Bill Lothian, 22 May 2020
The Meadows facility has scooped yet another top award - Tennis Scotland's annual “Communities and Parks” accolade.
A previous winner of the Lawn Tennis Association’s “club of the year” this latest prize reflects excellence in a number of areas with the actual Meadows club playing a central role.
The club now has a membership of 186, a 21 per cent increase on 2019 and last year it entered an unprecedented 11 teams in East of Scotland events gaining three adult and two junior promotions.
David Wood, club president said: "Although the award recognises many aspects of the facility not to be underestimated is the part played by Edinburgh Leisure development officer Alex Harkins.
"Alex coaches in all weathers and acts as a liaison between the various events and the club which he was instrumental in starting, along with Christian Williams, in 2003."
The University of Edinburgh tennis club also play on the 16 courts which had floodlights added five years ago and they now have 265 members – a 40 per cent annual increase.
Edinburgh Leisure have played a major part in the success by introducing free sessions to over 300 players with adult coaching delivered to over 900 players.
Primary school and coloured ball junior events are also promoted as well as leaders courses while Nigel and Sally Billen run a singles league open to all-comers at https://localtennisleagues.com/meadows
Alex Harkins says: “Hopefully this award will raise the profile of the courts and encourage more participation.
“Meadows tennis caters for everyone including youngsters who go on to great things. For example, Matthew Rankin, who started out with us, has just been named Scotland’s junior player of the year while Andrew Melrose has progressed to Division One standard.
“There has also been a take-up by wheelchair tennis players through the Advantage programme run by coach Michael Millar.
“It really is a community focused facility with other examples being £1000 raised to provide a defibrillator partly through local children, Lilly and Isla, busking near the courts.
“Also, when graffiti became a problem on the back of the tennis pavilion an artist stepped in to provide a mural.
“Fund-raising initiatives for worthy causes have also been well supported, Advantage Tennis raising over £600 towards enhancing disability provision at Craiglockhart TC and beyond.
“The Meadows club raised £400 in a longest day event and one of the coaches ran a Tennis Leaders Course which raised £100 - both of these amounts going to the Judy Murray Foundation which takes tennis to disadvantaged areas.
“A fundraiser for Maggies Centre which provides support for cancer sufferers and their families raised £140 from entry fees and a further £570 from a Bake Sale.”
Photographs show coach Alex Harkins and David Wood with their trophies.