Allan Simmons - one of hardest-working administrators in local tennis - has been honoured for his contribution to the sport.

The Bermuda Lawn Tennis Association (BLTA) founding member and Honorary Life Vice-President received the Argus 2003 Lifetime Achievement Award at the end of last month's Argus Open.

It's the second successive year that the All Bermuda Tennis Club and Argus Group have saluted an individual for making an outstanding voluntary contribution to tennis in Bermuda.

"I am surprised and moved to be honoured in this way," said Simmons, accompanied by his wife and children as he accepted the award.

The honouree has spent much of his life working to improve the quality of the game on the Island and has been instrumental in spreading interest in tennis.

He has been tournament director for several local events as well as being a director of the Bermuda Olympic Association (BOA) and serving on the executive of the All Bermuda Tennis Club.

The Island's former number one ranked player has represented Bermuda in many international events, including the Stevens Cup and the Pan-Am Games. He has also officiated in international competitions such as the Davis Cup, the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games and the Olympics.

Simmons' work in tennis has also been recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) which in 2001 hailed his service to the sport.

Junior tennis will be in sharp focus again next week when the annual Minute Maid Tournament takes place.

The 35th edition of the competition starts on Monday at the W.E.R. Joell Tennis Stadium and will see Bermuda's top young players battling their peers from the USA, Canada and England.

Steve Carberry, a well-known tennis director with his own training facility in Pennsylvania, will be bringing 20 boys and girls, aged nine to 16, to compete in the event.

The deadline for submitting entries to the BLTA office is 5 p.m. today.

BLTA president David Lambert expects the host country to give a good account of itself as most of Bermuda's leading juniors are slated to compete.