Jordan Parker - The Latest

DALEPAK sponsored tennis player Jordan Parker is hoping to use a prestigious sporting award as the springboard to a successful 2011 on court.

The 15 year-old from Barton Seagrave in Northamptonshire was named the Northants Young Sportsman Of The Year at the Northants CCC ground in November.

This followed hard on the heels of a similar county qualifying ‘Young Achiever’ award in his home town of Kettering just eight days earlier.

Jordan’s award was made by Olympic gymnast Daniel Keatings, who was himself named the Northamptonshire Sports Personality Of The Year as he comes from the neighbouring town of Corby.

Parker was among half a dozen representatives from qualifying towns which included his own Kettering area, Corby, Daventry and Northampton.

Now though, it is all about the Loughborough University squad player building on an excellent year and moving on to a higher stage after a busy 12 month schedule which has brought in trips to Norway, Spain (twice), Portugal, Croatia and Estonia.

His campaigns have seen him rise to a number one ranking in this country for players of his birth date, while he has also made his debut in senior British Tour events.

“Jordan was thrilled to win the Young Sportsman Of The Year. It was a great night and a very well organised event,” said his mum Abbie.

“Next year should hopefully see him carrying on in the same vein by competing in ITF tournaments across Europe.”

His father Neil added: “Jordan has been working hard at Loughborough in the gym in building up his fitness and we are hoping this pays dividends when he starts playing in tournaments again.”

Parker’s success has been boosted for the last four years by the support of Dalepak, whose chairman Mick White said: “It is marvellous that all Jordan’s hard work has paid off in the form of some sort of recognition.

“Dalepak only plays a small part in his success. It is always down to the player himself and the parents themselves.”