A NEWPORT teenager was one of the big winners at the annual Tennis Wales awards in Cardiff.

Luke Difranco scooped the young volunteer of the year accolade in recognition of the part he has played in the delivery of the Tennis Newport programme.

The 16-year-old has given up more than 500 hours over the last 12 months and become a role model at Newport Tennis Centre – his mini green squad is now known as ‘Luke’s Legends’.

“The awards recognise our most talented and dedicated people, on and off the court, especially those who make it possible for thousands to enjoy tennis in Wales every week,” said Tennis Wales chief executive Peter Drew.

“It has been a very successful year for Welsh tennis, winning the Home Nations title in Scotland and bringing home three medals from the Commonwealth Youth Games in Samoa.

“There were individual successes for some of our top young players, including Josh Milton from Cardiff and Evan Hoyt from Llanelli, and in disability tennis from Shain Lewis of Builth Wells and Debbie Brazier from Newport.

“The Wales wheelchair tennis team lost by one point in the national finals and Wales picked up a bronze medal for Ben Jones at the British Schools Wheelchair Games.”

He added: “The 2015 Sport Wales School Sport Survey showed that we now have 5,000 more children at school playing tennis, and community tennis has developed in areas that had previously struggled to make tennis accessible and available to the public.”

Other winners at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama event were Cardiff’s Matthew Story (player of the year), South Wales Ladies’ Over-35s (team of the year) and Penarth Windsor LTC (club or centre of the year).

The Cardiff LTC men’s doubles firsts were named the club team of the year, Chris Lewis of Cardiff Met XL Academy received the coach of the year prize and a special recognition award went the way of Wales’ Commonwealth Youth Games team.

Other awards: Alan Bowditch (volunteer), Carys Howard-Rees (personal contribution), Gower College sports department (education), Newtown Tennis Club/Martin Ellacott (disability programme) and De La Beche Park, Swansea (community venue).

Eight of the category winners will go through to the inaugural British Tennis awards, which take place in London this June.