Our founder, Colin Beattie, was an LTA coach and during the early 80s was involved in several youth activities in Godalming. He was impressed by the coaching given to local young people by Derek Oliver, a teacher at Broadwater School. Colin approached Derek and together they worked out the structure for the Godalming Youth Tennis Tournament. During his office as Mayor of Godalming Colin established contacts with local organisations including Lloyds Bank, The Surrey Advertiser and Charterhouse School. The result was that he was successful in getting local organisations to donate money and/or trophies and the offer of facilities to enable the tournament to happen. In 1983 the first Godalming Youth Tennis Tournament was held at Charterhouse school with 58 entrants in the same 8 events we still have today .. Boys and Girls U12s, U14s, U16s and U18s singles.
In 1985 the well liked Family Doubles was added and in 2000 we introduced the Sportsmanship award which we present to the player we feel has best shown the sporting qualities of courtesy, fair play, endeavour and attitude to tennis.
Val Isgar was the girls under 16 winner in 1983 and has helped organise the tournament since then. She runs the control desk with her sister, Jen.
Geoff Powis took his stepson through the tournament from the U12s to the U18s in the 80s and 90s just like many of our players and parents are doing today. By chance he met Colin again in 1996. He found out that the other main organisers, Julian and Helen Pool, had emigrated and that the tournament was in danger of closing because it was just too much for one person to run alone. Couldn't let that happen, could we? He's been helping ever since.
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Colin Beattie |
Geoff Powis |
Val Isgar |
Jen White |