Former British Women's Number 1 Champions Flybe Mini Masters' Tennis
Leading regional airline announces Lucie Ahl as new Flybe sporting ambassador
Flybe, the UK's Number One domestic airline, today announced that former British Women's Number 1 tennis player, Lucie Ahl, has agreed to become the local ambassador for the new Flybe Mini Masters' Tennis Series. It is a role that will see her working closely with six local schools, conducting Tennis Masterclasses and judging various related schools' competitions all of which are being designed to promote and uncover the UK tennis champions of tomorrow.
The Flybe Mini Masters' Series has been established to encourage and support young tennis players across Cornwall and Devon and is open to all budding tennis stars up to the age of 10 regardless of whether or not they are existing tennis club members.
The news of Ms Ahl’s appointment was announced by Flybe's Director of Marketing, Simon Lilley, who says: “We are delighted that such a high profile and popular tennis player such as Lucie has agreed to be a Flybe Ambassador for our Mini Masters’ series. We are no strangers to championing sporting events in our local communities and we hope that, with the added recognition that Lucie will bring to the Series, many more potential champions will be inspired to hit their local tennis courts in the upcoming months.”
Lucie Ahl adds: 'To have a company like Flybe getting involved in helping to promote tennis to local youngsters is fantastic. I'm really excited about the prospect of working with the airline to help give more young people in the community the opportunity to play tennis."
Local regional Flybe Mini Masters’ matches started last year at 17 tennis centres and clubs throughout Cornwall and Devon and will run through until March 2010. The top eight players from each county and age group (8U, 9U and 10U) will then compete in the Mini Masters’ Final in Devon. The overall tournament champion will win a holiday for all their family to La Manga Club in Spain that includes exclusive entrance to the La Manga tennis Academy – regarded as one of the world’s finest tennis centres.
Adds Mr Lilley: “We are extremely excited that we have the chance to play a part in the search for the next British tennis star. We hope Lucie’s involvement in this project will help the county Lawn Tennis Association to attract a wide following for mini tennis: and with the chance to treat our winning players and their families to a holiday at the world-renowned tennis academy in La Manga, we are sure this will help discover some exciting new tennis talent.”
