The British men's team won their first World Group at the World Team Cup in a golden 2015 ©LTA

Great Britain have ended The Netherlands' complete domination of the European Tennis Trophy wheelchair tennis category after the two nations shared the annual award for overall performances in a calendar year.

Points are awarded according to final results at the BNP Paribas World Team Cup and the number of players a nation has in the top 50 of the men’s and women’s singles and doubles rankings, as well as the top 20 of the quad singles and doubles rankings.

First introduced in 2001, the Dutch had been clear at the top in all 14 previous editions.

But, after getting closer than ever before in placing second in 2014, Britain tied with their continental rivals on 863 points.

France finished third, with Germany, Russia and Israel occupying the next three spots.

This came after a historic year in which Britain made history at the World Team Cup, winning the men’s World Group for the very first time, as well as bronze behind the dominant Dutch in the women’s World Group.

Players on Britain's World Class Programme won a total of 78 international singles and doubles titles in 2015.

The Netherlands shared the Trophy with Great Britain ©ITF Tennis
The Netherlands shared the Trophy with Great Britain ©ITF Tennis

Leading the way was world number five Gordon Reid, who also won men's doubles titles at Roland Garros and the US Open.

On the women's side, Jordanne Whiley won her first Grand Slam singles title at the US Open and her first Super Series singles title at the British Open.

Britain will still have their work cut-out to match the Dutch at this year's Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, particularly on the women's side, where The Netherlands have won every singles and doubles event since the sport was first introduced as a demonstration sport at Seoul 1988.

“Every year we are gaining new ground on the other top wheelchair tennis nations in all aspects of the sport and I’m very proud of the unprecedented success players on our World Class Programme had and contributed to in 2015,” said Geraint Richards, the Tennis Foundation’s Head of Disability Player Performance.

“In years gone past emulating the Dutch success was something we aspired to and with the continued and invaluable support of UK Sport funding through the National Lottery we will continue striving for excellence against ever strong challengers from around the world.

"We will aim to arrive at the Rio Paralympics as best prepared as we can to challenge for medals.”