IFTC Newsletter - December 2022
Dear Members,
Xmas Social tennis
We were hoping to hold our last social of the year tomorrow Sunday, 18th December, from 10am-12. However, it looks like the snow has put paid to that.
So sadly, barring any overnight meteorological miracle, please assume it’s cancelled!
Health & Safety
Obviously, the weather is super-cold right now. We haven’t cleared the courts, as hopefully the milder weather will do that job for us in the next 48 hours. (Mountnessing TC spent ages clearing their courts and found they were still unsafe to use).
Please be mindful of the weather conditions, especially iciness. Play at your own risk but only when safe to do so.
The freezing temperatures have also meant that the clubhouse has no water as the pipes are frozen solid - thus be aware that the taps and loo may be unusable. We aim to turn off the stop valve in the loo shortly, to prevent any flooding from burst pipes (something we have experienced in previous years).
Adult members - Please do not renew your membership of the Community Association in January 2023
We have had discussions with the IFCA, and it has been agreed in principle that as a tennis member your membership for 2023 will now be incorporated within IFTC membership. The details are just being finalised, with the aim that you will only need to make one payment yearly to the tennis club when renewal takes place in April 2023.
April 2023 tennis membership will be live on the website from February / March 2023 and will include the IFCA membership – at the same rate as it would have been if you had paid separately for it.
We hope you agree that this system will simplify the renewal process.
IFCA Membership benefits include:
- Reduced price drinks;
- Reduced price on tickets for IFCA events such as cinema, tribute nights, afternoon teas;
- Membership rates for hire of the hall that is 10% less than the standard rate;
- Priority access to events run in main bar where tickets are required (e.g., major sporting events);
- Use of the snooker room (only members can book tables);
- Supporting a valuable community asset;
Updated Coaching Schedule for January - March 2023
New pricing structure - All live on the website
NB Adult Coaching Tuesday, Friday and a NEW BEGINNERS GROUP on Sunday mornings.
See poster attached of coaching and the main social play sessions.
As you know, those of us on the Committee are all volunteers. We do what we do because we want a tennis club in our village and enjoy everything that this brings.
It really helps us when children’s and adult coaching are booked and paid for online. This gives us accurate records, we can see which sessions are working and which ones aren’t, but most of all the money is reconciled for the accounts accurately and no one has to make the trip to find a local cash machine or bank that is open!
So, as of January, all coaching will have the option of booking and paying online for the month (cheaper option) or weekly “pay as you go”. (Please don’t think we are being difficult when we ask for payment online it just saves all of us a lot of time!)
| 2023 Children | Members | Non-Members |
| Course / month | £5/£20 | £7/28 |
| Pay as you Go | £6 | £8 |
| 2023 Adult | Members | Non-Members |
| Course / month | £8/£32 | £10/£40 |
| Pay as you Go | £10 | £12 |
We are also introducing Training sessions for League Matches – these are by invite only, but please don’t feel shy about asking to be involved if you fancy playing matches - chat to Josh.
Dates planned are:
Saturdays – 7th January, 4th February and 4th March (men)
Saturdays 21st January, 18th February, 18th March (mixed)
All from 11am – 1pm., subject to a minimum of 4 participants. £12 pay on the day.
“WhatsApp” Groups
There are now various WhatsApp groups running for social tennis at the Club.
If you have been missed out, and would like to be added to any, then please email the club specifying which one/all.
Options are:
Ladies Social - Monday 1.30-3.30pm
Social Tennis (covering Tuesday evening, Saturday pm and Sunday am)
Adult Coaching with Josh – for 1:1 or group sessions
Saturday Kids Coaching with Josh
By participating in these groups, you can find out whether anyone is going to attend a particular session, or you can ask someone for a singles hit – so, come and join in.
Portable Floodlights
We are thrilled that the temporary floodlights we obtained a year or so ago are being utilised for evening play and for the children’s after-school coaching.
Please can everyone be mindful of our neighbours and angle the lights directly onto the courts and away from the houses to limit any unnecessary light reflecting into them.
In addition, please be very careful indeed when connecting and disconnecting the cables.
Carefully plug and unplug the floodlight cable into the port on the battery, by twisting the barrel. Do not twist the rest of the connector as this can break the contacts inside. Do not overtighten.
Two of the lights are damaged and currently out of order due to over-forceful use.
See the procedure notes attached.
Thanks J
Wimbledon Ballot
LTA Advantage members: You should have received an email this week (check your junk mail!), or just log into your LTA advantage account. You can apply for the ballot in the benefits section of your account - it will be shown there as ‘The Championships, Wimbledon’
Good luck.
Update on league results
Summer 2022
We had a pretty successful summer in the local Brentwood and Chelmsford leagues.
Overall, 33 matches were played and we won 26 of them, drew 3 and lost 4.
Most of the league tables are still provisional, but the current data show our men to be the champions of their division (Brentwood Division 6) and promoted for 2023.
In the Chelmsford Leagues, our women won 7 drew 1 lost 1, while our mixed team won 5 drew 2 lost 1. Both teams are in with a good chance of promotion and even winning their respective divisions, but we are awaiting the final computations of the league secretary.
We won the Chelmsford midweek senior league for the 4th time in 7 years, and with a record points total.
Winter 2022/23
Winter matches commenced a couple of months ago in the “Stock Floodlit Winter League”.
Our men’s team have had a good start – winning their first 6 matches, before sustaining a defeat last week at Billericay. We are currently top of the division, but it looks like being a competitive league with several other clubs in close contention.
Our mixed team have had one big win, one big defeat and one narrow defeat so are in mid-table at this early stage, with 9 matches yet to come.
Full details can be found in the “Playing” zone of the website.
Events planner
Please find below details of some events planned for 2023. More to come.
AGM – 1st March – 7pm
Spruce-up Day – 1st April – 1pm – all welcome, the more the merrier.
Sunday afternoon fun tournaments:
23rd April (2pm), 25th June (2pm), 16th July (2pm), and 15th October (12:00 - Wear It Pink charity event)
Club Tournament Finals – 9th & 10th September
Halloween event – 28th October – 4-6pm
Xmas social tennis – 17th December – 10am-12.
Pop the dates in your diary and hopefully we will see many more of us supporting and enjoying tennis together at our club.
Gardening
leaves…….leaves……….leaves…….leaves………leaves…….
There isn’t a magic gardening fairy……..
We don’t have a paid gardener or groundsman…..
Committee members take on the bulk of this work for free and in their own time………..
So, for the good of the courts, to extend their life and ultimately for a better game of tennis
please feel free to bring a bin bag (or grab one from the kitchen) when you next play and take away a bag of leaves…..if we all did this, we would all reap the rewards!
See you soon
IFTC Committee