Shropshire’s distinguished champions of the LTA Tennis Awards received well-deserved recognition at the recent Rothesay Classic Birmingham tournament. The Midlands regional winners were graciously invited to receive their prestigious awards from LTA president Sandi Procter.
Louise Ferguson, from Newport’s Boughey Gardens Tennis Club, was honoured with the lifetime achievement award for the region, in recognition of her over 40 years of dedicated volunteer service at the club. Her tenure in various committee positions and her efforts in promoting an inclusive environment for newcomers reflect her commitment and passion for the sport.
Another success story from Shropshire is Nikki Hoy, the proud recipient of the competition of the year award for the Midlands. This accolade was attributed to the Telford Tennis Centre’s Monster Smash, an event organized by We Do Tennis, which attracted parents and children for an enjoyable competition in a fun and safe environment.
Following the award ceremony, the Shropshire winners had the privilege of witnessing the thrilling matches at the WTA tournament on Edgbaston’s grass courts, marking a day filled with achievement and excitement.
The regional presentation ceremony was graced by the presence of Tennis Shropshire chair Fiona Jones, who expressed her delight at the continued success of Shropshire representatives in the LTA Tennis Awards. Fiona highlighted the outstanding contributions of Louise and commended the positive impact of the popular Monster Smash competition on the tennis community.
This year’s LTA Tennis Awards, presented by Lexus, attracted over 2,200 nominations from across England, Scotland, and Wales, resulting in the selection of the regional winners. These individuals were acknowledged for their exceptional contributions to the sport of tennis in various categories, including volunteers, coaches, players, and officials.
The LTA Tennis Awards, originally launched in 2015 with the guidance of Shropshire’s former LTA president Cathie Sabin OBE, aim to celebrate and honour the tireless efforts of the thousands of individuals involved in the sport of tennis, as well as acknowledge the achievements of venues and tournaments in expanding the reach of tennis across the nation.
The recent success of Shropshire’s LTA Tennis Award winners is a source of pride and joy for the region. The winners were initially announced during a ceremony at Tennis Shropshire’s AGM in January and have continued to shine brightly on the national stage.
The future looks promising for tennis in Shropshire, and it is truly heartening to see such deserving individuals being recognized for their valuable contributions to the sport. Congratulations to all the winners!