SPORTS SHORTS

WHITLEY Bay’s Beverley Park Lawn Tennis Club has set up a diverse and comprehensive coaching programme.

It is inviting new, old and existing members to participate in the programme, which offers all members six weeks of free junior and adult coaching.

It also provides mini tennis, cardio tennis, Tennis Xpress, family tennis, social play and sponsored Lawn Tennis Association events for all ages and abilities.

For more details e-mail beverleyparktennis@gmail.com. ■■NEWCASTLE Thunder Rugby League Club defeated London Broncos 38-16 in the Super League under-19s competition.

The club’s under-16s academy team did even beter, overcoming Wakefield’s scholarship side 42-6.

Try scorers for the under-16s were Fergus Simpson (3), Jonny Grey (2), Will Todd, Isaac Nokes and Lewis Howe, Alex Donaghy converting six of his eight conversions. ■■WANSBECK Netball Club’s Iain Richardson has passed his B award umpiring assessment to become the first male B Award umpire from the North East.

After gaining his C award in 2016 and continuing to officiate in the Northumberland County Leagues, Richardson (above) attended a B award course in July 2017.

Following the course, he was invited to umpire in the North East Regional League. ■■NORTHUMBERLAND’s Desmond Duffy is the 2018 president of England Golf.

Duffy (below) has refereed at eight Open Championships, the Walker Cup, the Palmer Cup, on the European Tour, European Senior Tour and at English amateur events.

He has been a member at Bamburgh Castle GC for half a century and has been captain and club champion and is an honorary vice-president.

He has also been president of the Northumberland Golf Union. ■■MORE than 1,000 riders took part in the Sandblasted Cycling Club-organised Dirty Reivers cycle race at Kielder in Northumberland.

The event was the biggest of its kind staged outside of the United States.