Coleridge Place has opted not to seek re-election as the Bermuda Lawn Tennis Association president at the association’s annual general meeting in March.

Place advised his BLTA colleagues that he will not run for a second term in the hot seat at the association’s monthly board meeting earlier this week, citing work commitments as the reason for his decision.

“I am stepping down because of my electrical business,” Place said. “I’ve sacrificed a lot of time from my business to get the BLTA together and I needed to be there in order to make it what I wanted it to be.

“Most people think that that position as BLTA president is a paid position. But I have done four years of volunteer work at the BLTA and have done what I had to do.

“I have done my four years and I figured that’s enough for me and I need to move on to focus on my electrical business.”

Place admitted that his decision not to run again was not an easy one.

“It’s a hard decision for me to make,” he added. “But I will always be around giving my support and doing the right thing.

“I have put in my notice that I will stay on as past president for the next term, which will be 2015 to 2017, and give them all the support I can give them.

“I want to continue on supporting the BLTA and as past president I am going to be working on a Legend’s Club for the BLTA and I’m also proposing that the courts at the stadium [WER Joell Tennis Stadium] be named after great leaders that we’ve had.

“That will be happening at the next board meeting.”

David Lambert, the former BLTA president, and Michael Wolfe are the two candidates seeking to succeed Place as the association’s president.

“For as long as I have been around the BLTA I don’t think there’s ever been a challenge for the presidency,” Place said.

“I am just excited that people are actually challenging one another for the position and whoever takes over the BLTA will find it in good standing.”

n The Bermuda Lawn Tennis Association will hold their Tennis Fun Day/Fundraiser and Pro Am at the WER Joell Tennis Stadium tomorrow. Proceedings get under way at 1pm.