When Cathie Sabin OBE headed to the Tyne Valley in April, she was bowled over by how quickly Corbridge Tennis Club got back on their feet after being hit by the floods of December, and she sang the praises of the community-spirited members.

The club has received further recognition after being awarded the Club of the Year prize at the Northumberland LTA awards ceremony, held in Newcastle.

The county’s LTA chairman Chris Lott spoke highly of the remarkable progress the club has made since its formation three-and-a-half years ago, now boasting a fantastic total of 170 members.

They have six teams currently playing league tennis and all but one are set for promotion from their respective divisions.

But it was the club’s unwillingness to let the flood water destroy their spirits which endeared them most, all members digging in to help recover the club to such a strong position.

Corbridge vice chairman Nick Steenberg said: “What the LTA was impressed with was our commitment to get stuck in and get on with things after the floods.

“We have a very enthusiastic and strong committee here, and we have bounced back even stronger.

“Chris Lott said the LTA was unanimous in the decision that Corbridge deserved this award for all our hard work so we are thrilled to win it.

“We also have to accept that we did well on the court throughout the last year and some of our teams have performed exceptionally well, while our membership continues to grow.”

The award follows the inaugural Pub Tennis Tournament held at Corbridge, with 12 teams representing the club and the village’s pubs.

Success belonged to a team from the Black Bull as they defeated the tennis club’s second team in an entertaining final.

Meanwhile, the club has teamed up with Grow and Learn Outdoors to run a summer camp on Monday and Tuesday.

Aimed at children aged between four and 11, a morning’s session of tennis will be followed by exploring the great outdoors through the wooded area at Tynedale Rugby Club.

Published in Hexham Courant 11th Augsut 2016