Our Annual Awards night takes place in January each year and is an opportunity for volunteers, players and coaches to be recognised for their achievements and successes during the previous year. The night has become a very special occasion in our calendar, coming together to celebrate the achievements of the best of our players, volunteers and officials.
In 2024 the Awards Night took place at Sunderland Tennis Centre with the County Closed trophies and Junior Awards being presented, followed by the County Award Nominees. It was truly a successful evening of celebration and a big thanks to Everyone Active Sports Centre, and Graham Fowler..
We are very grateful to Leader Floors and Leader Doors for their generous sponsorship that makes these awards possible.
Nominations for 2025 are invited from mid-September and close in mid-November – a link to the Nomination Form will appear here when nominations are open.
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Lifetime achievement | Patricia Smedley (Saltburn) |
| Volunteer | Ian Pearson-Brown (Blaydon) |
| Volunteer Highly commended | Lucy Brenkley (Barnard Castle) Marion Bernard (Saltburn) |
| Rising Star | John Wright (Boldon) |
| Rising Star Highly commended | Jack Addison (Yarm) Issy Smith (Boldon) |
| Coach Development | Olly Bennett (Blaydon) |
| Coach Development Highly commended | Phil Dolphin (Saltburn) |
| Coach Performance | Jo Cunliffe (County) |
| Club | Sunderland Tennis Centre |
| Tennis for All | Sunderland Tennis Centre |
| University | Durham University |
| Official | Sarah Lowes |
| Harry & David Thomas Meritorious Award – Services to Tennis | Judith Petite (Saltburn) Alan Walker (Boldon) |
| Playsport U14 Girl | Rachael Szeto |
| Playsport U14 Boy | Ryan Szeto |
| Oliver Wrightson U18 Girl | Francesca Simpson |
| Oliver Wrightson U18 Boy | Ben Wrann |
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Lifetime achievement | Pamela Dodds (Hutton Rudby) |
| Volunteer | Jamie Blake (Cleveland League) |
| Volunteer Highly commended | Chris Clark (New Silksworth) |
| Rising Star | Lily Errington (Eldon Grove) |
| Rising Star Highly commended | Callum Tranter (Yarm) |
| Coach Development | Hannah Stockton (Tennis World) |
| Coach Performance | David Esther (Shotley & Benfieldside) |
| Club | Shotley & Benfieldside |
| Tennis for All | Ian Pearson (Blaydon) |
| Competition | Durham & Northumberland LTA Youth Festivals |
| Official | Matt Jackman |
| Harry & David Thomas Meritorious Award – Services to Tennis | Chris Shutt (Great Broughton) Martin Williams (Yarm) Sam Stokoe (Chilton & Sedgefield) |
| Playsport U14 Girl | Laura Cheal |
| Playsport U14 Boy | Will Morgan |
| Oliver Wrightson U18 Girl | Francesca Simpson |
| Oliver Wrightson U18 Boy |
Joel Gibson |
All our County Winners are put forward into the LTA British Tennis Awards scheme and automatically progress to the Regional LTA Awards and potentially then the National Awards. In 2023 we were delighted that three of our County winners also triumphed at the LTA North Regional Awards Since the LTA brought in the National Awards in 2015 Durham & Cleveland has a proud record of success and past winners include:
| 2023 Regional Winner | |
|---|---|
| Volunteer | Jamie Blake (Cleveland League) |
| Competition | Durham & Northumberland LTA Youth Festivals |
| Lifetime achievement | Pamela Dodds (Hutton Rudby) |
| 2022 National Runner-Up | |
| Development Coach | Vicky Evans |
| 2022 Regional Winner | |
| Club | Yarm |
| Development coach | Vicky Evans |
| Lifetime Achievement | Dennis Laycock |
| 2018 National Winner | |
| Community Award | A690 Charity |
| 2018 Regional Winner | |
| Lifetime Achievement | John Taylor (Hutton Rudby) |
| Education | Dame Dorothy Primary, Sunderland |
| 2017 Regional Winner | |
| Education | Acklam Whin Primary School |
| 2016 National Winner | |
| Volunteer | Wendy Glasper |
| 2016 Regional Winner | |
| Young Volunteer | John Heppell |
In 2017 Wendy was named the UK’s 759th Point of Light, receiving a personal commendation from Prime Minister Theresa May:
“Your work with the North East Visually Impaired Tennis Club is helping to make tennis more accessible for the visually impaired across the region. You should be proud of the training sessions you have delivered and the direct impact you are having on the physical and emotional wellbeing of players.”
Check out the gallery of our past Award Nights and winners.