A CLACKS school is in the running for a prestigious tennis award for its work in serving up opportunities to improve players' abilities.

Dollar Academy is contesting the School of the Year title in the coveted Tennis Scotland Awards 2023.

The school offers all prep and junior pupils tennis lessons term-time and enhanced its co-curricular offering for all age groups last year in addition to a weekly servicing clinic where they brought in external coaches to improve players’ abilities.

The academy is in the running against nearby Strathallan School with the winner set to be revealed during a ceremony at Stirling Court Hotel on Friday, March 31.

Blane Dodds, Tennis Scotland chief executive, said: “It has been a very successful year for tennis in Scotland with record membership numbers and events like the Davis Cup Finals and Billie Jean King Cup Finals being hosted in Scotland.

“With record entries across many competitions, tennis is clearly thriving, and we have decided to return to an awards dinner to celebrate, with our award nominees and winners, what has been another fantastic year for tennis in Scotland on Friday, March 31.

“We are proud to announce the shortlist for 2023 and recognise the individuals that played their part in growing and developing tennis over the last year.

“I would like to congratulate everyone who has been shortlisted and look forward to announcing the winners soon.”

From the wider Forth Valley area, 18-year-old Euan Donegan, who has been playing tennis at Dunblane Tennis Club since he was four years old, has been shortlisted for the Rising Star award.

Donegan is currently a Tennis Scotland development apprentice who hopes to become a Level 3 tennis coach and PE teacher at a school where he can develop and drive the tennis programme.

The shortlist for the Tennis Scotland Awards 2023 recognises the contributions of individuals, clubs, programmes and competitions that played a key role in growing the game in 2022.

Twenty-six nominees have been announced across 10 categories, with the winners earning a place at the LTA British Tennis Awards.