Suzanne Lanthier - BIG PASSION, BIG CONTRIBUTION
Suzanne Lanthier recently moved to London. One of her friends, who doesn't live in Canada, told her to enjoy Europe. Getting used to small-town living in London, Ontario (pop. 350,000), compared to the city of Toronto, has been easy in many respects but not having access to platform tennis tortures her. London does have an old single cement court, which is where Lanthier learned to play when she was 13 years old and a 'real court' with no heaters in need of some major TLC. Back then there wasn't a hut, so the Lanthiers, along with the other 20 or so families who made up the LPTC, would tough it out in the frigid cold to watch or wait their turn. The members eventually got a hut put in, Lanthier magically "found" a net to replace the holey one, and the court has become somewhat usable. She is devising a plan to create a platform tennis clu[...]
Every year a women's player is chosen to be the recipient of the Charlotte Lee award. It is awarded to a woman who represents all that we value in a competitive player: Fairness, honesty, and a positive attitude. This year's recipient, Sally Cottingham, exemplifies all these qualities as well as being a kind, compassionate, and caring person. Nothing says it better than a few reactions to the proposal of her candidacy for this year's award…..[Click image below to read full article]
Source: Platform Tennis Magazine, Vol. 16 Issue 5, April-May 2015
There were many, many exciting firsts at this year's junior Nationals: First ever Champions Dinner, first Pro-Am tournament post-event, first time for Live Streaming of the youngsters} first time for a game tent, and the first time in decades that the two-out-of-three set format was played.
Matches began Saturday, February 28th, in New Jersey, using over 5O courts at clubs thirty minutes or closer to the hosting Short Hills Club. All of the age groups) from 10 & Under to 18 & Under, pulled in impressive players from around the East Coast, with a few from the Pittsburgh area. (Players from over 200 miles away were offered a free entry fee.) As the play drew to an end late Saturday, the National Champions were crowned.
All three of the girls' events were won by teams from the Philadelphia area. Callie and Catie Burkhardt from Wayne, Pennsylvania, captured their fourth title v[...]
The Childress family racquets dynasty at Fox Meadow Tennis Club included Hall of Fame inductees Madge Childress Beck and Maizie Childress Moore as well as Madge's daughter Susan Beck Wasch.
Madge's son, John Childress Beck, a Nationally ranked player in the 1970s won the Mixed Nationals in 1972 with sister Susan and lost in the finals of the following year to future APTA President Mike North and Sis O'Connell (6-1, 14-12). He also teamed with Herb Fitz Gibbon to win the Men's Nationals in 1974.
John spent his whole career at his father's firm Beck, Mack and Oliver and was instrumental in growing the company into a leader in investment counseling. He chaired Princeton University's Investment Committee and created the Princeton Investment Company during his tenure as a Trustee of Princeton.
In addition to his prowess in paddle and tennis he was an avid rower and was a member of th[...]
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