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Over 30 blind tennis players took to the court as the region held the first ever North East Visually Impaired Tennis Championships earlier this month.
The competition, which was organised by the North East Visually Impaired Tennis Club based at Silksworth Community Pool, Tennis and Wellness Centre, saw players from across the UK descended on the region to take part. There were nine events in total, catering for players with a range of visual impairments.
Paul Ryb and Jan Reynolds of Metro Blind Sport (London) won the Men’s Singles and Women’s Singles competitions respectively. Paul also went on to win the Men’s Doubles competition with his partner Alexander Wheen.
The North East Visually Impaired Tennis Club’s own Wendy Glasper and Rosie Pybus won the Women’s Doubles event, while Jan Reynolds made it two wins as she and her partner Tony Reynolds came first in the Visually Impaired and Sighted Women’s competition. The men’s VI and Sighted draw was won by Arif Mailik (Yorkshire VI Tennis Club) and Ali Wardropper.
Steve Trewick, treasurer of the North East Visually Impaired Tennis Club and VI tennis player, said: "It was an outstanding event. In total there were well over one hundred games of tennis played over the weekend at the Northumberland Club in Newcastle, so there was a huge amount of action. The standard of play was extremely high and is a testament to the dedication and talent of the UK's visually impaired athletes.
“It wouldn't be possible to put on a competition of this scale without a great deal of help. We were very fortunate to have the support of staff and members at The Northumberland Club and an amazing crew of volunteers who gave up their free time to deliver a tournament that we're sure people will be talking about for a long time to come."
Blind tennis uses specially constructed soft sound balls so that visually impaired and blind players can track the ball through sound as well as any useable sight they may have.
The club are extremely thankful for support from the Adderstone Foundation, JG Strategies, The Dan Maskell Tennis Trust, VINE, Tyne and Wear Sport and The Tony Blair Sports Foundation.
To find out more about local VI tennis provision please contact Rosie Pybus on 07796707700 or visit the North East Visually Impaired Tennis Club’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/NEVITennis.