Sidmouth Tennis Coach receives Devon honour

The lead tennis coach at Sidmouth Club has been named 'Coach of the Year' by Devon Tennis.

The honour for Sue Wiltshire was announced at the annual awards ceremony on Wednesday night.

Devon Tennis said she had been chosen as 'a dedicated coach who brings experience of international competition to the training of juniors and adults.'

Sue Wiltshire, who has played GB senior ladies' double tennis and for Devon in LTA county competitions, has been coaching at Sidmouth since 2016.

She also runs sessions at Sidford tennis club. During the week at Sidmouth there is coaching for adults of different standards with junior coaching on Tuesdays, Thursday and Saturdays.

A runner up for the award of Young Volunteer of the Year at the same ceremony was 15 year old Jed Ionov-Flint for his contribution to the Sidmouth Club.

The chair of Sidmouth Tennis Club, Martin Dawes, said, 'this additional recognition for Sue is very much deserved. She works extremely hard to encourage and develop skills. We have seen the results for adults in district leagues, for juniors in LTA competitions and for those who just want to enjoy their game even more.

"She is a fantastic ambassador for tennis, who over the summer holiday held training camps for more than ninety children."

The importance of having qualified coaches at local clubs was highlighted at the awards ceremony by the President of Devon Tennis, Sir Simon Day. He underlined, how 'the many thousands who play tennis do so because of the hundreds of volunteers at clubs who make it happen, who arrange competitions while coaches work to make the sport more accessible, and nurture emerging talent'.

It is the second year running that people at Sidmouth Tennis Club have been honoured by Devon Tennis.

Last year the long serving club Secretary, Di Kendall-Torry, was named 'Volunteer of the Year'. Sue, along with others recognised by Devon Tennis and those honoured by other counties, will be considered by the LTA for national awards to be announced at the Wimbledon championships.

Sidmouth Tennis is part of Sidmouth Cricket, Tennis and Croquet Club at the Fortfield.