Oxstalls hosts national wheelchair tennis competition
Oxstalls Sports Park, Gloucester hosted the fourth Tennis Foundation Wheelchair Development Series event at the weekend. The event is designed to act as the first stepping stone for those players who wish to compete in wheelchair tennis.
As well as local players from Gloucester and Bristol, participants from all over the country including Wales, Jersey, Southampton and London competed.
The weekend saw some excellent tennis with competitors including last year’s winner Steve Metcalfe , winner of the Development Series Final 2012 Steve Crompton and Pim Palmen, previously ranked in the top 100 with the International Tennis Federation. There were also a number of new players including Bruce Fox (Oxstalls) and Joshua Card (Buckinghamshire).
Pim Palmen won the singles title, beating Steve Crompton in a hard fought final 6-1, 6-2. Pim’s route to the final included a 7-6,6-0 win over hitting and doubles partner Steve Metcalfe and a 6-2, 7-5 win against new player Joshua Card who performed exceptionally well for his first ever tournament. Steve Crompton beat Shahzad Afzal 6-3, 6-2 in the semis after a marathon three set quarter final against Anthony Evans. In the consolation final James Brady (Jersey) beat Anthony Tibbs (Cardiff) 6-1, 6-1.
Pim Palmen and Steve Metcalfe won the doubles title with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Steve Crompton and Pat Seaward. Pim and Steve used the event as a warm up to the British Open where they will be competing in July.
Darren Morris, Tennis Performance Officer for Oxstalls Sports Park, managed by Aspire Sports & Cultural Trust said ‘The event was a great success with some excellent tennis over the weekend, with all players enjoying the event.’
One of 29 nationwide Disability Tennis Networks, Oxstalls Sports Park is supported through grants, resources, disability inclusion training, coach education and more.
To find out more about the disability tennis sessions that are on offer at Oxstalls Sports Park, please visit www.oxstalls.org.uk/tennis-coaching.
ENDS
For more information please contact:
Hayley Hudson
Email: hayleyhudson@bigwavemedia.co.uk
Tel: 0845 643 2287
For more information on disability tennis and the Development Series please contact Becky Tilley, beck.tilley@tennisfoundation.org.uk or 0208 487 7119.
Aspire Sports and Cultural Trust
www.aspiretrust.org.uk
Aspire Sports and Cultural Trust is a charitable trust that operates on a not-for-profit basis. The Trust operates GL1 Leisure Centre, Oxstalls Sports Park, Estcourt Close and Xpress Fitness Cheltenham.
Tennis Foundation
• The Tennis Foundation is Great Britain's leading tennis charity and our vision is a sport which is inclusive and accessible to every kind of community.
• We’re promoting tennis as an inclusive sport across a wide range of disabilities.
• We’re supporting coaches and places to play to deliver tennis for disabled people.
• We’re delivering world class tennis events for disabled players.
• We’re identifying and developing the most talented players and delivering a world class performance programme for our most promising players.
• Find out more on the Tennis Foundation website: www.tennisfoundation.org.uk or on Twitter @TennisFndation
