Harrogate tennis friends begin 24-hour challenge

Harrogate friends Liz Hickling and Jon Hipkin will begin a 24-hour tennis and padel challenge today to raise money for Yorkshire Air Ambulance and Harrogate Spa Tennis Club. 

Liz and Jon will play alternating hours of tennis and padel and have asked fellow tennis club members and non-members to join them for hour-long matches.

They were due to begin their marathon at Harrogate Spa Tennis Club at Claro Park at midday and finish at the same time tomorrow.

They will have breaks for the first 10 minutes of each session. 

The pair set out to raise £1,000 for their chosen causes and have already had £1,300 pledged.

Liz said:

“At 3am on Sunday morning, the thought that we still have nine hours to go will be tough but knowing we can make just a little difference to people’s lives by raising money through this challenge will help inspire us to keep going.” 

Harrogate Spa Town Tennis Club has recently undergone renovations, opening two new padel courts as well as a new clubhouse, café and bar.  

The air ambulance provides emergency response services for over five million people across Yorkshire.  

Liz said:

“We wanted to raise awareness of the club and its new facilities as well as raise some money for Yorkshire Air Ambulance. We chose Yorkshire Air Ambulance as it is a service that any of us could need at any time.” 

If you are interested in supporting Jon and Liz, they have a Just Giving page. 

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Harrogate Spa Tennis Club unveils new pavilion and padel courts

Harrogate Spa Tennis Club has unveiled brand-new facilities that it says bring it a major step closer to achieving its aim of becoming a centre of excellence for sport. 

The club already had six tennis courts, but now has a larger pavilion with shop, Break Point café, bar and terrace overlooking the tennis courts, full LED floodlighting, improved parking, and two new padel courts. Padel is a sport similar to tennis but played with a solid, stringless racquet, in an enclosed court like squash. 

Photo of four players posing for the camera at the ate to one of the new padel courts at Harrogate Spa Tennis Club.

The new padel courts are already attracting players from across the region.

Jacqui Collyns, who took over as centre manager in February, said: 

“There’s nowhere like this within a 100-mile radius – Harrogate seems to be becoming the North’s padel capital. We’ve only been open for three weeks and we’ve already got ‘repeat customers’ coming from as far afield as Leeds and Pontefract. 

“This is a real ‘wow’ space. But it’s not just about tennis and padel – we’ve got plans to expand it for other uses too. This is very much phase one. It’s all part of a 10-year plan to turn this club into a centre of excellence for sport.” 

Run as a charity by volunteers, Harrogate Spa Tennis Club is understood to have paid a seven-figure sum for the nine-month programme of improvements through donations, fundraising and a small loan from the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA). 

Photo of people sitting in the sun and drinking at café-style tables on the new terrace at Harrogate Spa Tennis Club.

The club has a strong sense of community, and provides junior tennis coaching to year groups at Harrogate High School (pictured on the horizon).

Jacqui said: 

“A special mention should go to the volunteers and trustees. They’ve really made this happen, and have just given and given and given. They’ve never had a salary. They really are remarkable people who just want to give something back, and you don’t often get that these days.” 

The club, which is located off the end of Claro Road, offers tennis and padel on a pre-booked pay-and-play basis, and professional tennis coaching is also available. It also provides free coaching to year groups from Harrogate High School, holds weekly tennis fun sessions for children with learning disabilities, and all its facilities are wheelchair-accessible. 

Jacqui said: 

“This club is all about community. It was founded 76 years ago as a club for everybody, and that’s what it still is. Membership costs just £20 a month, and you can bring the kids along too. It’s incredible.” 

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