New Athlete - Jean Thistleton

We are very excited to announce a new member to our team of Physiofit athletes. Many of you may know Jean already as our longest standing physio, but after her recent selection for the Cheshire Tennis Team, Jean has become one of our sponsored athletes to help support keeping her on the court and off the treatment couch!

Jean has written us a blog about her recent selection:

"I was good at most sports as a child but not outstanding at one. I was on all the teams at school and rode and skied well too. My Dad was so bad at tennis he built a court at home so he could have his friends round for tennis with gin and tonic(!), and so my passion for tennis began with every spare moment on the tennis court ‘in our back yard’.

I realised in my teens I was OK at tennis but never going to be a star! I have been lucky enough to be a Physiotherapist for many years which has allowed me to combine my love of sport with my career. I joined my first tennis club when I started work, always enjoyed the tournaments and team tennis but it was not until I joined Bramhall Lane Lawn tennis club in 1991 that I really started to progress. I had regular coaching and encouragement from Russell Lawrence and was selected for the team. I continued to progress and climbed up the teams (4th – 3rd – 2nd - 1st occasionally and then back to 3rd as I matured!). I now play in the first division. We were promoted to the premiership last year (2016), I play a few matches in the premiership, but I know my place! More recently my coaching has been with James Turner.

To back up my fitness for team tennis at BLLTC I have joined David Lloyd Cheadle to play winter tennis in the warm, train in the gym and swim.

Jean May 2017

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I believe that, if I stay fit as I mature, can still play tennis at a decent level and am willing and able to play singles I may one day realise my dreams of representing my country as other players perhaps more skilled start to lose their fitness! I am the Bramhall Lane Cheshire Shield Veteran’s captain and my team has won the shield several times under my leadership.

I was invited to join the Over 50’s Cheshire county practise/selection session in March this year. I was a little nervous but we had a great session, I did not drop a set all afternoon and played with many of the existing squad – I was hopeful – AND I could still move the next day!

Three weeks later I was asked to join the squad! My first game will be against Berkshire in June and we are playing away against Wiltshire in July."

We wish Jean all the best for the upcoming season and we'll keep you updated on how she gets on!