ONE of North Yorkshire’s top health and fitness clubs has completed a £70,000 upgrade to its indoor tennis courts.

The work to replace the playing surfaces of four indoor tennis courts at The Academy in Harrogate – one of the largest private tennis clubs in the country – marked the completion of a phased, £250,000 investment in the Oakdale Place club.

The courts, measuring a total of 2,500 sq metres, have been fitted with a two-tone blue “foundation carpet” manufactured by West Yorkshire-based Playrite.

The Academy’s managing director, Philippa Shackleton, said: “Our indoor and outdoor tennis facilities are recognised as some of the finest in the north of England, and attract players from all over the region.

“We are affiliated to the Lawn Tennis Association and, since opening in 1995, the Academy Tennis Club has helped shape a number of superb tennis players.”

Academy senior coach Chris Paraskos said: “While some indoor surfaces can lead to relatively slow matches, ours is designed to be medium to fast, meaning more exciting tennis played at a quicker pace.”