Caerphilly Tennis Club is up for four awards at the 2019 Tennis Wales Awards, which will be held on Saturday, January 25 at St David’s Hotel, Cardiff.
The club, based in Virginia Park, is one of three clubs nominated for the Sports Club of the Year award.
The club’s head coach, Jonathan Morgan, is up for the Coach of the Year award.
As head coach, Morgan has run a variety of courses for all ages and has been instrumental in the club’s schools programme, which has reached more than 3,000 children across seven primary schools and three secondary schools.
Morgan has also trained 79 young Tennis Leaders at secondary schools across the borough.
Meanwhile, Ceri Simpson, who is a committee member at the club, as well as the adult representative, is nominated for the Volunteer of the Year award.
As part of his role, Simpson has volunteered at numerous club events and taken on an ambassadorial role at club open days, as well as helping adult members of the club to play more tennis outside of club sessions.
Also nominated is Jonah Jones, 15, who gave more than 160 hours of his time volunteering at the club last year. He is up for the Young Person of the Year award.
Jones has helped with coaching sessions, holiday camps and other events held by the club, and has also set up an after-school tennis club at St Cenydd Comprehensive.
Coach Morgan said: “It’s amazing to get four nominations.
“We won Club of the Year at last year’s awards, and two of our volunteers were shortlisted for the Sport Caerphilly awards. It’s huge.”
Speaking of Simpson and Jones’ nominations, Morgan said: “Both been massively helpful and influential at the club and fully deserve the recognition.
“Ceri has helped grow our adult section massively. He’s volunteered at so many events. He’s been absolutely massive for us.
“Jonah’s been a massive help to boost what we can offer to players at the club.”
The club, founded in 1989, won the Wales Club of the Year award in 2018, and finished as runners-up in the Club of the Year award at the UK-wide LTA (Lawn Tennis Association) Awards in July last year.
Over the last three years, club membership has increased from 91 members to 140, with a further 121 non-members using the club’s facilities.
Coach Morgan added: “We have lots of exciting things happening and look forward to another fantastic year of tennis at the club.”
For more information about the club, visit obv.sr/ct.