On 20th and 21st July Mayfield Tennis Club hosted a learning disability tournament. 34 participants took part in a range of events under the guidance of referee Martin Etheridge. Skills session were run by Mark Bullock from Middlesex Tennis and Adam Brownsword who was the winner of the yellow ball competition.

Organiser Anne Nicholls writes On Saturday and Sunday we hosted the most amazing Learning Disability Tennis Tournament at Mayfield Tennis Club in North London. 34 players took part and what a competition we had.  

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Thank you Mark Bullock, PH tennis, Adam Brownsword, Nigel Brownsword and everyone who volunteered to make this a truly wonderful and memorable day.  

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There was something for everyone. Thank you Mark Leech from Welloffside Prints for the fab photos.

She went on to say;

What an Incredible Weekend of Inclusive Tennis!  We're thrilled to share the success of our recent two-day tennis tournament for players with learning disabilities. It was truly a celebration of sport, inclusion, and community spirit! Highlights: 34 amazing athletes competed, including individuals with Down’s syndrome, cerebral palsy, and autism 😍 The sun shone and rain stopped play for only a short while. 😍 Delicious food. New friendships. We laughed, cheered everyone on and it was pure joy  A heartfelt thank you to all our volunteers who made these two days exceptionally special. Your dedication and hard work created an unforgettable experience for everyone involved.  To our remarkable players: Your determination, resilience, and passion for tennis are truly inspiring. You've shown us all the power of pursuing what you love, forming new connections, and embracing life's joys. This tournament was more than just a competition – it was a demonstration of what's possible when we create inclusive spaces in sports. Each serve, rally, and match challenged perceptions and showcased the incredible abilities of our athletes.

We're already looking forward to our next event!

One parent said

The atmosphere was lovely - so affirming and positive and friendly.  I also want to mention how brilliant the catering was - thank you so much! - and how impressive it was to see so many young people from the club prepared to come along on a Saturday and help out with the hospitality and also playing tennis with Oliver as the afternoon wore on.  I know that an event such as this takes an enormous amount of commitment and planning, and I want to say how very worthwhile that was.  Thank you also to the Mayfield Club members who had to forego access the courts on a sunny Saturday so that this tournament could go ahead.

Mayfield Tennis Club run a weekly Saturday sessions for adolescents and adults with learning, sensory or physical disabilities supported by Bright Ideas for Tennis and the LTA Open Court programme through Middlesex Tennis. Several players from the sessions took part in the tournament.

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