Wendy Glasper who represented the North East Visually Impaired Tennis Club, finished runner up in the women's singles at the Metro Annual National VI Tournament.
Glasper narrowly missed out on the top prize eventually losing to Odette Battarel who is a member of the Metro Blind Sport Club (London). The prestigious event took place on October 6th and 7th 2012 at the National Tennis Centre, Roehampton and included players from all over the country.
Another competitor from the North East shone over the weekend. Rosie Pybus reached two finals on Sunday, including the ladies doubles and mixed doubles. Rosie was over the moon with her runners up accolades and she proved how hard she has been working over the last twelve months to develop her game. This time last year Rosie did not get through the early round robin stages but found herself competing against the best of the best and proved she is closing the gap!
Rosie highlighted her achievements;
“I am really pleased with how I played over the weekend. I love playing tennis and I have tried to practise as much as possible. My coaches in Sunderland, Graham Fowler and Andrea Field are fantastic and we have been working on key areas of my game and it seems to have paid off! I am also extremely grateful to Eric Mavin, Lib Dem Councillor who has helped me with funding towards the trip for the second year running."
Teresa Usher (NEVITC player) and Emma Robson (volunteer who travelled down with squad) were thrilled with the success of all the players and enjoyed their first year at the tournament meeting lots of new friends and learning lots of new tactics for gameplay!
The excellent hospitality and the thrilling vibe that Metro provide in their national VI Tennis Tournament just exceeds itself each year. Along with the high standard of play on court, the competitive banter and dynamic relationships provide hours of entertaining conversation during the tournament meal, laying the foundations of tight friendships with players from all over the UK.
Three years ago Wendy Glasper travelled to London on her own merit to compete in the national tournament and was so passionate about getting VI Tennis made available to the masses that she came back up to the North East and contacted Barbara Borwell and Jo Cunliffe to set up the North East Visually Impaired Tennis Club (Formerly North East Sound Tennis). Wendy now encourages regular players and recruits new members to train, develop and enjoy tennis.
The LTA and Tennis Foundation show tremendous support towards visually impaired tennis, giving coaches support and training in delivering coaching to visually impaired and blind players and supporting visually impaired players to gain coaching accreditations.
Next year we hope that the tournament will grow bigger than it has ever been with a tight network of high standard players training weekly in Leeds, a new and developing group in York and the return of the North East Visually Impaired Tennis Club (we just hope Steve and Julie are up to the challenge of organising next years competition!).
When people say that 2012 has been England's year for sport they are not mistaken, this weekend has truly been yet another quality sporting weekend and proven that no matter what your ability, tennis is an enabler, a game for life that everyone can play, develop in and love!