After some excellent results in 2010 from Sid Hazarika, Toby Martin, Richard Gabb and Dan Cochrane it fell to the class of 1994 and 1995 to carry the mantle into 2011.

First up was a trip to our most adventurous destination, Libya in October 2010. The aim was for our 6 players to win their first ITF points. After a week in Tripoli enduring very high temperatures and challenging circumstances, David Fox, Samm Butler, Toby Mitchell, Brigit Folland, Seb Rey and Luke Johnson returned unscathed with the mission accomplished. All had won an ITF World Junior ranking. Toby and Luke were Doubles finalists and David Fox reached the singles semi final. With the job done and new recruits like Scott Clayton and Beth Askew joining the Academy in 2011 we looked forward to a strong showing throughout the rest of the year.

The trip to Kenya in February 2011 brought our first ITF titles. In Mombasa Brigit and Alicia Barnett won the Girls Doubles title and Scott Clayton and David Fox won the Boys Doubles. All players were making steady progress up the ITF rankings.

During the Libya and Kenya trips a special team spirit and bond between players and coaches began to take shape which has characterised TEAMBATH-MCTA trips ever since. This team spirit gives our players the edge in many situations when the chips are down.

The two Nottingham ITF’s at Easter brought our players more ITF points and Beth Askew won the girls doubles title partnered by Scot Alice Keddie but a singles title still eluded us.

June gave Beth and Toby Martin their first taste of the ITF Junior Wimbledon event but they were unable to make their mark at the very highest level. Late summer brought out the very best from our players. Samm Butler and Toby Mitchell won the ITF Doubles title in Bermuda and then made a 3 week trip to Canada where each made tremendous progress. Toby reached the singles final in Vancouver and Samm and Toby were beaten in the doubles final in Edmonton. Both improved their rankings into the 400’s.

While Toby and Samm were making hay in Canada, the Academy took trips to Edinburgh and Newcastle for the American clay tournaments. Horrendous weather in Edinburgh forced much of the play indoors but we finally emerged with our first ITF singles Champion Beth Askew. It could have been two but Scott Clayton was injured in the Boys singles final whilst leading Scot Johnny O’Mara. TEAMBATH-MCTA players nearly completed a clean sweep as we won both the doubles titles. Beth Askew won the girls title with Alice Keddie and Scott Clayton and Luke Johnson picked up the boys title. Edinburgh is a happy hunting ground for us. Sid Hazarika won the Boys singles title here in 2010. Bring on 2012!

With 6 ITF Doubles and 1 ITF singles title the year would have been a great success but in late August and early September, Scott Clayton had a superb run that brought him 2 singles titles in Sanxenxo (Spain) and Nicosia (Cyprus). Not dropping a set in a 10 match winning streak, Scott has reached 188 in the ITF World Rankings, an amazing achievement given that he had no ranking until February this year. With Scott setting the pace and closely pursued by Toby Mitchell, David Fox, Samm Butler and Seb Rey, 2012 will be a very exciting year for the boys.

In all TEAMBATH-MCTA players featured in 27 ITF finals, winning 9 titles (6 doubles, 3 singles).

With our 1996 girls, India Sanders and Chloe Moxham also starting out on the ITF circuit this year we have plenty to look forward to next year.