NEW SEASON IS SERVED
The ground-breaking NIC Yorkshire Tennis VI Doubles League gets its new season underway next Saturday 18/4/26 at Nuffield Tennis Academy in Hull. Four teams from North, South, West and East Yorkshire will compete in the league, with three further match days scheduled at York St John University (30/5), John Charles Centre for Sport in Leeds (11/7) and Sheffield Hallamshire (26/9).
Pictured below, league organiser David Wallace and members of the North Yorkshire team, winners of the inaugural league in 2025, at the Redmayne Bentley Yorkshire Tennis & Padel Awards presentation evening in March. The league is the first of its kind for visually impaired players in the country and has been shortlisted for the LTA national awards as ‘Competition of the Year’.
League members travel to Roehampton and we will be hoping for a Yorkshire win for the awards evening on Thursday this week. Good luck to everyone!
Thrilling conclusion to NIC 2025 Yorkshire Visually Impaired Tennis League
After four inspiring stages across Hull, York, Leeds and Sheffield, the NIC Yorkshire Visually Impaired Tennis League came to a thrilling conclusion on Saturday 27th September. Played at Sheffield, the season finale was tense, exciting, and full of surprises. South Yorkshire’s Ameen Memon and Fiona Hodgson were new winners in the B2+ category, while Sandra Thorpe and and Gav Griffiths – also from South Yorkshire – reclaimed the B1 crown. Meanwhile, Ed Hastings and Guy Keating from West Yokshire stepped up to the Open category and left with the winners medals. Read full report here>>>
Despite South Yorkshire’s impressive last day efforts, claiming 14 out of a possible 18 points, it’s North Yorkshire who become the first NIC Yorkshire Visually Impaired Tennis League champions for 2025. Ten players proudly represented the region throughout the season: Graham Robson, Robert Hanson, Tony Harrison, Bilaal Ali, Linsay Dutch, Rachel Abel, Jayanti Mistry, Ann Jenner, Paul Hotchkiss and Dave Green — each playing a vital role in securing the crown.
A huge shout out goes to our volunteers – from umpiring to ball collection, to stepping onto court to support matchplay, the league simply wouldn’t exist without the dedication of our volunteers. Your energy and commitment are the backbone of this competition. Thank you for making VI tennis in Yorkshire so inclusive, welcoming, and inspiring.
Welcome to the NIC Yorkshire Visually Impaired Tennis League. This exciting new league brings together visually impaired players in a fun, inclusive, and competitive environment. The event highlights that tennis—and sport in general—is for everyone, regardless of ability. We are breaking down the barriers and building opportunities for even more visually impaired players to enjoy tennis. The league will be structured for B1 sighted players (the least sight), B2 plus, where at least one of the double’s pair will be within the B2 sight category, and an Open category, where players within any sight category can play. Our hope is that the Open category will eventually evolve to welcome sighted players. We value your feedback and aim to make next year’s league even bigger and better. If you need assistance, our dedicated team will be on hand throughout the season to ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience. If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to reach out to David Wallace at syvitc@outlook.com.
Rules: Rules of VI Tennis UK
More details: LTA – Tennis for Britain – NIC Yorkshire Visually Impaired Tennis League – Organization
Beyond the Lines: VI Tennis and the Road to the Paralympics
Traditionally, tennis is a sport built on precision and sight. But for visually impaired players, the sport is being reimagined in ways that defy expectation. Reporting from Sheffield, Matisse steps on court to follow the heart and dreams driving VI tennis’s ambition to become a Paralympic sport and redefine competition.