I absolutely love coaching

& have such a passion for it!

Catherine’s Biography

I

began my tennis coaching career whilst in my first year at Leeds Metropolitan University. By the time I graduated I had my Level 3 – Coaching Qualification under my belt and got my coaching experience at the University tennis centre and David Lloyds Centre in Leeds.

After graduating in Sport and Exercise Science I trained and played full-time tennis for 6 months in preparation for the Deaflympics in Melbourne, Australia 2005. After this I completed my Level 4 – Senior performance coach qualification.

Lewis and I have been at Ramsbury Tennis Club since September 2006 which is our main base. We have associations with Bedwyn Tennis Club and local schools where we run programmes and courses for all those interested. We also have close links with the County and work for them from time to time.

We have both produced county and national players.  I started playing tennis at 12 and as a junior I was part of the Lincolnshire County Team and continued playing for them in the Ladies County Team, captaining for them on occasion. Whilst at university I had a tennis scholarship at the Carnegie Sports Centre (part of LMU) for 2 years and represented the university team.

Since 1996 I have been a part of the Great Britain Deaf Squad. National singles champion for 7 years, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 & 2012. Doubles champion for 7 years – 2003, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2012, 2013 and Lewis and I won the mixed title in 2007, 2009 & 2013.

Internationally my career highlights were winning the British Open in 2002; winning the Maere Cup in 2003 (deaf tennis version of Fed Cup), silver at the 2004 Europeans, Bronze at the 2005 Deaflympics for Ladies doubles and Gold in the 2009 Deaflympics in the mixed doubles. After the Deaflympics at the start of 2010 I went onto to complete my SPC Award. In this same year I was named Team of the Year at the inaugural Deaf Sports Personality of the Year Awards. I had a year off in 2011 from deaf tennis and the following year in 2012 I won the Nationals in the singles and doubles and was the runner up in the mixed with Lewis. Following this we won the Bronze in the Europeans in Germany, I also got the Silver in the Ladies doubles.

In April 2013 I took on a new role as the Great Britain National Deaf Coach working on behalf of the Tennis Foundation, more recently under the umbrella of the LTA. Lewis works closely with me in this role. In the same year I won the ladies doubles and mixed doubles with Lewis at the Nationals. At the Deaflympics in Bulgaria I reached the semi’s for all 3 events as a player. Now I remain involved in Deaf Tennis as the Great Britain National coach and I absolutely love it and have such a passion for it!

In my coaching capacity I have led the team and we have enjoyed the following successes: –

Gold in the Boys Singles and Bronze in the Girls Singles at the 2015 World Deaf Tennis Championships in Nottingham.

6 Medals at the European Deaf Tennis Championships 2016 in Portoroz, Slovenia (Gold in the Junior Mixed; Silver in the Girls Singles, Girls Doubles and Boys Doubles & Bronze in the Men’s Doubles & Junior Singles).

Gold Medallists at Slovenian Open (Singles and Doubles) followed by Silver Medallists at the World Team Cup (Men) in Antalya, Turkey 2018.

1 Gold. 3 Silver and 1 Bronze medal at the World Deaf Tennis Championships in Antalya, 2019.

Major Achievements

7

Seven-times Ladies’ Singles National Deaf Tennis Champion

7

Seven-times Ladies’ Doubles National Deaf Tennis Champion

1

Gold Medal Mixed Doubles 2009 Deaflympics in Taipei, Taiwan

1

Bronze Medal Ladies’ Doubles 2005 Deaflympics in Melbourne, Australia

3

Three-times Mixed Doubles National Deaf Tennis Champion

1
Great Britain National Deaf Tennis Coach

LEWIS

FLETCHER

My career highlights are winning Silver in the Mens doubles at the Worlds in Turkey 2018.  Prior to that knocking out the No. 2 seed in my first Deaflympics in Taipei, Taiwan (2009), plus reaching bronze play off in the mens doubles, representing my country for numerous years, most recently at the Dresse & Maere Cup.

Hitting all

the right shots…