Tennis Tournaments
November 2011 eNews from John Hall
Autumn Junior Finals Day
This Saturday sees our first ever Autumn Junior Finals Day. This will start at 12.00p.m. and will use courts 1, 2 and 3. Please bear in mind that junior coaching will also be taking place at this time. However, court 4 will be available for club use as will court 8 (the cage). At 2.00p.m. court 8 will be used for the mini tennis red final, although at this time junior coaching will be finishing so courts 5, 6 and 7 will then be available. Please come along to support the finals if you can - an order of play is attached although some finalists are still unknown. Jenny Davis and Julie Power have kindly offered to provide hot dogs and cakes during the afternoon. Presentations will follow the finals. There will only be 2 rounds of matches so hopefully we won't have to finish under floodlights.
Music Quiz
Places are going fast for our Music Quiz on Saturday 19th November. Tables of 8 maximum and 7.30p.m. start. Please book your table on the list in the clubhouse. If you would like to take part but don't have a table of people to join you, please just write your own name up and hopefully you can be added to a table with spare places.
Urgent Help Needed
We are still searching for a Membership Secretary and a Bar Secretary to join the new committee, both absolutely essential roles. If you feel you can help please contact our Chairman David Tomlinson
July 2011 eNews from John Hall
Finals Day
Please come along and support Finals Day this Saturday. There should be some great tennis judging by the standard so far in the tournament. The first finals will start at 12.00p.m. Click here for the Order of Play.
We need some people to umpire on Finals Day. If you would be willing to umpire a match please e-mail Jean-Marie - jm.fabry@gmail.com. Also instead of risking a barbecue which might have to be cancelled if the weather is bad, we are asking members to bring a plate of food with them if possible. There is a list in the clubhouse which you can tick so we don’t end up with people bringing the same items.
The presentations to the finalists will follow immediately after the last final. Please can those of you who have perpetual trophies you won last year bring them in time for the presentations. As well as the Club Championships winners and runners up, this will also include the winning Team Tennis team members. So, if you were part of Alyson Brealey’s winning team last Autumn/Winter please turn up to collect your medal if possible.
Adult/Junior Tournament
This takes place on Sunday 17th July starting at 2.00p.m. An adult partners a junior, and each pair is given a handicap. Pairs are put into round robin groups so everyone gets several matches. After group stages the qualifiers go into the knock-out stage - usually semi-finals. If you would like to enter please write your name on the list on the notice-board or e-mail John Hall - JohnH811@aol.com. If you would like to enter but don’t have a partner just write ‘Partner Wanted’ next to your name. Juniors with adult status can enter either as adults or juniors, depending on the strength of the partnership. Ask John if you are not sure and he will make a decision.
Thursday Evening Social Tennis
We are introducing a new social tennis session on Thursdays from 6.30 until about 8.30p.m. This will start from Thursday 14th July, so please come along and join in. All welcome. Sunday social tennis continues as usual from 2.30p.m. until about 5.30p.m.
Men’s and Ladies’ Nights
The coach led sessions have now finished. Thanks to everyone who came along and made these so well supported this year. They were the best we have had for a number of years. Men continue to have priority on court on Wednesday evenings and ladies have priority on court on Tuesday evenings, so please keep attending.
Junior Club Championships
This will take place from Saturday 16th July to Saturday 23rd July, which will be Finals Day. I am going to try to play some matches on the weekend before Finals Day this year, as players will be at school during the week. I will need to fit in after school matches too. You should all have received an entry form by now. If not or you have lost yours click here to download the form.
Closing date is 12th July which is less than 2 weeks away and there are currently just 2 entries so please get those forms in. I want a good spread of abilities, not just the top few players. I can then structure the draw to give everyone some good competitive matches. So if you are not sure please give it a go. There are age groups from mini tennis red right up to 18 and Under.
Junior Open Tournament - Monday 25th July - Saturday 30th July
This tournament will be run by me in the same week as we used to have the 'Pellings' tournament, so just after our Junior Club Championships. It is open to both our own members and also those from other clubs - in fact you don't even have to be a member anywhere. All results will be sent in for ratings purposes, and I am aiming to run progressive draws. By that I mean it starts with the lower ratings and works up to the higher ratings so everyone starts off somewhere near their own level. So, whatever your rating might be please give this a go. It would be a great way to begin entering open events as it's at your own club and also due to the draw structure. If you know juniors who are members at other clubs please encourage them to enter too. You should have received a form for this by now, but once again click here to download the form.
Autumn Club Tournament
I know it’s not nice to think about the arrival of Autumn but it won’t be long until entry forms are being sent for the Autumn Club Tournament, otherwise players are likely to miss their entries if they are on holiday. The Autumn Championships have the Over 35’s, Under 35’s and handicap events.
