THE MAYOR of Droitwich Spa, Coun Bill Moy, visited the latest Walking Tennis session in at the Lido Park courts this afternoon after the town council awarded the scheme a £500 grant.
The cash has enabled organisers to put on an extra session per week and paid for equipment and promoting the sport.
Droitwich’s Walking Tennis, which began back in May, is the first in the area and coach Neil Bates has been visiting other clubs to help introduce it there.
Sessions are held from 2pm to 3pm every Friday and a new beginners’ session will be held between 1pm and 2pm from September 3.
Neil, who visited a club in Bristol two years ago to find out more about their Walking Tennis programme, said: “The feedback we have had has been brilliant – we have players of all ages from those in their 30s to older people.
“One person who comes has a condition which has prevented her from doing any sport previously but she can take part in Walking Tennis and loves it.
“I would say it’s 70 per cent social and 30 per cent competitive – it’s a great addition to our tennis offering here.
“We also recently had our first Walking Tennis tournament with other clubs.”
The rules of the slower version of the game are similar to normal tennis with the exception that the ball must bounce twice inside the court lines per shot and sets are often shorter – up to four games, instead of six.
Coun Moy added: “It’s a fabulous initiative and well worthy of the grant – speaking to people here today you can see how much joy it brings to a lot of people.
“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed coming to see this sport for myself and meeting the players and staff.”
Visit the Droitwich Tennis in the Lido Park Facebook page here for more information on Walking Tennis and all the other sessions offered on the courts.
Among them are, junior and adults sessions (a variety of levels) and tennis for the visually impaired.
There is no joining fee and all sessions are £3 per player on a pay as you play basis.
