Durham & Cleveland LTA is delighted to announce that Wendy Glasper of the North East Visually impaired Tennis Club has been named the North Region’s Volunteer of the Year in the Aegon British Tennis Awards.
Wendy had previously been named Durham & Cleveland Volunteer of the Year, which saw her put forward to a regional judging panel, who further recognised Wendy’s achievement by naming her the North Region’s Volunteer of the Year.
The Award recognised Wendy as a true ambassador for tennis in the North East. As a passionate tennis player and Level 2 Coach, Wendy has worked tirelessly to help people who, like her, are blind or visually impaired to participate in and enjoy sport. Wendy founded the North East VI Tennis Club just over five years ago, bringing visually impaired tennis (known internationally as blind tennis and sometimes called sound tennis) to the North East from London, establishing it en-route in Manchester and Leeds.
According to Tennis Foundation statistics, VI Tennis is the fastest growing version of the game across all impairment groups, with the North topping the table of participation nationally. Undoubtedly this achievement has been made possible in no small way by Wendy’s tireless effort and enthusiasm.Travelling miles around the region on public transport, Wendy, who lives in Darlington, supports VI tennis sessions in Sunderland, Middlesbrough, Newcastle and Stockton helping players to develop their skills, set goals and, most of all, participate and enjoy tennis.
A committed tennis player herself, Wendy was runner up trophy in both the singles and doubles competition for her sight category at the National VI Championships in Roehampton in 2015.
Anne Clayton LTA Councillor from Durham & Cleveland LTA added:
“It is an honour for Durham & Cleveland to have a regional winner in 2017 Aegon British Tennis Awards. Wendy’s contribution towards local tennis in Durham & Cleveland has been outstanding and the award is fully deserved. We wish Wendy every luck as she now goes forward to be judged by a national panel for the title of national award winner.
The awards are a joint initiative between The Lawn Tennis Asociation (LTA), the Tennis Foundation, partner Aegon and 40 local/national tennis associations, including Durham & Cleveland. The Awards reward and champion the people who deliver tennis in communities across Great Britain.
As a Regional Award Winner, Wendy will now be put forward to a national judging panel who will determine overall winners for each category in the Aegon British Tennis Awards. Those successful will then be invited to attend the national Aegon British Tennis Awards ceremony in London on 4th July 2017.