Stonyhurst Win Major Tennis Award For Consecutive Year

Tennis coaches, David Shaw and Liz Thomas being presented with the award

Stonyhurst tennis player serving in Tennis Dome Credit: Vanessa Fry Photography

Stonyhurst College and Stonyhurst St Mary’s Hall win the prestigious LTA Lancashire Tennis School of the Year award for the second consecutive year.

At the annual Tennis Lancashire Awards, held on December 12th, it was announced that Stonyhurst College and its Prep School, Stonyhurst St Mary’s Hall, were awarded the major tennis accolade for a second year. Stonyhurst’s Tennis Academy has gone from strength to strength under the directorship of former professional David Shaw and his team of coaches, who have developed a cohort of national and regional players. The Tennis Lancashire Awards are presented annually; with coaches, volunteers, clubs and other tennis venues being nominated by individuals across the county with the final decision being made by the awards committee of Tennis Lancashire. Stonyhurst’s nomination now goes forward to be considered for the LTA North Region 2022 Award in the New Year.

This outstanding achievement highlights the standard of the sport and investment in Tennis at Stonyhurst. Continued investment in the sport is part of Stonyhurst’s master plan to take its renowned Tennis Programme to a new level. In 2017 the vision to build a state-of-the-art tennis dome came to life - the ‘air dome facility’, which was designed to the same specification as other prestigious facilities such as The Queen’s Club, London, has enabled an exceptional

Stonyhurst Pre-Prep boys celebrate in Tennis Dome Credit: Vanessa Fry Photography

tennis programme to be developed and recognised by Tennis Lancashire. With 10 outdoor tennis courts and a further two indoor in the Grand Slam standard tennis dome, Stonyhurst pupils have all-year round access and training, which has raised the level of tennis skills under the coaching of two former tennis professionals.

Stonyhurst’s Director of Tennis and former professional, David Shaw, who joined Stonyhurst in 2018, says: “Winning the award for a consecutive year is a credit to the dedication of our pupils and coaches, and continued investment in the sport. Over the past 3 years we have developed a top-quality Tennis Programme that enables over 250 pupils to access the tennis dome each week to enjoy the sport.”

Due to demand for the sport, former tennis professional, Liz Thomas, who represented England, joined the elite coaching team in January 2020, and has encouraged a huge number of children to participate in the programme. Stonyhurst’s vast facilities paired with remarkable coaching

Stonyhurst St Mary’s Hall pupil playing tennis on outdoor court Credit: Vanessa Fry Photography

have attracted a cohort of national and regional standard players over the years including sisters Hima and Ella who have both been invited to represent Lancashire Ladies Tennis.

Stonyhurst’s Tennis Academy caters for all ages, from Early Years through to Sixth Form, and all abilities, and has grown significantly over the last three years, despite the challenges presented by the pandemic. The ambition now is to challenge with other leading tennis schools such as Millfield School, Reeds School and Culford School.

www.stonyhurst.ac.uk

BLACKBURN

By Megha Seth

Blackburn Cathedral

As we buckle up for another challenging year ahead, our travel plans don’t necessarily have to take a backseat.

Even though long-distance travelling seems like a distant reality in an all-state of normalcy, this can be looked at as an opportunity to explore weekend destination getaways in the form of quaint little towns with a rich culture, history, and scenic views.

Blackburn is one such charming town with its own story and a plethora of places and tales to unravel.

HISTORY OF BLACKBURN

Blackburn has predominantly been a mill town since its inception. It witnessed rapid growth and expansion as a textile town alongside the growth of the industrial revolution and the expansion of textile manufacturing. It also witnessed its downfall during the Second World War but you can have a glance into its rich history with the help of its architecture, town planning, monuments, museums, and several other places. Not to forget the town’s passion for football that you can easily guess from the Ewood Park Stadium to get a glimpse of their rich football history.

PLACES WORTH VISITING IN BLACKBURN

Set in a scenic and tranquil atmosphere, Blackburn has several places that you can explore to engage time by learning about the town’s history or simply spend a leisurely day outdoors. Let’s take a quick glance at the places that you cannot miss out when in Blackburn:

Blackburn Cathedral

The location of Blackburn Cathedral dates way back in time. At this location, a church has existed since the Norman Conquest, but the one you see today is a Gothic Revival monument, started in 1820 and improved and enlarged through 1977. Historiographers point to the choir as the cathedral’s most significant feature, which contains eight misericords from the 15th century.

It doesn’t matter whether you are a religious person or not, but if you are looking for some quiet and contentment then the Blackburn Cathedral is a refined example of a serene ambience in the midst of the town where you can spend some time alone with your thoughts or spend time feeling at one with the higher power. Today, the Cathedral stands at the heart of the Cathedral Quarter. You can also drop by at the newly opened Cafe Northcote off the south transept for a quick bite.

Hoghton Tower

A trip to Hoghton Tower will also offer you a wonderful view of the countryside that lies miles around. This fortified manor house is perched atop a hill that is 170 metres above sea level.

