MANDY FRANKS and Liz Jones, both of St Albans, have both been honoured in the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) Awards of 2001 by jointly picking up the Coach of the Year award.

The pair, who are head professionals at Batchwood ITI in St Albans, have been involved in British tennis for the last 18 years, producing a number of international standard players and the duo were obviously delighted to have won the award.

"We are thrilled to have won the LTA Coach of the Year Award," said Mandy. "Liz and I have worked very hard with the team at Batchwood Tennis Centre to develop the successful junior programme we have there today."

Last year the pair made history by becoming the first female coaches to coach a male British Junior back-to-back Champion as well as providing the guidance for Watford tennis starlets, Katharine Baker and Claire Ricketts in what was a breakthrough year for the pair.

Both Ricketts and Baker reached the final stages of the British Championships and gained an International Tennis Federation (ITF) ranking.

As team captains, Mandy also captained the Herts under 18 boys team to the British County Championship while Liz captained the Batchwood under 15 girls team to the British Club Championship.

Batchwood ITI has also won a number of awards under the guidance of their head professionals for the strength and depth of the tennis development programme which was initiated by Mandy and Liz in 1988. Last year, the duo also dedicated much of their time in passing on their experience and grooming a team of trainers in order to sustain the future success of the club.

The pair are also hoping for a successful 2002, aiming to produce a number of international players as well as "widening the net for all talented school children as well as providing extensive training opportunities," stated Mandy.

January 10, 2002 16:30