Julie Simkins At Safari Junior Tennis Camp

Julie Simkins, Tennis Professional is in Kenya, for the East Africa Safari Junior Tennis Camp, courtesy of Virgin Atlantic Airways, Sarova Group and Tamarind Group and powered by Dartfish. The camp, which has attracted 67 talented boys and girls from various communities, for three days, ending on Thursday, and will be followed by the East Africa Junior Open.

 Julie has been coaching at Millfield for fourteen years and in that time there have been many highlights. Most notably, coaching 2 national champions, winning several national schools age group titles and representing Great Britain at the World Student Games in 2007, as women's team coach. She is a former World ranked player in both singles and doubles (1995-96) and have won 2 conference titles whilst representing Arkansas State and Northeast Louisiana Universities. She now competes in veterans competitions and have had the privilege of representing my country (Great Britain) in the over 35's World Team Championships in 2009. 
















Enjoyed this story 
Want to participate inall these activites and more?
contact us at sadilioval@gmail.com

Millfield Coaches Introduce Rugby

Safari Rugby Camp came light when Paul Reed arrived on the 13th August and took to the pitch for an exciting week of introducing rugby to young children from Sadili's programs. Paul to trains the extraordinarily successful U15 rugby teams at Millfield School, UK, quickly got onto Sadili Oval Sports Academy's pitch and introduced rugby to a group of Under 12 boys for the first time, and within one day, got them really keen and excited to play. He was joined by Millfield School's Sports Director, Dr. Graeme Maw. 
Both coaches are in Kenya as part of a partnership with Sadili Oval to develop sports, in partnership with Virgin Atlantic, Embassy of France, Tamarind, and Sarova Hotels Group, amongst others. Special mention must be made of the Embassy of France for supporting the start of a rugby school at Sadili, from which the program began.

Paul played rugby for Saracens, Cambridge University, England Students and Hong Kong. He has coached Cranleigh school 1st XV and 7's sides and Surrey county U15's -U18's but now focuses on developing U15 rugby players at Millfield and teaching Accounting and Economics. 


Graeme is Sports Director at Millfield School. Graeme attained Bachelors, Masters and Doctoral degrees in sports science, physiology and management. He progressed to positions of performance manager or director with Queensland Swimming, British Triathlon and the Welsh Rugby Union, playing leading roles at multiple Olympic and Commonwealth Games along the way, and leading British Triathlon to the forefront of the world.

Virgin to Jet In Top Coaches For East Africa’s Top Junior Events

Virgin Atlantic Airways, will be jetting in 3 top coaches on Monday 13th August to provide expertise at a one week training camp in partnership with Sadili Oval. Millfield School the top UK sports school will be bringing in three professional coaches, who will be working with local talent in tennis, fitness and rugby, in what will be one of the best sports camps in the region. In addition Kenya's own International Basketball Proessional Coach, Ronnie Owino, will be heading an excellent local team in running a top performance basketball camp. The camps, which run at Sadili Oval and in Kibera, is expected to bring in about 100 youth aged between 8 and 18 years and will run from 11^th to the 19^th August 2012. Scholarships have been granted to children from around the region. Other sponsors include Sarova Group, Carnivore, Professional Tennis Registry and Dartfish.

Meet the Coaches:

Julie Simkins, Tennis Professional

Julie has been coaching at Millfield for fourteen years and in that time there have been many highlights. Most notably, coaching 2 national champions, winning several national schools age group titles and representing Great Britain at the World Student Games in 2007, as women's team coach. She is a former World ranked player in both singles and doubles (1995-96) and have won 2 conference titles whilst representing Arkansas State and Northeast Louisiana Universities. She now competes in veterans competitions and has had the privilege of representing  Great Britain in the over 35's World Team Championships in 2009. We came fourth.

the story continues...

Virgin Tour is a Success

2012 Emerging Players: Zack Okong'o Basil (Cptn), Henry Ayesiga, Ignatius Ouma, Olivier Kigotho, Chizi Mutsumi, Shebani Kabura, Annie Lord, Emily Stonewigg and Sascha Taylor

Sadili Oval Tennis Academy select team has jetted back to Nairobi from a successful Emerging Players Virgin Atlantic UK Tour 2012,touring Somerset in England. The team, comprising of tennis and basketball players, received intense technical and tactical training and match play with Millfield and Taunton. Basketball saw two players, Zack Okong’o Basil and Ignatius Ouma, Captain and team member, respectively, of Malezi School basketball team, first time semi-finalists at the Nairobi Provincial playoffs in March this year. This year, a young ladies formed part of the emerging players team: Chizi Mutsumi (15 years, Malezi School), Emily Stonewigg (13 years, Banda School), Sasha Taylor (12 years, Banda School) and recent ITF/CAT tournament semi-finalist, Annie Lord (12 years, Banda), who received first time experience on tour to prepare them for coming tournaments through tough practice matches against more experienced and well-heeled Millfield Tennis Academy Girls Team, who are ranked third in UK.

Malezi Boys Second Team won their meet against Millfield School with a trouncing of Millfield School Second Team under grey skies in Somerset. Third singles, Olivier Kigotho, beat C. Martin 6/0 7/6 (4) in a power game that lasted only 38 minutes, while Shebani Kabura and Henry Ayesiga were pushed to play their best, winning against 2nd singles Ross Price and 3rd singles Giles, 6/4 7/5 and 7/5 4/6 (8), to grab all three matches within 2 hours of play.  Malezi also won both doubles matches, winning 6/2 and 6/0.

The Emerging Players UK Tour, a partnership between Virgin Atlantic and Sadili Oval, enteres its 4^th year and offers special training and matchplay exposure opportunity to young talented players from Malezi School to play at some of UK's top tennis schools. Malezi School has been reigning champion in tennis in the Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association Ball Games for the last 12 years. Millfield School, who hosted the players this tour, is amongst the top three tennis schools in the UK. "With these results, we are hoping to be considered for the senior team that will play for Malezi School at the next ball games", says Henry.