New Members

A warm welcome to new members Hugo Brook, Dylan Cilliers, Gavin Clive-Smith, Harriet MacKay, Kiran Mescher, Gabreile Pascazio, James Tronchin and Julia Williams. 

Clubhouse Snug

During the recent AGM, some members asked about the clubhouse arrangements. The snug in the clubhouse is exclusively for tennis club members. It features comfortable chairs for relaxation. While there are limited tea and coffee supplies that are periodically replenished, it's advisable to bring your own. Coffee machine pods are not provided, but members are welcome to use the machine. Milk sachets are available in the fridge located in the kitchen next to the snug for members' use.

Ladies’ Team

Having steered the Ladies’ team through some tough challenges, Alison Rust and Katie Ellen are now handing the baton on. Lauren Allen will take over from Katie Ellen as Captain and Kirsty Fuller will take over from Alison Rust as Vice Captain. 

The winter league is always a tough challenge, and last season proved no exception. The combination of freezing temperatures, last-minute match cancellations due to weather, and the ever-present pressure of playing under the floodlights made it particularly challenging. Despite this, the team managed to secure some key victories and proudly recorded resounding wins against David Lloyd Hampton and Mode Club, and a hard-earned tie against Whitton.  The Ladies’ team have come a long way since 2019 and have had the success of moving up a division in the summer league, a testament to how far they have come. A huge thank you to Alison and Katie for steering the team. 

The Ladies’ team have had strong support and would particularly like to thank a few individuals whose contributions made all the difference: Christian, for his invaluable coaching tips and advice; Jo, for her unwavering support and encouragement; Andrew Morris, for his patience with court bookings.

Good luck to Lauren and Kirsty who have already established best practices for team nights and have begun to find our strongest pairings, which will only make us a more formidable force. In the words of Jack Draper:

“I guess in this sport there are so many ups and downs... The only thing for sure is that I will keep persevering.”
 

Tennis Ball Recycling

We’re proud to say your old tennis balls have been turned into donations to local charities and passed on to local schools over the last few years. The ball recycler we use effectively places a limit on how often we can send them consignments, so we’re also exploring a local repressurising service offered by a couple of young entrepreneurs. Their service is still experiencing teething troubles, and the recycler is also in the throes of moving to a new process for accepting old balls. In the meantime, we’ll do our best to keep on top of things but please be understanding if you find the recycling bin is full. Please hang on to old balls until there is space. Also, the bin has moved behind the screen to accommodate the smart new bike rack.

Pre-Season Team Mixed Doubles Match Report

On a Thursday evening, in glorious spring sunshine, the men’s and ladies’ league team members lined up for a mixed doubles pre-season in-house friendly match. The Chiswick Chihuahuas, Barnaby, Eva, Simon, Lauren, Sam and Rachel faced the Grove Park Poodles, Ed, Liz, Callum, Lisa, Peter and Isabelle. In the first round, the Chihuahuas won two of the of the three matches:

It was the same in the second round:

In the final round, the Poodles staged a bit of a comeback, but overall the Chihuahuas won 5 sets to the Poodles’ 4.

It was a close and enjoyable match, with an excellent standard of tennis displayed by both teams. It served as great practice ahead of the summer season, which begins in a couple of weeks. Well done to everyone, and best of luck to both teams in the league!

More Cycle Racks / New Clock / Club Gate Sign

After discussions at the AGM and following member requests, we've installed new bicycle racks. Additionally, members requested an outdoor clock, which has been placed on the clubhouse external wall since installation above the terrace wasn't feasible. A new, improved club sign has also been put up at the entrance gate. Thanks to Howard for implementing all these improvements for our club. 

The Garden

Finally, the garden is looking especially beautiful as we come into Spring. A big thank you to Jo for all your hard work in creating and maintaining such a wonderful space for us all to enjoy.