Last Thursday saw a massive boost to the growing programme of tennis opportunities for players with disabilities in Cornwall with a very special wheelchair tennis event taking place in Newquay.
GB Wheelchair Tennis legend and double gold medal winning Paralympian, Peter Norfolk was on hand to provide expert guidance and an inspirational demonstration for the assembled players and spectators.
To start the event, Peter hit for around 10 intense minutes with Heron’s director of coaching, Steven Askey, and then, having almost worn Steve out! hit some more with Head professional, Matthew Trudgeon. The quality, power, variety and accuracy of Peter’s shots was extremely impressive, but what was probably even more inspiring was the apparent ease with which Peter covered the court so quickly to get to the balls.
Following on from this was the chance for everyone to then have a go themselves with Peter and the Heron Coaching team on hand to offer tips and guidance. This is really what the whole event was about as the wheelchair, and disability tennis programmes at Heron and throughout the County are now growing rapidly and the main aim was to help spread the word that wheelchair tennis is great fun and that everyone can play.
Heron’s Tennis Development officer, Paul Roberts, who overseas the Disability Tennis Network that is spreading out from Newquay, was delighted to see so many people of all ages discovering the fun of wheelchair tennis and also having the opportunity to see an Olympic star in action at such close quarters.
Thanks to support through the Sylvia Adams Trust and the LTA Tennis Foundation, there are plenty of the specialist chairs to use and all sorts of opportunities for people to play so if you are reading this and think you, or someone you know, might like to try tennis, please do get in touch with Paul Roberts on 01637 877 555.
Tennis and wheelchair tennis is a great way to make friends, have fun, get fitter and you really don’t have to be a good player to come and try and who knows what might happen if you do. The game can easily be adapted to help beginners and less sporty people of all ages to find their way.
Finally, a very big thank you goes to Peter and Linda for all their time and input into the event, the Heron Coaches and Steve Hilman and Neil Tunstall for their help on the day as well!
...and by the way, the “wheelchair stars that shone in Newquay” were all of the players, along with Peter....