AWARD-WINNING Cary Park Junior Tennis Club, who are staging the Torbay Trials for the 2011 Devon Games to Inspire, are set to receive more honours for the work they do at Babbacombe.

Rarely out of the news for their selfless commitment to junior tennis under the tireless leadership of Dave Harding (Chairman), Molly Pope (Sec), Sheila Thomas (Treasurer) and Head Coach Rachael Jacobs, Cary Park JLT is to be awarded LTA Beacon status.

They will join a select band of tennis clubs nationwide that have been recognised for their high quality, affordable community tennis programmes.

It is recognition of Cary Park's outstanding community-focussed facilities, as part of the AEGON Parks Tennis.

The programme is delivered by the LTA in partnership with the Tennis Foundation as part of British Tennis' commitment to widen access to tennis and ever since the Cary Park Junior Tennis Club was formed in October 2001, they have achieved all their goals and more.

To become a 'Beacon' site, all facilities must offer some access to free tennis, plus quality, affordable coaching and regular competitions for all ages and abilities.

Five years ago when Torbay MP Adrian Sanders officially opened the new clubhouse, Cary Park chairman Dave Harding said: "We are a small friendly community-based club and the clubhouse is the first phase of a ten-year plan.

Harding and his committee remain true to their word and fast forward another five years and there has been decade of achievement with floodlighting installed last year and now the prestigious Beacon Status Award.

"It's all very exciting," said coach Rachael Jacobs, "and Georgina Loosemore (Devon LTA Development Officer) will be officially presenting the award to us."

On Thursday, Rachael was busy on court with Kim Smith, one of the senior members of the amalgamated club, Marine, that used to be based at Victoria Park, Paignton.

Marine has become a natural transition into senior tennis for many of the Cary Park juniors and both the senior and junior section work well together.

Rachael, who lives in Kingsteignton, tells me that the junior club has entered a girls and boys' teams in the AEGON junior 14 and under league and she will be very much part of the selection process at the trials for the Torbay team for the 2011 Devon Games to Inspire in June.

Two of the club's juniors - Ben and Joel Greatrex – who also hold membership at Torquay Lawn Tennis Club and did so well at the recent Flybe Masters finals, are among the trialists for the Torbay team.

The trials will be held on the excellent six tarmacadam courts that are adjacent to the 18-hole putting green that is run by the club.

The first of the trials were held last night with a second trial scheduled for next Saturday April 16 (3.30-5pm). The trials are for girls and boys in school years 6, 7 & 8.

For more information on Cary Park Tennis Club and the facilities they offer, contact Rachael Jacobs 07841 385145 or email rachael@caryparktennis.co.uk

Anyone who wants to represent Torbay in tennis at the Games can go along to the trials but to register your interest, please contact Kirsty Parker-Calland on 01803 207365 or email kirsty.parker-calland@torbay.gov.uk Alternatively you can just turn up at the trials.

FORMER Torquay Road to Wimbledon club champion Emma Cooper enjoyed a stunning win over the higher-rated Karola Bejenaru 3-6, 7-5, 10-3 as the East Devon Academy's U16 girls' team beat Ivybridge Tennis Academy 4-2 in the AEGON National Junior League play-offs for the national finals.

Emma Cooper did well to come back from a set and 5-4 down against the Romanian and her win followed on from a superb victory by former South Hams Novices finalist Sarah Collinge over Sian Payne with the daughter of Teign School head of sport Gary Payne going down, 7-5, 7-6.

Sisters Mondei and Nephe Deviana-Horne won their singles matches to level the score at two rubbers apiece but the East Devon quartet won both doubles in style. Collinge and Emma Hurst beat the two Essex based sisters 6-4, 7-5 and Emma Cooper and Emma Hurst beat Bejenaru and Cornwall's Elaine Whittaker 7-6, 6-1.

Top class play won the day for the four Torbay Open regulars with coach Derek Blackmore and Centre manager Jo Louis attributing the players' victory to working hard as a team and supporting each other throughout the day.