Peter
can be contacted at peter@fpta.com.au or
by mobile 0408 446 390.
Originally a New Zealander, though having
lived in Australia for many years, Peter is a qualified tennis professional with
the New Zealand Tennis Coaches Association, Tennis New Zealand.
He joined Chatswood Tennis Club as an A1 grade player after
moving to Sydney from Armidale NSW in 1972. Peter began his teaching career in the mid 1970's with John
Newcombe on his tennis ranch in Texas. 1975 saw Peter following a
tennis scholarship to the University of Santa Clara, California,
where he spent three years studying, playing and coaching.
In 1978 and 1979 Peter was appointed Tennis Director of the
Manitou-Wabing Tennis Resort and Camp in Parry Sound, Ontario,
Canada. Manitou-Wabing at that time was the largest tennis resort
in the world. During this period, Peter became winner of eight
National point score tournaments in Ontario, Canada and competed
in numerous tournaments in Europe, USA, Mexico and NZ.
Peter returned to Australia in 1980 and commenced a coaching
business and continued his association with Chatswood Tennis Club
including a period as Captain of the NSTA Blackwell Cup team.
Over the next ten years, Peter, though largely based at
Chatswood, coached throughout the North Shore including at court
complexes in Turramurra and Castle Cove. From 1990 until late
1996 he successfully built up and managed all aspects of the
Chatswood club as the Chatswood Academy of Tennis.
For many years Peter was on the Chatswood Tennis Club
management committee including a role as club captain.
As the face of tennis has changed greatly over the last 10
years, the ability to cater for the large range of clients whose
limited time requires facilities which can offer night tennis has
become a priority for the tennis professional. This facility was
not available at the Chatswood Tennis Club.
In 1997 Peter, as Artarmon Academy of
Tennis, took up the position as managers and coaches of the
Artarmon District Tennis Club in Artarmon, Sydney. Since that
time, Peter's highly successful coaching program, particularly
focussed on junior development, has continued and thrived.
Peter, and his coaching partner Mark Nissen have now
taken over the Forestville Park Tennis Coaching business and will expand their
successful coaching services as Forestville Park Tennis Academy. Both
Peter and Mark are excited by the challenge and look forward very much to
working with the Forestville Park Tennis Club and local residents and tennis
enthusiasts!
Though enjoying work with players of all ages and standards,
Peter has a particular interest in promising young players and
has coached many of Australia's leading players including
Kristine Radford, Australia's No 1 ranked female in 1994,
Michelle Jaggard who represented Australia in the Federation Cup
and Esther Knox, Australian Junior Champion in 1993 and 1994 and
currently playing on the international circuit. Other notable
pupils include Siobhan Munro, Jonathan Barrett and Brett Cooper.
Peter is
currently coaching Abbie Myers, the highly talented young Australian 14s champion
with huge international championship potential.
Peter also enjoys coaching some of Australia's
top veteran's players, who train and play regularly at Artarmon. Peter
hopes to set up a similar veteran program at Forestville Park.
Using the innovative and motivational coaching techniques he
trained in during his time overseas, and adding his own style
developed over years of exposure to different situations and
experiences, Peter has successfully coached individuals and groups
from beginner through to national and international champions.
