Our new Head Coach!!

I am delighted to tell you that Ben Hardwick will be joining the club as our new Head Coach from 6 January.  Ben is a level 4 LTA accredited and senior club coach with over 12 years experience, mostly in the Bristol area, and he is very keen to make his mark at Frampton.  At the outset, he will only be around on Saturday mornings (for Cardio sessions and Drills) and on Mondays (coaching sessions) because he has to fulfill contractual commitments elsewhere, but we're hoping that he he might be fully up and running as early as mid-February,  Ben plans to contact you all directly to tell you more about himself and his plans in the near future. 

Finding the right fit for the job  has not been an easy task but Ben ticked all of the boxes and came with a very strong recommendation from our former coach Jason Boon, who gave us valuable assistance during the appointment process. Special thanks are due to my vice chair Elspeth who took on the lion's share of the recruitment task and did a fantastic job. Also a special mention for Ed Parkin and Charlie Denton who have been keeping Saturday Cardio/Drill sessions going in the absence of our coaching staff and have coped admirably. 

November Quiz and December Christmas Meal 

Thanks to everyone who attended either one or both of the above events. Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves and the feedback we've received has been very upbeat, despite the technical hitch on the sound round of the quiz (resolved by Stu and Karen Watts). The members of the winning quiz team - Scratch Pairings - were amazed when they came out on top because they comprised two groups who had never met each other before the event.  

Round Christmas Robin

Looking for an enjoyable way to get rid of the Christmas flab?  Weather permitting, I am planning a special festive Round Robin tournament on Sunday 31 December.  As usual, there will be a maximum of 12 players and an entry fee of £5, which will include mince pies and mulled wine (aaghh - more flab).  The tournament will start at 11 AM and will last for about two hours. Anyone who fancies entering should email rbmcnally1@gmail.com (in other words, contact me separately rather than hitting the reply button to this newsletter email because your response will not reach me). 

Lights 

Members playing in the evenings may have noticed that some lights are not always working. Instead of procuring very expensive replacement bulbs, we are considering whether to commision a refit of the entire three courts with LED lights.  This will entail more research to look at the pros and cons regarding overall costs.  In the meantime, we are satisfied that there is more than sufficient light from the remaining bulbs to enable people to play night games.  I'll keep you posted on progress. 

Season's greetings 

I hope you have all enjoyed your tennis sessions during 2023 and hope to see you all again at the courts in 2024.  Have a great Christmas and a Happy New Year. 

Bob McNally

Chair