I am currently in Year 7 at a grammar school in Rochester, and I am working very hard!
Wheelchair Tennis
I have cerebral palsy. This makes it difficult for me to walk but I am determined to not let this stop me doing things. I go swimming, cycling and have even sit skied down black runs!
I have been playing wheelchair tennis since the age of about four when my parents bought me my first wheelchair. They wanted something positive from the chair and I enjoyed it from the start. My parents play tennis and have always encouraged me.
Zane Cheeseman
To win the Brithish Nationals Junior Boys Singles in Gloucester May 2009. I began national tournaments at the age of ten and have now competed at Cardiff, Nottingham, Gloucester and Sheffield. My biggest achievements to date were to win the junior doubles title in the British nationals in Gloucester and to gain a runner up position in an adult competition in Sheffield, both in 2008.
My hopes for the future are to make a success nationally and to begin international competition within the next few years. I hope to join the GB squad for London 2012 and one day to win a gold medal.
To win the British Nationals Junior Boys Singles in Gloucester May 2009.
I train mainly at my local club, Horsmonden Tennis Club where I see my coach Zane Cheeseman each week. I also train indoors at Tunbridge Wells and visit Canterbury and the national tennis centre in Roehampton, London. I train at least three times each week during term time and usually considerably more in holiday time.
If you or your business would like to sponsor me I hope you would see me as a good ambassador for your name. As such a young player in such a rapidly growing sport I am already receiving quite a lot of publicity. I do not know of anyone else playing wheelchair tennis nationally in Kent. I travel the country for tournaments and will soon travel internationally. Sponsorship would allow me to do this and support me with some very expensive equipment, tennis chairs in particular.
I have begun an amazing journey to overcome my disability and try to reach the top of my sport. I am determined to be world number one. I can not do this without support but I am sure that with the publicity that I am already receiving that any investment will be rewarded.
My hero is Peter Norfolk who is the current world number 1 in my quad category of wheelchair tennis. He lives in Hampshire and I have been able to hold his Paralympic gold medals from Athens and Beijing. He hopes to win gold again in London in 2012 but
My advice to anyone, disabled or not, is to not give up. Practice, practice and more practice is the key and staying calm under pressure. Listen to lots of advice and find a good coach.
My chosen sport remains wheelchair tennis because I enjoy it so much. The movement and the power of the game are great but it also gives me so much fun. I join in with able bodied players at my club where I am just another player.
I have received some financial support so far from a number of different sources: Ward and Partners, Denne Construction, Lord Cornwallis Fund, Maidstone Spastics, Lords Taverners, Kent County Council, Maidstone Borough Council. This has all been one off awards and I do not have sponsorship at the moment.
I may be very young and my disability makes things more difficult for me but I am determined to do the best I can and to enjoy doing it. My school work is also important to me and I work hard on this too. But I have a dream that I can do something really special with my tennis and meet lots of special people on the way.
Results
British National's
May 08
Junior Doubles winner, Junior Singles 3rd place.
Sheffield Adult tournament
July 08
Adult Division C runner up.
Nottingham
November 08
Junior Doubles runner up.
British Nationals Gloucester
May 09
Junior Boys Singles winner, Junior Doubles 3rd place
