News & Info > Easter Pre-Season Tennis Training Camp in Portugal Easter Pre-Season Tennis Training Camp in Portugal Over the Easter holidays a group of 19 Milton Abbey pupils headed to Portugal for a week long Pre-Season Tennis Training Camp at the Val de Lobo Tennis Academy. Led by Mrs Porter, and supported by three other members of staff, this was always going to be a high octane trip with early morning swimming and running every day before breakfast. Pupils swam an impressive 21,000 metres and ran 93,000 metres in total and that was before the tennis started. Everyone’s tennis benefited from two daily training sessions as well as a tournament involving Taunton College and Tonbridge School. The coaches provided expert advice and endless encouragement and enthusiasm. A daily prize was awarded to a pupil who caught their attention: Hannah, Sophie, Annie, Alex and Cameron each received this prize. At the end of the week Cesare and Matteo received awards for their performances under pressure in the exhibition matches. Sophie and Alex were rewarded for their hard work in every session and the ‘player of the week’ award was given to Cesare for his attitude to the tennis on and off the court. Mrs Porter writes, “I am delighted with the experience these pupils have had. We received endless compliments about their behaviour and attitude even on day two when the weather was slightly wet! This was always going to be a challenging week physically but everyone stepped up to the challenge brilliantly and some pupils added additional challenges of their own – for some it was wearing no makeup, for others it was no energy drinks. It was great fun but pretty tiring, more than a few were asleep by 9pm every night. All in all this was an excellent start to the season.”