TO CELEBRATE the momentous occasion when Great Britain won the Davis Cup by BNP Paribas Trophy, Yorkshire tennis star Kyle Edmund, who was part of the winning team, has kicked off the Davis Cup Trophy Tour in Yorkshire.

And the magnificent trophy will be in Ilkley on June 16 and 17 as part of the international tennis tournament, the Aegon Ilkley Trophy, which comes to Ilkley Lawn Tennis and Squash Club from June 11 to 19.

The Aegon GB Davis Cup Team lifted the trophy for the first time in 79 years after an historic win over Belgium in the 2015 Davis Cup Final last November. To celebrate this fantastic achievement, The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) is bringing the Davis Cup Trophy Tour to more than 90 destinations across the country including many areas in Yorkshire such as Leeds, Sheffield and Ilkley.

The tour aims to thank the tennis community who supported the team on its incredible journey and to inspire a new generation to pick up a racket and get involved in tennis.

Kyle Edmund, who lives in Beverley, brought the famous trophy to David Lloyd in Hull on April 9. There tennis fans, players, and coaches were able to meet Kyle and have a once in a lifetime opportunity to be pictured with the impressive Davis Cup.

Kyle Edmund, Davis Cup Champion, said: “Winning was an incredible moment personally and also for all involved and I’m eager to help ensure a lasting legacy following this historic achievement. Seeing everyone’s reaction when they saw the Davis Cup and sharing a bit of that passion we had on court, will hopefully encourage others to get involved and choose tennis as part of their everyday lives”.

The Davis Cup Trophy Tour has also this week visited Sheffield’s Ponds Forge International Sports Centre and The John Charles Centre for Sport, Leeds.

Sir Gary Verity, Chief Executive of Welcome to Yorkshire said: “Winning the Davis Cup was a tremendous achievement for British tennis and I’m delighted Yorkshire’s Kyle Edmund was such a big part of it. Hearing from Kyle and seeing the fantastic Davis Cup Trophy will no doubt inspire future generations of tennis players so that Yorkshire continues to create sporting champions”.

John Crowther, chairman of Yorkshire Tennis added: “The Davis Cup Trophy Tour is incredibly exciting and the reactions we’ve received from everyone so far has been incredible. We look forward to seeing the continued excitement as the Trophy makes its way around Yorkshire and hope that we can encourage and inspire more children and adults to take part in our great sport.”

For more details on the exact timings and locations for the Davis Cup Trophy Tour in Yorkshire please visit www.lta.org.uk/daviscuptrophytour