12 March 2020

Congratulations us!

Local Tennis Leagues began in a park in north London in May 2005. It has grown to become a national organisation with a mission to bring friendly, competitive tennis to adult players wherever they are. This week, the journey was recognised by Middlesex LTA with a special award and it is all down to players like you!

Back in the day: Sally Kinnes presents an early group winner with her prize. Champagne is still the exception in the leagues and offered as a prize in our "home" league in Highbury.

Each year the LTA acknowledges achievement in tennis. It rewards outstanding contributions to British Tennis, and to our huge delight this year Middlesex Tennis, which encompasses most of the London area, has chosen to honour the achievement of Local Tennis Leagues with the Middlesex Community & Parks Award for 2019.

"This is in recognition for the great work you have done in developing parks tennis in Middlesex and throughout the country," says John Love, the Middlesex Tennis Development Manager.

The award will be presented this evening at a special ceremony at the The Hurlingham Club. "All the award winners tonight should be very proud of their achievements and recognise that this has not gone unnoticed by both Middlesex Tennis and our LTA colleagues," says John.

For Local Tennis leagues, which began on Highbury Fields in north London purely as a hobby, but soon took over the lives of founders Sally Kinnes and Nigel Billen, the award is more than anything a recognition of the passion and dedcation of thousands of every day players, and the generosity and openness of the many partner organisations that support the leagues. 

"Without, Robbie at the Pavilion, Steve from Will to Win, Ben at AllStar Tennis, Gary at GDT, Chris of the NTA, Jeff at Premier Tennis, Martyn of Activeace, Jo at GLL and so many others like them who have dedicated their lives to community tennis, without the support of so many far-sighted officials from local councils, more open-minded and generous clubs than we can name, and indeed without the support of the LTA itself, the leagues would never have grown to what they are now," says Sally Kinnes. "And without the players who committed to the format from the very beginning, there would be no Local Tennis Leagues."

You can see all our Middlesex/London leagues and check the new rounds starting, here.

A full list of this years winners can be found at Middlesex Tennis and there is more about the LTA's awards here.