West Heath tennis centre

Developing

Junior potential..!

LTA Mini-Tennis Centre

LTA Performance Centre

LTA Tennis Clubmark Centre

Coach: John Shepherd Starting at the late age of 13 John moved rapidly to county level, representing Kent as an U14, U16 and U18 player, as well as playing in satellite tournaments in Europe and Australia. He began coaching in 1992 and has taken players up to international level, inc Jack Baker (ATP 52) and Miles Kasiri (ATP 80). As well as LTA coaching qualifications John has a BA and MSC in Sport Sciences, and has trained as a strength and conditioning specialist. He has been with West Heath (previously Edenbridge) TC since 1994.

Coach: Martin Whitehouse Martin started his coaching career in 1994, and has a Diploma in Sports Psychology. He is a Senior Performance Coach at West Heath, and is also Head Tennis Coach for Sevenoaks School. In 2010 he captained the Kent U12 Girls County Cup team to the National Title, and in April 2011 won the Kent Coach of the Year Award.

Coach: Adam Harrison As a junior Adam was in a Kent County Squad for three years, and was awarded a school sports scholarship. After finishing Sixth Form College with an Advanced GNVQ in Leisure and Tourism he went on to become a full-time tennis coach and gained the LTA  coaching qualification. Adam has worked at West Heath since 2003, and he also runs the coaching programme at Leigh Tennis Club. What happened to the leisure and tourism, we wonder...

Manager: Hélène Jackson (née Mellotte) Played tennis competitively as a Junior, and with Belinda Orchard won the British Girls’ National Under-16 Doubles title at Junior Wimbledon. Went on to study History at Keele and subsequently took an MA in War Studies at King’s College, London - a no-brainer for a future tennis manager! Hélène started coaching tennis at home, and after a spell at Edenbridge Golf Club  moved to West Heath in 2001 - ten years later West Heath ranks as one of the leading tennis programmes in the South-East.

Coach: Dominic Cobby  Pictured in his native Dormansland jungle, Dominic - better known as Dom - has always been passionate about sport. A loyal supporter of some-you-win-some-you-lose Crystal Palace, Dominic played tennis tor Crawley LTC first team while at school and is still a County League footballer with Felbridge. After taking his A-levels in 2004 he went straight into tennis coaching for West Heath and gained his DCA (Development Coach Award) the following year. He is currently training for the next step up, the Senior Performance Coach Award.

Coach: Amanda Cunningham  A star Junior, Amanda won the U14 national Road to Wimbledon and the U16 national title. She is an LTA level 3 coach, and has been part of the West Heath team since 2008. Amanda is also a qualified football coach, and manages the Oxted United Junior Devils. That must take some spirit!

Coach: John Bone  John has been with West Heath since the age of six, when he first started tennis with us. After ten years of paying West Heath, he turned the tables and started recouping his investment - and is now an LTA Level 3 coach. He is aiming for the stars, but sadly no longer with West Heath. In April 2012 we shall bid a tearful farewell as he follows his dream and starts training as a commercial pilot. Aces high, John!

Coach: Sam Smith  Sam joined West Heath in 2008 and is an LTA Level 2 coach. He recently took on responsibility for the coaching programme at Ightham LTC, where he is currently Club Champion, having beaten his brother Jonah in the final!

Also in the West Heath Team are Coaching Assistants Sarah Barron, Louisa Bryant, Jamie Christian, Alice and Sophia Connelly, Robyn Enslin, Kim Jones, Jonny Kinsey,Tom Phillips and Abby Watson.