackie has been working in private household as a nanny/tennis coach for children aging from 4 till 13 years.  She had traveled extensionally with the family to Europe, USA, and Australia.  She is teaching all of the children on a regular basis from all her previous jobs.  Many of the children compete at country level and represent their school. 
  • Junior coach at old college tennis club Dulwich from 2005 till 2007
  • Over 10 years experience as a private coach teaching from ages 4 till adult beginners to tournament players level
Qualifications:
  • CRB checked, First Aid Qualified
  • Sports injury training
  • Qualified nanny
  • Tennis Coaching Qualification Australia