The 5th County Awards evening held at The Stadium of Light, Sunderland proved to be a resounding success with nearly 400 players, friends and family present. This was the County’s biggest event to date, and sincere thanks were expressed to Viv Wilson and Anne Clayton for the many hours of time and effort recorded in achieving such a great evening.
The evening was compered by Jo Cunliffe, our former Tennis Development Manager, now LTA North East Participation Manager. Our guest for the evening was Charlotte Ellis, former European and World Paratriathlon Champion who gave all the aspiring tennis players present, an insight into what it takes to become successful and a world champion. Charlotte went on to present the trophies and awards.
The first half of the evening was devoted to presenting trophies to winners of Winter League teams, Aegon Teams, Girls League, U14 Road to Wimbledon, County Closed winners and runners up, U14 Boys and Girls Playsport Trophies (awarded for continued commitment and endeavour) and similarly Boys & girls U18 Oliver Wrightson Awards.
The first half ended with the prestigious Harry & David Thomas Memorial Meritorious Awards being presented to four club members for many years of service to their club and tennis in general – they were Barbara Borwell (Tennis World), Cathy Wilson (Virgin Active), John Greenwood (Yarm) and George Green (Wellfield). All received a framed certificate and a cheque for £100 to be spent as they wish at their club.
The second half of the evening concentrated on the major awards for schools, teams, and individuals resulting from nominations submitted by clubs in the county. This year, for the first time, all nominations were passed to an independent adjudicator outside the County LTA, whose decisions on the awards were based totally on the information submitted on each nomination. The results were as follows:
Primary School of the Year: Winner – Yarm Primary
R/up - St Bernadette’s Primary
Secondary School of the Year Winner - Egglescliffe
R/up - Conyers
Mini Team of the Year Winner - D & C U9 County team
Junior Team of the year Winner - Virgin Active Aegon 18&U Boys team
R/up - Virgin Active Aegon 14&U Boys team
Senior team of the year Winner - Virgin Active Men’s NPL Team
R/up - Well field Ladies A Team
Coach of the Year Winner - Anne Clayton (Yarm)
R/up - Stepanie Eadon (Boldon)
Referee/Organiser of the Year Winner - Matthew Jackman (Tennis World)
R/up - Darren Walker (Yarm)
Junior Volunteer of the Year Winner - Holly Barker (Yarm)
R/up - Michael Riseborough (Tennis World)
Senior Volunteer of the Year Winner – Mike Sowerby (Wellfield)
R/up - Ashleigh Baines (NE VI)
Senior Club Player of the Year Winner - John Greenwood (Yarm)
R/up - Hannah Stockton (Wellfield)
Congratulations to all nominees, winners and runners up.
John Schofield
President