ROTHESAY CLASSIC, Edgbaston Priory

After being a volunteer for this event for the first time last year, I decided to apply again. I thoroughly enjoyed it and I love giving something back to the community. I was fortunate to be chosen again for the Rothesay Classic 2024.

Upon returning to the event, there were many volunteers I recognised from the year before, and lots of new faces. All of them very welcoming!

On my first day as a volunteer, I was called aside by the event organisers, and my first thought was “Oh no! What have I done!?”; but how wrong was I. They asked me to be an event supervisor as someone had not turned up. Of course, I could not say no … it’s not in my nature!

It was great to see what the Supervisor role entailed, which was quite a lot! Trying to keep all the volunteers happy and sort out all their “special requests” was no mean feat! Along with the safety and security aspects that an event this large brings and looking out for spectators who were “Courtsiding” (illegal gambling); I managed to spot 1 person who was courtsiding and after our observation and security observation the spectator was removed from the venue. I cannot tell you how much satisfaction it gave me to have noticed this within the large crowd.

During my time at the WTA 250 event I saw, Katie Boulter, Leylah Fernandez, Ajla Tomljanovic, Heather Watson, Harriet Dart, and Caroline Wozniacki, along with many more excellent players.

On my penultimate day, along with my husband, Martin, who was also volunteering, we spotted some tennis club members within the spectators. It was great to catch up with Trevor Errington, Martin German and Brian Barton.

On my last day the event organiser informed me that they are allowed to choose one volunteer to complete a coin toss on Centre Court; they had chosen myself! I could not believe it! Of course, I said I would love to, but then as the time got closer and closer I cannot emphasise how nervous and anxious I felt! I met a very kind young gentleman called Alex Hyman who calmed my nerves and talked me through it all, then I walked on court with my focus on the umpire and players and blanked everything and everyone else around me! (I later found out that my son, Owen, had played tennis with Alex at Cardiff met Uni … what a small world we live in!)

I went on court with Caroline Dolehide from USA and Yulia Putintseva from Kazakhstan in the QF’s. Yulia won 6-3, 6-7, 6-1 and then subsequently went on to win the WTA 250 tournament! Such an amazing experience and this will be one of my many greatest memories!
 

The whole event was challenging, but I loved every minute of it, and I would love to go back next year!