ABERGAVENNY Tennis Club and Head Coach Robert Wedlake aced a double whammy at the prestigious Tennis Wales awards when they were announced winners of 'Club of the Year' and 'Coach of the Year'.

The club which was formed 87 years ago this month, and gained Tennis Clubmark status in November 2009, won 'Club of the Year' on the back of its significant development, growth, community activity and fundraising efforts to support the new court and floodlight project.

Wedlake has been responsible for the club's junior and adult coaching programmes for four years.

Supported by sponsors Hardwick restaurant and Keystone Renovations, he has been responsible for the dramatic improvements in the number and quality of coaching programmes and the number of youngsters participating in tennis within the local area.

This is the third year in a row that ATC had had success at the awards with Mike Buck winning Volunteer of the Year for 2007-8 and Sean Jones winning Leader/Assistant Coach of the year for 2008-09.

The cream of Welsh tennis talent – on and off the court – was recognised at the annual awards. The winners were announced at a special celebration evening at Venue Cymru, Llandudno on Saturday (October 16), hosted by broadcaster Arfon Haines Davies.

Speakers included Roger Draper, chief executive of the LTA, and Laura Mcallister, chair of Sport Wales.

Tennis Wales Chief Executive Peter Drew commented, "This was our fourth awards evening, and our first in North Wales. There are around 12,000 members of tennis clubs throughout Wales, so it's clear the award winners really are outstanding people.

"My congratulations go to these winners, all the finalists and the many unsung heroes of tennis throughout Wales."

LTA Chief Executive Roger Draper commented, "What an enjoyable and inspiring night it was, to meet people from across the spectrum of Welsh tennis, from Tristan Rochfort, who's clocked up more than 200 voluntary hours as a tennis leader, to Geoff Roberts, who's given a lifetime of support to the sport here.

"When you hear someone like Professor Laura McAllister, Chair of Sport Wales, with all of her experience across sport, talking so positively about tennis in Wales, then you know that we all have reason to be proud of the efforts of tennis people in Wales."