A talented 16 year old lawn tennis player, Colin began his real tennis career in November 1974 as assistant to Chris Ronaldson at the newly opened Royal Melbourne Tennis Club, the first new courts built in the World since the New York Racquet Club in 1918. Colin became Head Professional in 1978 when Chris returned to the UK. His assistants during that period included Lachlan Deuchar, Paul Tabley, Wayne Davies and Frankie Filippelli, all of whom have become legends in the sport.
Colin won many tournaments in Australia; notably the Australian Open singles in 1980 and 1981, thereby earning the right to challenge for the World Championship in 1982, where he lost to Wayne Davies in the final eliminator. In June 1983 he moved to the UK, becoming Head Professional at the Holyport Tennis Club later that year. After the death of the Holyport owners, Colin, Chris Ronaldson and two local entrepreneurs purchased the court in 1985 and owned the club for 24 years before selling to a consortium from Petworth in 2009. Colin was Chairman of the T&RA equipment Sub-Committee in 1986 and was instrumental in banning the development of graphite rackets. Most importantly, Colin was the founder and the original organiser of the National League.
In the mid 90s Colin retired from competitive play, continuing to coach his wife, who won six singles Ladies World Championships plus over 30 other major titles and was awarded an MBE in 2004. Both their children, John and Tara, are promising junior players with John turning professional in June 2010, as assistant to Chris Ronaldson at Radley, 36 years after Colin started under Chris in Melbourne.
Colin now spends more time on the golf course than the real tennis court and is a member at The Berkshire playing off a 3 handicap. As well as coaching some real tennis, he regularly marks at international events such as Melbourne’s Boomerang Cup.
METALLIC PROFESSIONALS 35 YEARS ON
SILVER in their hair, GOLD in their teeth, LEAD in their feet,
but unlike Jonathan Howell no TITANIUM in their hips - YET!
|
