A PROMISING tennis player from the region has been given a major boost with a £1,000 sponsorship deal with a local sports shop.

Ella Riddle, 12, a pupil at Rossett High School, in Harrogate, is ranked the UK’s fourth best player in her age group.

The youngster has now signed up to a sponsorship deal with leading ski and tennis sports shop White Stone, of Harrogate.

The deal means Ella is now kitted out in top of the range clothing, footwear and equipment for the coming season.

The move means the youngster, who trains at Harrogate Racquets Club under coach Mark Hinchliffe, can continue to concentrate on her game instead of finding equipment.

She said: “I just love playing tennis - and I am delighted that White Stone has sponsored me, it is a real boost for me.

“The kit is wonderful, I have already received so many compliments about the Ralph Lauren clothing. I feel very fortunate that White Stone, have put their confidence in me.

“I would love to play at Wimbledon and be the next Maria Sharapova - it’s good to set your goals high.”

White Stone has provided Ella, who lives in Meanwood, Leeds, with £1,000-worth of Ralph Lauren tennis clothing plus Bablolat tennis rackets and Asics shoes.

Her dad, Dean, is a professional fitness coach and helps his daughter train while her mum Tracey was a former Yorkshire league tennis player.

Ella started playing tennis at the age of four and was quickly spotted at the Carnegie High Performance Tennis Centre, which is part of Leeds Metropolitan University.

The youngster trains every day and heads around the country most weekends to compete in tournaments.

White Stone opened two years ago based in Cold Bath Road and it stocks a wide range of clothing and hardware.

Owner Jonathan McGuinness is a former coach to the British Olympic skiiers Martin and Graham Bell and is keen tennis player himself.

He said: “At White Stone we wanted to sponsor a young, up-and-coming player who has a good attitude and a great temperament.

“I have watched Ella play and she is just great - she is a wonderful ambassador for White Stone.”