A Pontypridd school were delighted to win the School of the Year Award at the prestigious LTA Tennis Awards, presented by Lexus.

Cardinal Newman Roman Catholic School in Rhydyfelin scooped the top gong for the second time in seven years.

The school were recognised for getting all 1,000 of their pupils involved in tennis during the school day, with many staying behind to get involved in the extra-curricular club.

“It’s a massive achievement for this small school in a socially deprived area to win this for the second time,” assistant head teacher Neil Perkins said.

“Actually, it is a massive thing for us and hopefully, it will springboard to bigger things for our young people.

“We are playing tennis on five tennis courts that are on a slope on tarmac that is 50 years old with nets with holes in them.

“We’ve had massive funding from the LTA and Tennis Wales and they are the best governing body we have ever worked with and long may that continue.”

The annual LTA Tennis Awards, presented by Lexus, highlight and celebrate the incredible achievements and contributions of people in tennis across Britain.

First launched in 2015 with the help of former LTA president Cathie Sabin OBE, they recognise the vital work of volunteers, coaches, officials, and players dedicating their precious time and energy to the continual development and growth of the sport.

Over the past nine years, the awards have illustrated the depth of service and talent within the tennis community and serve as an inspiration to others to get involved in the game.

The winners, selected from more than 2,200 nominations across 15 different categories, have all been acknowledged for their outstanding contribution to tennis in 2023.

For John Williams, Director of Learning – Health and Wellbeing at Cardinal Newman, the lessons tennis teaches the pupils is what keeps them coming back.

He said: “It is just really engaging, pupils enjoy it, I have never heard in my teaching experience any pupils walk away from a tennis lesson or the extra curricular club.

“It is the best attended club in the school. There’s a queue waiting outside at 3 o’clock, it was so popular last year we had to split it over two days.

“It is a game of mistakes, there are so many different variations, we mix it up so much and I like the spread from Year 7 pupils to GCSE students, competitive players to recreational players.

“From touch tennis to trips to Wimbledon there is such a wide range of opportunities, all thanks to Tennis Wales for getting the project started over 10 years ago.”

LTA President Sandi Procter said: “The ceremony has been a tremendous celebration of the people that make our sport so special.

“The incredible stories behind the finalists are so heart-warming to hear. The hard work and dedication of all the winners and runners-up too is unbelievable, and I am always so impressed by the selfless sacrifice of all the volunteers, officials, and coaches.

“I have always been passionate about the grassroots and the awards are our way of highlighting the extraordinary contribution of the individuals and venues that help us open tennis up bringing new players and fans to the game.”

The annual LTA Tennis Awards, presented by Lexus.