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14 visually impaired tennis players from across the United Kingdom took part in the first ever tennis camp April 25 2015. The event took place at the Northumberland Club, Jesmond.
The camp was led by LTA Regional Tennis Participation Manager Jo Cunliffe and Durham University Coach Lucy Scott. With support from North East Visually Impaired Tennis Club (NEVITC) coaches, Ashleigh Baines, Rosie Pybus, Steve Trewick and Wendy Glasper.
There were two separate sessions for the visually impaired and blind players, which saw them put through their paces across 5 hours. This included technical, movement and tactical development work.
Jan Donnelly, a visually impaired player from Stockton who got into tennis because of husband Dave and NEVITC coach Wendy Glasper said:
“I had a fab day! I found it really useful to get some practice on the bigger courts. It took a while to get used! I also enjoyed playing with other people from around the country. The coaching was excellent!”
VI tennis is going from strength to strength since the NEVITC was founded in 2010 by coach Wendy Glasper and there are 20 regular players accessing sessions in Newcastle, Sunderland and Stockton.
NEVITC Treasurer, Steve Trewick said:
“As a new but fast growing sport this kind of grass roots stuff is super important. Many people have commented on the strong social aspect of VI tennis events and this is one of the things that keeps me coming back week after week, month after month and hopefully year after year. There is such a strong community ethos in VI tennis, such a spirit of support and sharing, that our events feel like family get togethers. This is awesome.”
Jo Cunliffe, Regional Tennis Participation Manager added:
“Visually Impaired tennis is a really new and exciting sport and is growing in popularity across the country and we are so incredibly proud to be driving things forwards in the North East. One of the best things about tennis is how adaptable it is, for example with smaller rackets on smaller courts and VI tennis is a perfect example of how the sport has been adapted to suit the individual player. ”
The NEVITC and The Northumberland Club continue the VI Tennis programme with their Open Championships along with Great British Tennis Weekend on Saturday 16th May.