The property dates back to the 1560s and has been restored twice in the Victorian period after having been abandoned. Many eminent personalities like William Shakespeare, Charles Dickens, Queen Mary, George V, and other royal figures have been guests at the Hoghton Tower in the last 500 years.

You can take a tour of this grand manor house learning about the panelled state apartments and walking the floors of the great hall as you look out the magnificent bay windows. There are plenty of activities for kids too as they can explore the mysterious underground passages, check out the dungeons and get a thrill out of the dollhouse collection that is a part of the property’s history and appeal. The walled garden, too, is no less of a delight!

Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery

There is no other place like the Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery to take a sneak peek into the historical depth of the city. The museum was inaugurated in 1874 and was one of the first museums to be built outside of London.

It has a wide variety of collections and artefacts that have been donated by eminent town industrialists like Thomas Boys Lewis. The museum also houses one of the finest coin and manuscript collections including a very rare gold coin from the Cotavian reign, Shakespeare folios, a vast Egyptology collection that includes a mummy, ancient Egyptian masks, and a replica of the Rosetta Stone, and ethnic South Asian jewellery and much more.

The art gallery has several statement pieces that display the work of very famous artists from all over while also giving you an idea of the historic and social life of Blackburn back in time.

If you are into exploring architectural splendour that has stood the test of time while walking down the floorway and taking the essence in then the Samlesbury Hall is everything that you’ve been looking for. The hall is a Mediaeval manor house that opens its gates to tourists every day except Saturdays.

The romantic Mediaeval structure has been occupied for over 750 years and has a plethora of stories. Delve into the folk tales of the town and the neighbouring region as you indulge in the storytelling session about ghosts, witches, and marvellous beasts which costumed guides tell enthusiastically every Sunday on the free tour.

The structure has fantastic details like the majestically carved panelling, the painted Ceiling in the Long Gallery and the fancy Dining Hall, a fireplace that dates back to 1545, and much more. Kids will also have a good time at the playground which is vast and has a domestic zoo of goats, sheep, hens, and pigs.

Samlesbury Hall

Corporation Park

It is tough to miss the Corporation Park which is the main central green space of the town.

The park opened its gates in 1857 and is a source of pride for Blackburn. It is listed as a Park and Garden of Special Historic Interest by English Heritage owing to its quintessential historic Victorian features.

Kids and adults can both have a great time here amidst the greens. Not only is this park an ideal spot for a picnic but you can also engage in several outdoor activities here. There are two lakes, two playgrounds, six tennis courts, a cycle track and so much more.

When Ewood Park was built in 1882, it was an all-purpose venue that hosted football matches, dog races, and athletics bouts before being taken over by Rovers and becoming an exclusively footballing venue. Get a sneak-peek into the history of Blackburn Rovers as you take a tour of this stadium.

Blackburn Market

Is it possible to skip the main market of a city while on a getaway? The Blackburn Market is situated right in the middle of the town and is a wonderful place for you to shop for souvenirs or simply check out their local fresh produce like cheese and artisan coffee, go through clothes in their street fashion, yarn, souvenirs, etc. You can also please your taste buds with some quick meals like pasta, paninis, Greek street food, etc.

Corporation Park

Leeds to Liverpool Canal, Blackburn

WHERE TO STAY IN BLACKBURN

Accommodation is a key factor while travelling. The budget can depend from person to person and Blackburn has several properties that meet the budget range of different tourists. Let’s check them out! Hampton by Hilton Blackburn, like any other Hilton property, provides you with a comfortable and luxurious stay with modern amenities in a setting that is set away from the cityscapes. Not only is their service impeccable but provides you with every bit of the Hilton experience that the chain is known well for. The property is a great value for money with its clean and beautiful rooms, amazing staff, food, and all the facilities provided by the hotel to make your stay a five star experience. Premier Inn Blackburn Town Centre Hotel is another property that offers great value when it comes to finding a clean, excellent and affordable stay with various modern amenities on a budget. This hotel is near the train station and various tourist spots making it easily accessible.

TREAT YOUR TASTE BUDS

The best way to get to explore a place is by taking a discovery route through their local cuisines.

Ribchester Arms in Blackburn offers you a refreshing experience with their excellent ambience and food items that are not only lipsmacking but also don’t take much time to reach your table. The pub is known for its great selection of drinks, dishes like the famous fish and chips, roasted lamb beef, rag pudding, etc. and their prompt service. So you know where to head in case you want to unwind with great food and a couple of drinks.

The Northcote Restaurant is a perfect place to spend an intimate dinner with your family or friends. This fine-dine Michelin star restaurant is a 15 minutes drive from Blackburn and absolutely worth visiting. Their meals are one of a kind aiming to provide you with the luxurious Michelin experience, flavours that absolutely satiate your taste buds and food that melts in your mouth.

Not only can you travel to Blackburn on weekends to get away from your hectic schedule or a break from the monotony, but you can also treat it as a workcation where you can work in a quiet and happy atmosphere. This will also provide you with a change in view and help you refresh your mind, especially for the ones who want to get away from the clusters of the busy city every now and then.