HARPENDEN may not be top of everybody's list when it comes to naming British tennis hotspots, but a family from the Hertfordshire town might be about to change all that.

The Corrie family boasts two of the brightest young talents in British tennis in the shape of sons, Ed and David, aged 13 and 19 respectively.

Ed, who has recently won a scholarship to the National Tennis Academy at Hertford's Haileybury College, is the under 13 national champion while David is currently attending the University of Texas on a tennis scholarship and is close to breaking into the top 50 college players in the whole of the United States.

David, who studies Business Studies at Texas University, went on from that tournament to win a tennis scholarship at Repton School in Derbyshire before winning his place in America.

Like his brother, Ed has also been rewarded a scholarship, to Haileybury College, but with it comes a place in the coveted national academy of tennis.

This is a new scheme which aims to give intensive coaching to the top young British players with a view to turning them into the next Tim Henman.

Ed will attend 15 hours of coaching during the week at Gosling Sports Park, under the watchful eye of coaches Jo Durie, Alan Jones and James Lenton, as well as continuing his studies at school.

Funded by the Lawn Tennis Association, the academy is part of a new tennis regime in Britain which aims to recognise talent in children between the ages of 8-12 and nurture that potential to produce top players.

One of only four players to be selected to attend Gosling Park, Ed certainly justified his selection when he was crowned the under 13 national champion in Bournemouth in August.

For the full story, see the St Albans Observer of Thursday, October 18.

October 17, 2001 19:26