POCKLINGTON Tennis Club are striving to continue their recent success in 2020 after an award-winning finish to last year.

At the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) Awards Evening which was hosted in Leeds last month, the club won the award for Yorkshire Club of the Year.

The award was presented to the club's management team, of James Eaglesfield, Chris French, Melinda Watson and Sean Evans.

Chairman, Chris French, was also recognised individually on the night as he took home the honour of Volunteer of the Year.

A Pocklington statement said that the club was "continually striving to see development both on-court and off, and 2019 has been a success on all fronts."

"This (the award) is a fantastic acknowledgement from Yorkshire Tennis of the progress the club has made and all of the hard work that so many put into it."

2019 was a busy year for the club which saw it grow, both in terms of our membership and also its facilities.

The floodlight project was completed at the end of 2018, with last year marking its first full year of use to its members.

The floodlights have been described as "extremely impressive", for the players and visitors to the club.

The introduction of the gated entry system and online booking has seen a number of non-members pay to play on the courts.

The project has had a massive effect on the coaching at the club which has enabled it to carry on during dark evenings under their lights.

The coaching has been carried out by LTA-accredited coaching staff led by head coach Sean Evans.

This has increased membership numbers at the club significantly, giving hundreds of people the opportunity to enjoy tennis.

At the early stage of the new year, the club are currently in the process of rejuvenating all six of its courts which will improve their playability and their lifespan.

"Whilst there has been some incredibly hard work put in by Chris French and his management team, the club also have their funders and sponsors to thank for their remarkable success," added the statement.

"The Club look forward to 2020 and their next step of their continued development to really put Pocklington Tennis Club onto the sporting map in Yorkshire."

Pocklington were supported in their project by the East Riding of Yorkshire Council, the LTA, Yorkshire Tennis and Pocklington Town Council.