How Highgate Club Inclusive Tennis Is Changing Lives Across North London

Wimbledon for all: Inside a north London tennis club on a mission to open up the game

From blind sessions to walking tennis, an award-winning tennis club is breaking down barriers and helping more people get on court.

In one week at Highgate Cricket & Lawn Tennis Club, I played tennis but only walked, watched people play without seeing the ball and met a group of juniors, who all had different needs but learned together.

“It’s a proper part of the club,” Linda Almond, Highgate Tennis inclusion co-ordinator, says when I meet her at the club in Shepherds Cot/Crouch End.

She tells me it all started in 2010 when she spotted a notice about a blind tennis tournament at the National Tennis Centre.

She offered to help and the year after, they moved the national tournament to the Islington Tennis Centre.

From there, the club expanded its inclusive programme and was recently recognised with the John James Disability Award.

“Tennis should be everywhere for everybody,” Linda says.

When I walk up to the courts for my next session, at first glance it looks just like a normal doubles match. Upon closer inspection, however, I notice the ball bounces twice and the players are not running – in fact, they are not allowed to. It’s called 'walking tennis'. Linda tells me it was started because they saw members in their 70s leaving the club. — Pic credit: Hannah Bernsau

My first session of the week takes me to Islington Tennis Centre, where Highgate Tennis provides volunteers for Metro Blind Sport’s weekly sessions.

When I step on the courts, the volunteers are measuring the court and putting down tactile lines fixed with double tape.

I’m told the players use their feet to find their way around the court and sound balls to know where the ball is…

When I walk up to the courts for my next session, at first glance it looks just like a normal doubles match.

Upon closer inspection, however, I notice the ball bounces twice and the players are not running – in fact, they are not allowed to.

It’s called ‘walking tennis’.

Linda tells me it was started because they saw members in their 70s leaving the club.

She says: “The population is changing, so London is going to be a lot more over 55, 65 coming up, and a lot less youngsters.

“So, clubs need to think about their provision.”

The sessions attract older adults as well as players returning from injury.

I join in and quickly realise it’s harder than it sounds; you need to anticipate whether the second bounce would go out.

Afterwards, I speak to Tricia Peel, 79, who tells me: “It’s one of the highlights of my week.

“I live on my own now so it’s easy to spend too much time alone.”

Another player, Colin Parker, 81, had a hip replacement so he hadn’t played tennis in four years.

“I had sort of given up hoping to play tennis again.”

He smiles at me: “I have dreams now of playing proper tennis again.”

CONTINUE READING at source: https://www.hamhigh.co.uk/news/26294526.highgate-tennis-making-tennis-inclusive/

#walkingtennis #walkingsports #walkingsport

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How Highgate club inclusive tennis is changing lives across north London

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