The ERSA UK Team is made up of the following managers:
Badminton: Mark Lawrence
Mark started stringing in the mid 1980’s at Wycombe Badminton Centre. In the late 80’s Mark strung for the then world no.1 Morten Frost which Mark continued to work with till Morten retired. In 1994 Mark was recruited by Yonex to join their Stringing Team, servicing the player’s racquets throughout the Championships. Over the following years Mark formed a close working relationship with the Yonex stringing team and built strong relationships in the industry. In 2001, with Tim Willis and Mark Lever, the Team travelled abroad for the first time to the World Championships in Seville. In 2003 the team met Satoshi (Toshi) Yuza for the first time. Toshi championed the Team’s cause within Yonex and from that point on the number of events grew exponentially. Events included amongst others; 2004 Olympic Games in Athens / 2006 travelled to Asia for the first time / 2007 China; 2008 2nd Olympics in Beijing and also worked in the Yonex House at Wimbledon for the first time / In 2009 Mark was asked to lead the stringing team at the Asian Games in Guangzhou – A truly memorable moment for Mark / 2012 Mark's 3rd Olympic Games in his home city of London / 2013 Tim and Mark provided the stringing service at the Super Series finals in Dubai for the first time and in 2014 Mark started giving Yonex Stringing Seminars to new and existing stringers in various countries / 2015 Mark was the only European invited to the launch of Yonex China in Shanghai – a wonderful moment in Mark's career. Over the years Mark has been fortunate enough to have strung racquets for just about every top international badminton player of the last quarter of a century, many of them Mark’s personal hero's. Not sure how many air miles Mark has accumulated but Mark has worked at over 120 international events in some 26 different countries. “I am grateful to many individuals and particularly to Yonex for all the opportunities they have given me and, more importantly, all the friends, experiences and memories that will last a life time.” |
Squash: Peter Dickson
Peter is an ERSA professional Master Pro Stringer based in the UK. Peter has been stringing all racket types (Tennis, Squash & Badminton) for over 35 years. Known for his personalised service, Peter brings knowledge of strings, tensions, racquet choice, grip size & customising rackets. Solutions for tennis elbow, shoulder & wrist pain form part of his value-add service. Peter has experience, as a squash player for 50 years, playing at club, provincial squash tournaments & SA Championship level. His stringing at ITF tournaments, a World Squash Open & International Wheelchair Tennis embeds his talent. An added highlight in his career, Peter was asked by Tennis South Africa to string for Roger Federer & Rafael Nadal at a charity exhibition match in Cape Town, South Africa. |
Tennis: Thierry Goor - UK & South Africa
Thierry is an experienced Professional Tour level stringer. He is part of the Wimbledon stringing Team (Babolat / Apollo Leisure) and has strung at a number of Grand Slams, WTA, ATP and ITF tournaments. Thierry has managed a number of UK based tournaments (GB Pro series events for Dunlop) and runs a personal stringing and racquet customisation service. Thierry is an ERSA qualified Pro Tour Stringer & is the ERSA country manager for the UK & South Africa, offering stringer training to all levels of stringers. |
ERSA Overview
The European Racquet Stringers Association (ERSA) was founded in the Summer of 2001 as a partner corporation of the United States Racquet stringers Association. After one and one half years, we decided to become an association instead of a corporation and separated from the USRSA. We now have over 3,000 members in over 30 countries including leaders of the racquet sports industry, racquet specialists, teaching professionals, sporting goods retailers, manufacturers, sales organizations and racquet sports enthusiasts. Our Racquet Tech Europe magazine is published in English and German; and our ERSA Stringer’s Digest, Study Guides and Tests are now available in French, Spanish and Italian.
Our mission at ERSA is to educate our members and consumers to better understand, service, perform with and enjoy all the technological wonders of racquets, strings, balls, courts, shoes and stringing machines. The ERSA accomplishes these goals through information technology products, Racquet Tech Europe magazine, the ERSA Stringer’s Digest, ERSA e-Newsletter, workshops, certification and product testing.
Here at ERSA UK, we represent ERSA International within the UK with regards to supporting racquet stringers, administering stringing course, and conducting the world renowned stringing qualifications. The people behind this organisation are some of the best stringers in the world and have many years of experience at all levels. They have covered professional tournaments from the lowest International Tennis Federation (ITF) Futures all the way through to Grand Slams. In their 'off' tournament time they string for local customers, and Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) County competitions.
But not only are they experienced tournament stringers, they are highly capable of teaching novices and coaches alike in the artistry of racquet stringing. It is also possible to take various certification tests which are the sign of a stringer able to give a professional service. These certifications are also accepted as being a minimum to be part of stringing teams around the world who deal with the biggest names in tennis.
The stringing courses are held in association, and with the support of with some of the biggest names within the tennis industry within the UK. Each stakeholder has their own place within the courses offered, and can offer something different to their customers. While we could run the courses without them, having their support underlines the level of professionalism that we offer.
We don't just offer stringing courses, ERSA can be a great resource for all stringers. Becoming a member can unlock these resources and support from the people behind this organisation.
Thank you for taking the time to look at this site, and we look forward to hearing from you.
The European Racquet Stringers Association (ERSA) was founded in the Summer of 2001 as a partner corporation of the United States Racquet stringers Association. After one and one half years, we decided to become an association instead of a corporation and separated from the USRSA. We now have over 3,000 members in over 30 countries including leaders of the racquet sports industry, racquet specialists, teaching professionals, sporting goods retailers, manufacturers, sales organizations and racquet sports enthusiasts. Our Racquet Tech Europe magazine is published in English and German; and our ERSA Stringer’s Digest, Study Guides and Tests are now available in French, Spanish and Italian.
Our mission at ERSA is to educate our members and consumers to better understand, service, perform with and enjoy all the technological wonders of racquets, strings, balls, courts, shoes and stringing machines. The ERSA accomplishes these goals through information technology products, Racquet Tech Europe magazine, the ERSA Stringer’s Digest, ERSA e-Newsletter, workshops, certification and product testing.
Here at ERSA UK, we represent ERSA International within the UK with regards to supporting racquet stringers, administering stringing course, and conducting the world renowned stringing qualifications. The people behind this organisation are some of the best stringers in the world and have many years of experience at all levels. They have covered professional tournaments from the lowest International Tennis Federation (ITF) Futures all the way through to Grand Slams. In their 'off' tournament time they string for local customers, and Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) County competitions.
But not only are they experienced tournament stringers, they are highly capable of teaching novices and coaches alike in the artistry of racquet stringing. It is also possible to take various certification tests which are the sign of a stringer able to give a professional service. These certifications are also accepted as being a minimum to be part of stringing teams around the world who deal with the biggest names in tennis.
The stringing courses are held in association, and with the support of with some of the biggest names within the tennis industry within the UK. Each stakeholder has their own place within the courses offered, and can offer something different to their customers. While we could run the courses without them, having their support underlines the level of professionalism that we offer.
We don't just offer stringing courses, ERSA can be a great resource for all stringers. Becoming a member can unlock these resources and support from the people behind this organisation.
Thank you for taking the time to look at this site, and we look forward to hearing from you.