DOWNSWOOD LAWN TENNIS CLUB
WINTER 2025 NEWSLETTER
Welcome to the latest quarterly update on the news at our club and news of the events that have taken place at the club this Autumn:
THE ROSE BOWL TOURNAMENT was played on Thursday 11th September organised by Glyn, this fun competition was open to all lady members who play regularly at midweek sessions and 12 ladies took part. Liz Evenden was the winner with Val Lazuras and Emanuella Williams being joint runner ups. Tea and cake were served after play. Our thanks go to Glyn for organising this eventwhich was enjoyed by all who took part.
SENIOR FINALS for the Summer Tournaments took place later again this year, on Saturday 20thSeptember. A good number of members, family and friends came to support the players. Our sincere thanks go to Suzi Webb, Tournament Secretary for organising the tournaments throughout the summer and supplying delicious refreshments on Finals Day, including Pimms and Strawberries.
The results were:-
Men’s Singles: Winner – Tom Dunford
Runner Up – Peter Appleton
Ladies Singles: Winner – Jackie Appleton
(Played as a ‘round robin’ beforehand)
Ladies Doubles: Winners – Kim Lascelles and Nicky Evans
Runners Up – Louise Appleton and Lesley Crittenden
Men’s Doubles – Nish Patel and Peter Appleton
Runners Up – Ian Rothwell and Tom Dunford
Mixed Doubles: Winners – Louise and Peter Appleton
Runners Up – Kim Lascelles and Ian Rothwell.
The final of the Veterans Mixed Tournament was also played in the afternoon for the first time. The winners were Sue Sprange and Mark Page with Suzi Webb and Fin O’Regan as runners up.Congratulations to all the competitors who provided us with some very thrilling tennis!
The AUTUMN WORKING PARTY took place on Sunday 19th October and a record number of members attended which was very encouranging. Our thanks go to all of those people who came along and the members who offered to carry out jobs in their own time as they were unable to make it on the day. A tremendous amount of work was achieved in a short time. Inside, with all the kitchen cupboards being sorted and cleaned and the clubhouse being given a ‘spring clean’. Outside, flower beds were weeded, fence panels given a last coat of cuprinol and the shed and outside store were cleared and the rubbish removed the next day.It is always amazing how so much can be achieved in a few hours with a team effort.
Special thanks for Janet for providing her delicious fruit cake again which was enjoyed by all the hungry workers!
The club’s ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING took place on Tuesday 11th November with a disappointing number of club members attending. Nicky Evans, our new President opened the meeting with a thoroughly informative and amusing welcome. At the end of the meeting, members enjoyed socialising with a glass of wine and nibbles.NEWS FROM OUR JUNIOR SECTION:-The weather may have turned colder but the juniors are still enjoying playing tennis! We are pleased to welcome several new members this term. 4 teams are entered into the Surrey junior winter leagues – 16U boys and girls and 18U boys and girls. We wish them luck and hope they enjoy the challenge of competitive play. Thanks to the junior parents who have volunteered to be captains – Bhawani Patel, Dido Xenakis and Chantal Walters.
Our sincere thanks go to Janet and Penny for all they do for our junior club members.
FORTHCOMING EVENTS AT THE CLUB:
All spaces are taken for the popular THANKSGIVING AND CHISTMAS SOCIAL EVENING on Saturday 29th November and our thanks go to Fin for oganising what promises to be another fun evening if last year is anything to go by!!The annual CHRISTMAS FUN TOURNAMENT will be held on Friday 12th December. This is fully subscribed and our thanks go to Elaine for organsing it again this year.
The next SUPER SATURDAY will be on Saturday 6thDecember when all midweek members, as usual, are invited to join in the Saturday social session from 1.30pm. In It to Win It will be drawn and tea and cake served.
Yvonne Brown continues to kindly run the Tuesday morning TABLE TENNIS (TT) sessions which arewell attended and enjoyed by all who take part. Thank you Yvonne.
Also the AUTUMN/WINTER ACTIVITIES are well underway with bridge run by Yvonne and Douglas Brown, table tennis by Heather Rothwell and Whist by Faye Stephens and Suzanne Webster.
Our thanks go to them for all they do.
Camilla McEwan kindly continues to post all the MATCH RESULTS on the Notice Board in the clubhouse showing who has been representing our teams in the winter leagues and how they have been getting on.
IMPORTANT REMINDERS
• We would like to remind you all to check ALL DOORS ARE LOCKED before you leave.
• There is an Accident Book in the kitchen next to the postbox . We would like to remind members that this should be completed in the unfortunate event of an accident on court or within the club grounds.
• Due to rising energy costs we want to remind and ask you to keep the energy use to a minimum possible. When you are not using the Club House please SWITCH THE HEATING AND LIGHTS OFF. Many thanks for your cooperation!
• There is now a Lost Property box situated in the Men’s Changing Room. If you have lost any items of clothing, please check the box. Also, please place any clothing found around the clubhouse into the box to help keep the clubhouse tidy.
OTHER NEWS:
• Super Saturdays usually take place on the first Saturday of each month and the Committee invites the midweek players to join the full members for this afternoon session. The monthly draw for ‘In It to Win It’ also takes place on this day. Thanks to Elaine and Janet for organising this for us.
• We would like to invite anyone who wishes to become a full Downswood Tennis Club member to please let Amanda know at amandafree501@btinternet.com – The date of the next assessment sessionis to be confirmed.
• Please note the increase in the Senior Visitors’ Fee. This is now £5 per visit, in line with other local
clubs. The Junior fee remains at £1. Visitors must be introduced by a playing member, junior or adult. No visitor may play more than 3 times during any one season. Visitors should not be invited to play in club sessions.
FURTHER DATES FOR YOUR DIARY/UPCOMING EVENTS:
Thanksgiving and Christmas Social Evening – Saturday 29th November at 7pm
Christmas Fun Tournament - Friday 12th December at 9.30am
Super Saturday – Saturday 6th December at 1.30pm
Super Saturday – Saturday 3rd January 2026 from 1.30pm
Super Saturday – Saturday 7th February 2026 from 1.30pm
Super Saturday – Saturday 7th March 2026 from 1.30pm
SAVE THE DATE – SATURDAY 4TH JULY 2026 FROM 7PM –
CARIBBEAN PARTY AT THE CLUB WITH MUSIC, COCKTAILS AND BUFFET
MORE DETAILS TO FOLLOW SHORTLY
Look out for all 2026 dates for your diary coming very soon!
YOUR COMMITTEE WOULD LIKE TO WISH YOU ALL A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR