Tennis coach plans comeback at 64

Press, 6 September 1980, Page 60

Tennis coach plans comeback at 64

By

JOHN BROOKS

One of the most celebrated figures in Canterbury tennis, Mr Dewar Brown, is to make a comeback in the coaching sphere. A former national champion and Davis Cup player, Mr Brown pioneered coaching in Christchurch after turning professional irt 1945. He was active for 30 years before ill health forced him out of the game., Now, however, he plans to take up the role of tutor once again, at the age of 64. “My doctor has given me the go-ahead, and I think that I’ve still got something to contribute to tennis,"- he said yesterday. When he retires from his position with the Lands and Deeds office later, this

month, Mr Brown will take over as coach to the Elmwood tennis club. He will also help Mr Terry Mooney with some Canterbury association coaching, and the Avonside Club will offer him facilities to carry out private tuition.

Mr Brown has no qualms that he will be out of date with his methods when he returns to the court.

“Basically, there has not been any change in technique, but there is a greater tendency to be diverse these days,” he said. “Once, aspects of tennis such as the grip were laid down inflexibly, but now you coach according to the player, Borg, for' instance, has .the most unorthodox grips, so does Connors, and Evert and Austin play two-handed

back-hands, whicK were once shunned." Mr Brown will' have the assistance of two apprentice coaches at Elmwood. One will be Mr Brian Faulls, who is president of the Canterbury association; the oilier, Mrs Ann Chambers, a former senior player from the club. They will serve with Mr Brown for 12 months to become accredited' as coaches.

During the winter Mr Brown conducted some classes at Elmwood, more or less as a dry run. Now he plans to retrieve his racket from the wardrobe, and start to practice, - ‘,

''Coaching is not as hard as playing, but if I can have a few games it should help me quite a bit,” he said. ,