21st February 2017
A young tennis ace became the joint winner of the Disability Sports Competitor Award at the annual Havering Sports Council Awards Evening earlier this month.
Olly Beadle, 17, is a sports student at Barking & Dagenham College who is showing great talent at tennis; last year, he won a gold medal in tennis at the Annual Learning Disability Championships, beating a young man who is ranked 6th in the world.
His college tutor Steven Blewitt, who heard about Olly’s win from his mum Jackie, said “It’s a very impressive achievement. Congratulations to Olly!”
A winner of two gold medals at the Los Angeles Special Olympics in 2015 and a huge fan of world number one Andy Murray, Olly, who has dyspraxia, a condition affecting movement and coordination, first began playing at the age of seven.
Olly's mum Jackie, 51, said: “He’s very pleased. He was nominated for the last two years so it’s third time lucky.” “He’s done remarkably well given his difficulties.” Sports mad Olly, who plays football, dodgeball and cricket besides training three times a week at Cranston Park Lawn Tennis Club in his hometown of Upminster, shares the award with bronze medal winning Paralympian swimmer Amy Marren.Olly collected a cheque for £200 at the awards evening, as well as his trophy.
