Council Tennis Facility Wins Award
Published: 12 February 2025
LOCAL FACILITIES IN NORTHERN DEVON CELEBRATED FOR OUTSTANDING
CONTRIBUTION TO TENNIS
Devon County LTA has announced the local heroes who are honoured as part of the LTA Tennis Awards, presented by Lexus at an award ceremony held in Exeter on 29th January 2025.
Northam Town Council’s Westward Ho! park tennis facility has been named the Devon LTA’s Park Venue of the Year for 2024, celebrating being awarded the best venues in the county for tennis, based on criteria such as coaching and opportunities to play. They are all now in the running to be awarded a national award.
As winners, the Town Council’s Westward Ho! Park tennis court facility will now go through to a shortlisting panel for a National Award with winners announced in April at the National Ceremony in London. Other highly commended Excellence Award winners will be invited to the LTA grass court events in June.
Northam Town Council, winner of the Park Venue of the Year commented: “The Town Council is proud of the work it has done to secure the future of park tennis for its community now and for the future. The Council’s staff, members, partners and most importantly, the community, have all contributed to the success of the courts in Westward Ho!, which were refurbished with a grant from the LTA and Council funds early in 2024. To celebrate this success, the Council plans an open day at the courts on the 1st June 2025, working with local partners to provide sessions for people to try tennis for themselves. More details will emerge as they are agreed.”
The awards are an initiative by the LTA and champion the people who deliver tennis. Launched in 2015, with the help of former LTA president Cathie Sabin OBE, the awards recognise the many thousands of inspirational individuals involved in tennis, dedicating their precious time and energy to the continual development and growth of the sport. Over the past nine years, they have illustrated the depth of service and talent within the tennis community across the UK and served as an inspiration to others to volunteer, coach, officiate or to play tennis.
Jess Downs Workforce Support Manager at the LTA, said: “On behalf of the LTA, I’d like to thank the winners for all they do in tennis and padel. The contributions they have made to our sport are incredible.
“We are delighted to celebrate their amazing dedication to the game and for the work they do in their communities.
“I’d like to congratulate all of this year’s county winners and extend my appreciation to each and every one of them for giving up their time, day in and day out, and for helping us to deliver ‘tennis opened up.’ We want to make tennis a sport for everyone and to fully reflect the diversity of our communities across Britain.’’
To find out more about the LTA Tennis Awards, presented by Lexus, visit www.lta.org.uk/awards.
The Courts in Westward Ho! can be booked by the hour with both a casual user’s pay-as-you-play rate, or an annual pass may be purchased, which makes all court bookings free. For more details see the Northam Town Council website at www.northamtowncouncil.gov.uk.