Isabella courts success - with Ira

Pictures courtesy Tennis Australia / Hamish Blair

Kippa-Ring resident Isabella Allen has proved sight loss is no barrier to ambition.

She is a dual Australian tennis champion preparing to defend a national crown and jet to her first overseas tournament.

The 35-year-old trains in Mitchelton and Redcliffe, works at Mater Research, volunteers and travels solo - but could not do it without Ira, her Seeing Eye dog.

Though still young, Ira is a constant, reliable companion on Isabella’s daily commutes, sits courtside during matches and travels with her across the country.

While airport assistance services help, it’s Ira who enables Isabella to move through such unfamiliar environments and around obstacles.

Ira is Isabella’s third dog following past dog guides Penny and Tatum.

“These dogs give us freedom and independence. Without them we wouldn’t be able to travel so freely,” Isabella said, in support of the Petbarn Foundation’s Seeing Eye Dogs Appeal.

“Before having a dog, I used a white cane, which helps you find obstacles and work round them, but is far slower, limiting and tiring.

“Ira and I are a team. A partnership. He trusts me and I trust him. Seeing Eye dogs are extremely well trained but a lot goes into the matching process.

“They look at walking speed, lifestyle, where you live … at a dog’s temperament. Some are more suited to busy cities, some to family environments and others to country areas.”

Each seeing eye dog costs more than $50,000 and takes up to two years to train. This month’s appeal is encouraging Australians to donate and ‘Help Train Up a Pup’.

Ira is a vital part of Isabella’s life and tennis, having travelled to this year’s state events in Adelaide and Melbourne ahead of the July 17-19 nationals.

A Queensland state tournament follows at the end of July, then Isabella and Ira will fly to New Zealand for her first overseas international tournament.

Like many dogs, Ira will catch a tennis ball, but has no interest in the slightly larger foam balls, with bells inside, used for blind and low vision games!

Isabella plays in B1, the lowest level of vision. On courts with base and side line markers, players wear blackout eye shades to ensure everyone competes on level terms

Players call when ready to serve and receive and then listen for the ball which can bounce three times in B1 matches.

Twelve months ago Isabella won the Australian Blind and Low Vision Championships B1 Women’s Singles title beating Victoria’s Tess Whelan in the final. They then teamed-up to take the Women’s Open Doubles.

“I won B1 last year so the pressure’s on this time,” the research agreements officer joked! “With overseas players as well, nationals are the highest level of blind tennis in Australia.

The 13th annual Petbarn Foundation Seeing Eye Dogs Appeal aims to raise more than $1.2 million to help train 24 future Seeing Eye Dogs.

Since its inception in 2014, the Petbarn Foundation Seeing Eye Dogs Appeal has raised more than $10 million, funding the training of 209 Seeing Eye Dogs.

Donations are being taken at any Petbarn store during July and online. Petbarn Foundation will double all donations between July 24-26. Visit their website here.