Lawn Tennis: Starlets court the praise at awards night

Evening Chronicle (Newcastle, England), August 22, 2007

THE Evening Chronicle is ace when it comes to grassroots tennis coverage - and that is official.

Your favourite newspaper scooped the Best Media Coverage award at the annual Northumberland Tennis Awards Evening.

The event, at the County Ground in Jesmond, coincided with the Northumberland Open Championships, the biggest event on the local tennis calendar.

Awards were presented by former British No 1 turned BBC commentator Andrew Castle to recipients nominated by local clubs and individuals.

Jack Heslop lifted the Most Improved Junior Male award, with the female equivalent going to Grace Dixon.

Performance of the Year went to Alex Walker, school of the year was Preston Grange Primary School while Cramlington Tennis Club's under-18 boys squad was team of the year.

North Tyneside were named local authority of the year and Steven Milner coach of the year, with Lauren Jones chosen as top junior volunteer and Ian Wood collecting the Gordon Brewis Service to Tennis Award.

The Northumberland Open, sponsored by the Adderstone Group, was a huge success this year with more 700 entries in 37 events.

The men's singles final was between Tim Matthewson and James Nelson, Nelson winning 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 to take the title for the fourth time.

In the ladies singles, Gosforth's Deborah Armstrong defeated Vicky Jones 6-3, 6 -2.

CAPTION(S):

A VOLLEY GOOD TURNOUT: Former top British player Andrew Castle (back, centre) pictured with those honoured at the Northumberland Tennis Awards night at Jesmon's County Ground; WINNER: James Nelson; WIN: Deborah Armstrong