AN AWARD-WINNING dental practice has teamed up with one of the last remaining real tennis courts in the world and will be helping to celebrate its 125th anniversary.
As part of a new relationship with Jesmond Dene Real Tennis Club, Queensway Dental which has practices in Jesmond and Billingham, is sponsoring the club’s upcoming tournament, Great North Doubles which takes place on 13-15th September 2019.
Queensway Dental, which was recently voted The Journal’s Best Medium Company in the Best Place to Work Awards 2019 will be sponsoring the club for the next two years.
Jesmond Dene Real Tennis Club is one of only 27 Real Tennis courts in the UK and 46 in the world. Built in 1894, the court is situated on Matthew Bank between Jesmond and South Gosforth and is only a few miles from the centre of Newcastle, close to Ilford Road metro. Most of the UK courts date from at least a century ago (1529-1911) but seven courts have been built since 1989 with the newest court, Wellington, built in 2016.
The tournament is open to the whole real tennis world, and visitors will be paired with a fellow Jesmond Dene member. The club will have 24 pairs and play will commence on the Friday morning and a celebratory dinner Saturday evening with over 100 attendees.
Scott Blaber, a top teaching real tennis professional, who relocated to the North East with his family from Cambridge to help grow the club’s membership, said; “This celebration is extra special to the club as over the last five years we have been able to secure the lease of the building and save it from being left derelict. It is the court’s 125th year this year and we are celebrating this alongside our annual club dinner which is on court. We have renamed the tournament Great North Doubles to mark this respect.”
Dr Paul Averley, partner at Queensway Dental said: “We are delighted to support Jesmond Dene Real Tennis Club’s remarkable anniversary and feel proud to play a part in helping this living, developing and growing sport.
“Supporting our local community is something very important to us and we are really looking forward to working closely with Jesmond Dene Real Tennis Club. We hope this relationship can continue to grow in the future.”