Twenty five coaches & club administrators came together on Thursday 21 November at Gosling Sports Park to participate in the first Hertfordshire Middlesex Open Court Disability Tennis Workshop. The workshop was led by Phil Martin & Mark Bullock to lead on disability tennis for the respective counties.

The participants took part in a classroom session to set the scene that was attended by Special Olympics gold medallist Lily Mills and then observed on court sessions delivered by Jon Wildman from Get Set for Tennis and Stuart Wilkinson from Uxbridge Tennis Club. Both coaches are part of the team of Middlesex Tennis Inclusion Mentors.

Jon led a learning disability session for a local day care centre and former national wheelchair tennis coach Stuart led a wheelchair tennis session with players who play at Gosling. The session was also attended by world ranked player Maryam Ayeni, a wheelchair tennis player, who along with Lily compete for their respective clubs in the Middlesex leagues. 

The workshop is part of both counties ambition to make tennis as inclusive as possible at all levels. If you are interested in developing an inclusive offer at your venue please contact Mark on mark.bullock@middlesextennis.org.uk.