1. ABTO AWARDS 2017

2. ABTO Referee of the Year 2017
For an outstanding contribution to tennis in the current
year in any capacity.
Chris Drewe
Dave Kitchen
Chris Mann
Sarah Tricks

3. Chris Drewe
Chris gave up his on court work in 2016 in order to concentrate on refereeing. He referees several week long tournaments including the Sutton Grade 2 a large tournament often on 19 courts all on one site. A supporter of team competitions Chris referees as many County Cup competitions as possible. Chris also regularly acts as a Court Supervisor at Regional level tournaments.

4. Dave Kitchen
Dave is an active referee in the North Region running many Grade 3 tournaments. His tournament satisfaction scores speak for themselves obtaining in the high 90s if not 100% for each tournament he runs. He has introduced many inventive ideas over the past three years including introducing a player of the day award and every player receiving a t-shirt. Over the past 3 years entries have doubled and this year the tournament achieved a 97% satisfaction rating of the largest county championships. Dave's reputation in the North Region continues to grow and this year alone he was asked to referee the new Chapel Allerton Summer Open and the Ilkley Open.

5. Chris Mann
Chris passed Level 3 School in May to become the 3rd youngest ITF Silver Badge Referee in the world. He stepped in at last minute to work at Wimbledon as Referee’s Office Manager. In 2017 Chris refereed the largest County Championships with over 600 entries and his first futures event this year.
This is his 2nd year of looking after the National Referee Development Group for the LTA and he oversees the Referee Evaluation Programme for the LTA.

6. Sarah Tricks
Sarah started refereeing in 2001 and has refereed from minis to seniors , beginner competition to nationals, wheelchairs, county competitions and team events.
She has contributed a great amount of time to officiating and, as a referee, she works hard at all levels promoting the game and supporting British Tennis. Sarah has refereed the Lionel Cox Trophy for a number of years building it up to be one of the foremost junior team competitions in the east region and, in doing so, has helped many people aspiring officials develop their refereeing skills. This year Sarah refereed her first ITF Seniors’ Tournament in Welwyn Garden City.

7. And the winner is ....
Chris Mann

8. For an outstanding contribution to tennis in the current
ABTO Umpire of the Year 2017
For an outstanding contribution to tennis in the current
year in any capacity.
Robert Balmforth
Derek Thorpe
Chris Melhuish

9. Robert Balmforth
Robert was the Review Official at Davis Cup Final at the end of November He is a member of ITF Development Group. Robert has chaired Main Draw matches at all the Grand Slams in 2017 – as a Bronze Badge. Alongside this he has also been a Review Official at a Davis Cup and a Fed Cup tie and a Chair Umpire at a Davis Cup tie this year. Robert is a Tutor at an LTA Accreditation course and LTA Pro Chair course and at an ITF Refresher School in China and also helped teach at an ITF Level 2 School in South Africa in November. So far this year he has worked about 200 days and chaired around 150 matches

10. Derek Thorpe
Derek has been an official for many years and in that time he has supported British Tennis as an umpire or manager. He has travelled around the country to work perhaps just one or two days at a tennis tournament, many of these being at ‘local’ events

11. Chris Melhuish
A long standing ABTO Member Chris took some time out in 2015 cutting back to review his commitment to tennis. In 2016 he returned to chair and line umpiring and this year achieved a long standing dream to be selected to call lines on his first Wimbledon final.

12. And the winner is ....
Robert Balmforth

13. David Howie Award Jacob Miles Maksi Vicheva
 Just before his death in September 1999 the late David Howie, who had been one of the leading British Tennis Umpires for many years, donated a silver salver to be presented annually to the best 'up and coming' young on-court official in Great Britain. 
Jacob Miles
Maksi Vicheva

14. Jacob Miles
Jacob achieved White Badge Certification in August 2017 and was promoted to L1 in January He is a member of the LTA White Badge Development Group. Jacob worked as a Chair Umpire for Juniors at Wimbledon in 2016 & 2017 and as a Line Umpire for the Men’s Singles Final at Wimbledon in He was selected for US Open in 2017 & will be officiating at the Australian Open in Jacob has been committing a lot of time to developing his chairing skills in 2017

15. Maksi Vicheva
'Maksi achieved White Badge Certification in October 2016 at the age of 23. She achieved Line Umpire “promotion” in the last two years to become an L2 graded official. She is a member of the LTA White Badge Development Group and worked as a Chair Umpire for Juniors at Wimbledon in 2016 & 2017

16. *Jacob was not present at the AGM to accept his award
And the winner is ....
Jacob Miles
*Jacob was not present at the AGM to accept his award

17. Judy Carter Jane Clark Tony Harding
Alastair Wotherspoon Award
This Award is named after the founder Chairman of the British Tennis Umpires' Association who held office from 1982 until his sudden and untimely death in February It is presented each year to a member, not being an elected representative, who in the opinion of the Management Committee has rendered outstanding service to the Association over a number of years
Judy Carter
Jane Clark
Tony Harding

18. Judy Carter
'Judy is a long-serving member of ABTO and before that the BTUA. She is prepared to travel anywhere in the country perhaps for just one day or even at short notice. Judy has supported tennis in Wales by encouraging officials with friendly advice and with practical on court tips and suggestions. Judy has officiated at 30 Wimbledons and at Davis Cup ties as a line umpire'

19. Jane Clark
Jane began umpiring in 1980 becoming a member of the Professional Tennis Umpires Federation. She then was a member of both the BTUA and ABTO from their inceptions. Jane has always shown a passion and commitment to British tennis working tournaments whenever she can at weekends or during the school holidays. Her passion at work and in tennis is inclusion for all and is stalwart of the British Open Wheelchair Tennis tournament. Jane has always been fully involved in passing on her skills and knowledge as both Chair Umpire (White Badge) and as a top line umpire. She has worked having worked 34 Wimbledons, including many non-championship chair and line finals as well as 14 US Opens and 3 Olympic Games. She was a long standing member of the ABTO Committee playing an active role as Inclusion Officer, and on Selections, Welfare, Appeals and Grading Committees.

20. Tony Harding
Tony has officiated at 32 Wimbledons, having served at least 17 years as part of the Leadership team in the Officiating Office. Tony was a member of LTUAGB, then BTUA having joined in He is a Silver Badge Chief Umpire and has served as a Chief Umpire at Overseas Davis Cup Ties as well as in Great Britain. He has been a member of the ABTO Management Committee.

21. And the winner is ....
Tony Harding

22. Long service certificates supporting British Tennis
 for
15 years
as an ABTO official
supporting British Tennis

23. Lindsay Owers-Bradley
Caroline Gibson
Rebecca Lee
Ian Preston
Ronald Allan
Gary Mardle
Diane Gibson
Barbara Richardson
Subhasis Basu
Chris Melhuish
Josie Singer
Emma Hayter
Angela Blowers
Lindsay Owers-Bradley
Daniel Smith
Edward Bradford
Alistair Henderson
Robert Taylor
Ken Chalkley
Janet Jamieson
Steven Pilcher
Pietro Tolaini
Andrew Davies
Lesley Pitt
Ian Watson
Paul Jarvis
Susan Eames

24. Congratulations to all our
2017 awards recipients