Newport Live is proud to announce that its Newport Tennis Centre has been awarded Competition of the Year at the 2024 Tennis Wales Awards for its successful hosting of the Regional Visually Impaired Tennis Competition.
The competition, held in February 2024, welcomed a record-breaking 38 entries, marking the largest turnout in the event's history. Players from across the region gathered to compete in singles and doubles matches across B1-B5 categories, enjoying a highly competitive yet supportive environment.
The event also marked a milestone, as it was the first visually impaired competition hosted on the Centre's refurbished courts. The enhanced contrast of the newly introduced colour scheme was met with great appreciation from the players, who found it significantly improved the visibility of the ball, contributing to a more enjoyable experience.
The competition was led by Tennis Manager Luke Difranco, who coordinated the event, and refereed by Newport Live Referee and Coach Mark Thomas, who, running his first visually impaired event, ensured a smooth and engaging experience for all players.
Luke Difranco, Tennis Manager at Newport Tennis Centre, said, "Winning the Competition of the Year award is a huge honour. We are so proud of how far this event has come, and we’re excited about expanding our offer to the visually impaired community. We look forward to seeing our participants return for our competition in March and continuing to provide opportunities for everyone to enjoy the sport."
As a result of the competition's success and growing interest, Newport Tennis Centre is thrilled to announce the launch of Adult Visually Impaired Sessions, which aims to further develop the sport in the region and provide opportunities for participants to continue to build on their skills.
Andrea Ovey, Director of Business Development at Newport Live, commented, “The recognition of Newport Tennis Centre as Competition of the Year is a testament to our commitment to inclusivity and excellence. This award highlights the dedication of our team and the positive impact of our newly refurbished courts. We are excited to build on this success, ensuring that visually impaired tennis continues to thrive in our community. Our goal is to create more opportunities for everyone to engage in the sport and experience the joy of competition.”
To find out more about Newport Live’s inclusive Tennis Programme which also includes Autism Friendly Tennis sessions and Wheelchair Tennis sessions run in partnership with Tennis Wales and the LTA Open Court Programme visit: Newportlive.co.uk/tennis
Pictured: Kerry Griffiths, Newport Live Performance and Strategy Manager, proudly collects the Competition of the Year award on behalf of Newport Live at the 2024 Tennis Wales Awards ceremony.
