New Eglinton Tennis Academy award to honour Paige Hindmarch

The talented nine-year-old is the inaugural winner of the Paige Hindmarch Player of the Year award.

Just as Skein loves returning serves, putting away volleys and working on her ground strokes, so too did Paige Hindmarch.

Hindmarch tragically died at just 16 after suffering a severe storm-induced asthma attack in August. The new award is a way for her family and the Eglinton Tennis Academy to honour her memory.

"She was a long-term member of the club and the academy, and her family have been involved with it since she was young," ETC coach Rod Schumacher explained.

"So we've now got an ongoing player of the year award named after her, that's going to be the biggest award we have for junior tennis throughout the year.

"That will go to a player who shows commitment, sportsmanship and most of all, enjoyment for the game.

"We've had different categories of awards before, but this is a new award. It culminates from a lot of other smaller awards that we've had ... it's going to be a perpetual trophy too."

READ ALSO: Bathurst wins final round, but Orange declared victorious in tennis' Central West Cup

READ ALSO: Reen takes Bathurst Wallabies Christmas long course honours for third consecutive year

READ ALSO: Super opportunity as Central West women get a trial against Melbourne Rebels

Though Skein is still working on developing her tennis skills, Schumacher said her passion for the sport and willingness to learn were decisive in seeing her presented with the 2021 Paige Hindmarch Player of the Year award.

"She's been doing it for a little while and she shows that commitment to her game. I coach her and she's just an absolute pleasure to coach, she just does everything you want," he said.

"She loves it, she enjoys it and she's started to play a few tournaments."

Not only is Skein committed, but experienced coach Schumacher sees plenty of talent in her as well.

"She has got potential, for sure, that's not necessarily the most important thing with the award, but she has got lots of potential actually," he said.

"She's pretty good all-round and she is technically getting better for her age.

"I think she's technically quite good, she's using all the proper grips and things like that and that's her personality - to listen and take things in."

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can access our trusted content: