Jasper Cooper receives Player-of-the-Year accolade as Kent Tennis reveal winners of their annual awards including lifetime achievement honour for Canterbury Lawn Tennis Club’s Stephen Woodley

Canterbury’s Jasper Cooper collected his award for Player-of-the-Year at the Kent LTA’s annual ceremony on Saturday.

Cooper, announced as the winner of the county’s top prize in December, received his award from Sandi Procter, president of the game’s governing body in Britain, the Lawn Tennis Association, at Tudor Park in Bearsted.

In an outstanding 2023, Cooper became world champion in the men’s over-70s doubles and won bronze in the world over-70s mixed doubles.

He also won three of four British national events with singles victories at Wrexham, Wimbledon and Eastbourne, together with doubles triumphs indoors at Wrexham, Bournemouth and Wimbledon.

Representing Kent in the men’s over-70s county cup team, he won 11 out of 11 rubbers and was instrumental in helping the squad retain their National County Cup title.

Team-of-the-Year winners were also announced late last year as the men’s over-60s and 70s squads took the honours.

Having won promotion from Division 2, the over-60s side of Colin Coombes (Tunbridge Wells), Keith Gill (Bromley), David Bulgin (Kings Hill), Peter Elsden (Herne Bay) and John Watton (Bearsted) beat Leicstershire in the National County Cup to go from Division 2 to national champions in two years.

The over-70s - Cooper, Rob Andrew (Knoll Orpington), Chris Morgan (Canterbury), Robin Garratt (Oakwood, Dartford) and Peter Pharo (Bromley/Beckenham) - defended their county cup title without dropping a rubber.

Club-of-the-Year (one-four courts) were Headcorn Cricket & Tennis Club, who enjoy a thriving junior programme, while a holiday programme is run at a very affordable rate. They also held a Family Cup in 2023, with more than 30 adults and children taking part.

Wye LTC were the winners of the