A MEMBER of Penarth Windsor recently won an award at the annual Tennis Wales awards.

The awards recognise people and organisations from South Wales that have contributed most to the sport during the past year.

David Clarke from Penarth Windsor won the Outstanding Contribution to tennis in Wales award.

During 30 years at the Windsor club, David has been a member of the committee for most of the time and has been chairman, membership secretary, men’s captain and during the last few years, treasurer.

He has been instrumental in driving forward key projects which have a significantly enhanced and developed the status of the club.

He has also worked hard beyond the club, and was Tennis Wales’ first chairman of the board of directors.

During his time on the committee David has helped the club achieve club mark status and his part in the financial planning of the club and subsequent drive to develop projects such as new courts, state of the art floodlighting and a new club house cannot be understated.

For all this, the club took the decision to recognise David’s commitment by making him an honorary member at the recent centenary celebrations in November 2014.

Somehow David has also found time for his passion for tennis to extend beyond Penarth Windsor and he was the first Chairman of Tennis Wales’ board of directors and has had regular input in the work of Tennis Wales.

Everyone at Penarth Windsor and others further afield would like to express their congratulations and delight that David’s work have been justly recognised.

The awards were presented by Ken Skates, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sport, and Tourism in the Welsh Government; Cathie Sabin, president of the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA); and Jon Morgan, executive director of Disability Sport Wales, in a ceremony hosted by TV presenter Arfon Haines Davies, at the St David’s Park Hotel in Ewloe, Flintshire on Saturday, January 24.

“The awards recognise our most talented and dedicated people – on and off the court, especially those who make it possible for thousands to enjoy tennis in Wales every week,” said Tennis Wales chief executive Peter Drew.

“The past year has seen continuing huge growth in tennis at primary schools across Wales, club membership increasing steadily, and adult tennis participation in Wales rising from 27,000 to 45,000,” he added.

“Tennis is now becoming one of the most popular sports to play in Wales, and at the elite end of the sport, we’ve had two players from Wales winning titles on the ATP (association of Tennis Professionals) tour, juniors winning British national titles, Welsh players winning finals of ITF (International Tennis Federation) junior tournaments, and County teams right at the very top of County Cup. Currently we have 11 juniors from Wales in the top 10 rankings for their age group on the British Winter National Tour, so things are certainly looking very bright for the future of Welsh tennis.”

Information on all aspects of tennis in Wales is available from Tennis Wales on 02920 463335 or www.lta.org.uk/in-your-area/Wales/ and for regular updates follow Tennis Wales on Twitter @tenniswales.