There will also be a Junior Autumn Championship this year. Details to follow in the next few weeks.
Summer Holiday Courses
Forms for our ever popular summer courses are now available. We run mini tennis courses and also courses for older juniors. You can book for a whole course or any number of days. Players who book a whole course receive a certificate and a Wilson cap. Please click here to download a form.
Club Development
We have recently submitted a planning application to have floodlights installed on Court 1, and also to extend the playing time from 9.30p.m. to 10.00p.m. on all our floodlit courts. We will keep you posted on the outcome.
John Hall (Club Coach)
February 2011 eNews from John Hall
Clubhouse repairs
Please note that next week (half-term) repairs to the clubhouse floor are being carried out, so access to the toilets & kitchen area during the day will be limited. As far as possible one toilet will be made available for club members' use. Watch out for the March newsletter - the paper version which will go out with acknowledgement of your membership renewal - for the latest regarding plans for a new clubhouse.
Let's Get Collecting...
Active Kids is underway – and we need a team effort! We’re taking part in Sainsbury’s Active Kids 2011. We hope to collect as many vouchers as possible which we can use for some great new equipment and experiences.You can collect Active Kids vouchers from 9 February to 31 May. You’ll receive 1 voucher for every £10 spent at any Sainsbury’s main store or £5 spent in Sainsbury’s convenience stores. So please help us collect by donating your vouchers to us, and let anyone and everyone know that we’re taking part in Active Kids! Your efforts are really appreciated and make a huge difference. A collecting box is in the clubhouse.
Please Shut the Gate
Doug and I recently had to deal with a man who wandered into the club and took one of our rackets from our equipment store to 'borrow'. It really brought to our attention the need to keep the gate shut when we come in. When we do this within a few minutes we are usually having to either tell someone else to shut it after they enter, or else stopping a lesson to go and tell someone the code who has forgotten it. So, to keep the club as safe and secure as possible, please make sure you know the code and shut the gate behind you when you enter the club as well as when you leave.
Tennis and Curry Night
The next of our popular Tennis and Curry evenings is on Friday 25th February. Play starts at 6.30p.m. although it doesn't matter if you can't make it that early. After the tennis, curry is ordered in according to demand. No need to book - just turn up on the night. Open to adult members and juniors with senior status.
General Knowledge Quiz
Always popular, we are holding a Quiz on Saturday March 12th. Sign up for your table of up to 8 people in the clubhouse, or we can add you to a table. The cost is just £5.00 per person and it's 7-30pm for 8pm. As always, Martin Dawson, 'The Compere Beyond Compare', will host.
Road to Wimbledon
Calling all juniors who will be 14 and Under on 31st August 2011 - you can enter this year's 'Road to Wimbledon' tournament! I will decide the format according to the entry but I will make sure everyone gets at least 2 matches. I'd like to run it as a round robin event or even split into A and B events according to playing standard, but this depends on how many enter. Basically, the more players who enter the better the event will be as it will give me more options. All results will count towards player ratings. Players will need to arrange their own matches by deadline dates up to the final. The final will be on Saturday 21st May. The winner will qualify for the county play-offs. To enter just send a return e-mail with Road to Wimbledon and your name in the subject line, or use the sign-up list on the junior notice-board. There is no entry fee. So, whatever your playing standard if you are the right age please have a go!
Ratings News
I'm going to try to show update of players moving up ratings in E-News and/or the notice-boards but I need your help to do this. Please e-mail me any time you jump up a rating and I'll include you in the roll of honour. Congratulations go this time to B Louka, who has moved up from 10.2 to 10.1. I'm sure there must be more of you who have gone up but I can only include players who let me know. Well done also to Sam Littleford and Charlie Boughton, who jointly topped the list of juniors playing the most matches in the past year with 42 each.
Mini Tennis Matchplay Days
We recently held a Mini Tennis Red Matchplay Day for players in our AEGON Mini Tennis Red squad. W Littleford shone throughout and won all his matches - a chip off the old block apart from his serve seemed slightly faster than his dad's. The playing standard of all those who took part was excellent though, and they all fought for every point no matter what the score. Also the sportsmanship was really good and nobody complained or made excuses about the conditions, despite the fact that Doug and I were simultaneously umpiring and preventing the mini tennis nets from blowing away by standing on them! So, well done not only to W Littleford but also to E Weston, A Trainer, A Welch and T Hart. We will be holding a lot more matchplay days for all age groups this year. I hope they are all as successful as this one.
John Hall (Club Coach)
