News from the Leamington Tennis Court Club
Published on: May 16, 2025
Chris Aley – 3 Month Sabbatical Down Under
As is always the way in our small sport of Real Tennis, news is gradually spreading about Chris’ plans in the coming months. An opportunity has arisen for Chris to spend 3 months (July, August & September) working at Ballarat Real Tennis Club in Australia. Having never been to the country before Chris felt it was a very exciting opportunity and one that could not be overlooked.
With the full support and well wishes of LTCC and Lewis, Chris will be off on his sabbatical in just over 6 weeks time! This has left us with some rather large shoes to fill for a short while until his return. Thankfully two of the months that Chris is away are our quietest of the year so Lewis will man the fort largely on his own, however we have details below of our very own travelling players who will be on hand to help Lewis out.
September is of course the start of the season where we expect to be all systems go again and have employed a more experienced professional to work with Lewis and who is there for you to make the most of his expertise. Full details of the summer Pro line-up can be found below.
We wish Chris the best of luck for his stint down under and hope to see you at the club to pass on your well wishes before he leaves at the end of June!
Meet: Sammy Legg
Sammy is an amateur player from Hobart, Tasmania and is currently on a gap year where he intends to travel around the UK and Europe and focus on improving his tennis. He will be based in Leamington from Mid July until the start of September and has kindly agreed to man the pro shop whilst Lewis is at the Champions Trophy in late July. Lots of you will see him around the club so be sure to say hello when you bump into him. He will be very keen to get on court with those of you in the sub 35 handicap bracket for match practise.
Age: 22
handicap: 25
First Real Tennis Coach: Barry Toates
Favourite Court: Melbourne
Biggest goal in Real Tennis: Win the Clothier & Limb Trophys and play for Australia in the Bathurst Cup
Meet: Jim Ludekens
Jim is a professional Real Tennis player from Cambridge and has most recently worked at the Oxford University Real Tennis Club. He is very keen to improve his tennis and feels that a stint in Leamington will give him an opportunity to do exactly that! He will be available for lessons and is a direct replacement for Chris for the month of September so be sure to get in and get on court with him.
Age: 24
Handicap: 22
First Real Tennis Coach: Dad (Kees Ludekens)
Favourite Court: Hardwick House
Biggest goal in Real Tennis: Getting to a single figure handicap
Meet: Hugh Schultz
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Hugh is another Aussie gap year student and has already been travelling the country for the last couple of months. He is currently basing himself at Canford School and is again, very keen to take the opportunity of a year out to try his best to take one step closer towards his goal of becoming a professional level Real Tennis player. Whilst the news of Chris’s 3 month trip is recent, Hugh has actually been planning to visit Leamington for the month of September for a little while already. Jim & I are looking forward to helping him improve his game and he will be keen to get on court with anybody who fancies a knock.
Age: 18
Handicap: 37
First Real Tennis Coach: Chris Chapman
Favourite Court: Melbourne/Canford
Biggest goal in Real Tennis: Become a Touring Professional
Final message from Lewis Williams: “It should be a very interesting few months for both Chris on his travels and for all of those here at LTCC as we see plenty of new and enthusiastic faces in and around the Pro Shop. Be sure to swing by and get involved!”
