Its the Sports Awards season and Desford Lawn Tennis Club and East Midlands Special Olympic Tennis player Matthew Chilvers won the Disabled Sportsperson of the Year award at the Hinckley and Bosworth Sport and Health Alliance Sports Awards evening on Thursday 27th November. Matthew won the award for his impressive year which was summed up in the testimony which was read out before he was presented with his award from Nat Jackson , BBC East Midlands Today Sports reporter Matthew Chilvers.
Matt represented GB for the first time at the European Special Olympics Tennis Tournament in Luxemburg. The event saw over 80 athletes from 18 countries in Europe and Asia competing for medals. Matt won a gold medal and is the youngest Special Olympian to win a tennis gold medal in a European Competition. This year he also won the first Welsh Regional Tournament at Wrexham only dropping three games in the singles and winning the doubles. He supports his coach coaching the juniors at the club every Saturday and this summer he passed his Level 1 award in Tennis Coaching.
After Matt was presented with his award he thanked his family for all the support they give him as well as his coach, Alec Matty, Desford Lawn Tennis Club and the SOL Olympic Squad and coaches at West Bridgford. He also thanked Leicester-shire and Rutland Sport for supporting him with their GO GOLD Special Olympian award. This award supports talented athletes who have learning disabilities and who are competing at a high level such as the National Games. The award is administered by Leicester-Shire & Rutland Sport (LRS), supported by funding from Leicestershire County Council.