The 2015 summer season is well under away at Knebworth Tennis Club and there’s been a lot happening on and off court! We’re keenly looking forward to our floodlight installation being completed soon, the Club’s finals day in July and a Barn Dance in November.
On court our summer season of events started on Sunday 12th April when we held the first of 13 Sunday tournaments. This month also saw the start of our annual Club Championships where all members have the opportunity to enter Singles, Doubles and Mixed Doubles competition that culminate in day of finals on Saturday 18th July. Following the playing of the matches there will be an evening BBQ to celebrate the season. The Club is also involved in external competitions around Hertfordshire. Currently we have 5 mixed teams playing in the Datchworth Summer League; we have two Ladies and a Men’s team in the Hot Rackets League; and we also have a Men’s team in the Hertfordshire Summer Doubles League.
Coaching also restarted in April. This year Adult members are offered a Stroke Development course suitable for beginners and improvers, and a Feeding Frenzy course as a fast and furious workout for intermediates and above. For Juniors we offer three sessions on Friday afternoons for U8s, U12s and U18s. All these are run by fully qualified coaches at LTA Levels 4 and 5 to give the best possible results.
Off court the Club opened its doors to all-comers for an open day on Sunday 24th May. New and prospective members were invited to come along with their rackets to find out about tennis at Knebworth. There was a really good turn out and it was fantastic to see new faces and meet recently joined members. Tea and cake was on offer and nobody left disappointed! On the social scene the Club is gearing up for the Finals Day BBQ in July, planning a floodlight opening event for late summer, and our Barn Dance at Knebworth Village Hall on Saturday 7th of November.
As readers may know Knebworth Tennis Club was granted £40,000 by Sport England back in 2013 to install floodlighting. I am very pleased to say that in May we engaged Floodlighting Limited of Buckinghamshire to carry out the work and the lighting pylons are now in place and these will be commissioned in a few weeks’ time. We have also laid a new pipe which will allow toilet facilities to be installed later in the year. The Club would again like to thank Sport England for their generous award, NHDC and local residents for planning approval, and Knebworth Parish Council for their continued support of this project.
With almost half the summer season over there is much still to look forward to, not least the culmination of our summer competitions, the opening of our floodlights for an active winter season, and our Barn Dance in November.