Nottinghamshire’s reigning National Wheelchair Tennis Champion James Shaw is looking to inspire other players while also raising funds for a piece of training equipment that will help him in his quest for further success with an afternoon of fun activities at David Lloyd West Bridgford on Sunday, 20th March.
The Ruddington 20-year-old, who won his first quad singles title at the National Wheelchair Tennis Championships in Gloucester in December, will join his coach Martyn Whait to showcase the popular Paralympic sport and provide opportunities for others to have a go between 2.30pm and 5.00pm on 20th March.
Donations from fun competitions and a raffle during the day will all go towards Shaw’s target of raising £3000, enabling him to buy a handbike attachment for the front of his wheelchair that will complement his training regime. It is hoped that the day will also lead to regular wheelchair tennis sessions at the club.
“I’ve had cerebral palsy since birth and after exploring other sports in my younger days wheelchair tennis fuelled my appetite for competition as well as giving me the opportunity to get much fitter and benefit my health all round. My desire to achieve as much as I can in the sport got even stronger last year when I represented Great Britain for the first time at the World Team Cup and won by my first National single title” said Shaw, who has been a member of the Tennis Foundation’s Wheelchair Tennis World Class Programme since October 2014.
“Due to my condition my muscles get tight and being able to use the handbike attachment on my day chair as part of my schedule of on-court training, swimming and the gym work I do will enable my body to get the full benefits of cross training and help my endruance. So I’m relishing the opportunity to introduce members of the public and other disabled people to the sport I love and me and Martyn can hopefully find some new players and be able to pass on some valuable tips, too.
“It happens to be Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month, too, and hopefully my story and some of the things I’ve learned along my wheelchair tennis journey can benefit others with the condition, too,” added Shaw.
“We will have two courts on the day, including a match court where people can watch me and Martyn play and then also have a go in a tennis wheelchair themselves. We are also expecting some special guests will join us and everyone can have a go at a few competitions we have planned. People can try a few of the drills we do in training and test themselves against some of the times achieved by some of the GB players and there will be prizes for the best times.”
“David Lloyd West Bridgford have been supporting me for a while now and when I went to them with the idea of an event they really got behind it and we hope it will be the start of getting wheelchair tennis sessions going regularly at the club. I’m looking forward to a really fun and exciting day for all the family and hope as many people as possible will come and join us.”
For further information about the event please contact James Shaw on 07531 156966 or email jamesnelsonshaw@hotmail.com.
