Thanks to the grants we received from the SUEZ Communities Trust and Northumberland County Council, and to more than £20,000 raised by the highly successful crowdfunding campaign masterminded by our chair, Alex Laude, work got underway earlier in the year to replace the worn-out top courts, and this work was completed in early April.  To celebrate this achievement, thank those who contributed, and get players hitting on the new courts, we held a launch event on Saturday 30th April.

The morning saw juniors enthusiastically fill all six courts, being put through their paces by with games, drills and tuition by the equally enthusiastic coaching team.

Buffet lunch ensued, followed by the opening ceremony on the new courts, with mayor David Bawn and councillor David Towns, who both helped considerably in the fund-raising process, doing the honours with the ribbon cutting.

Then, fuelled by the buffet, the senior players took to the courts, with team players and social players playing extended tie-breaks of 24 points, with each player serving three serves in rotation — an unusual format, but one that worked very well.  Cumulative points gained throughout the five matches, whether a team player pair or a social player pair, gave the final scores.  Coming out on top were Nuan Armstrong and Ian Vasey, so well done to them.

The day was rounded off with more food, drink and conversation at the bar, and the presentation for the winners of the senior tournament, and further presentations to acknowledge the efforts of two stalwart and long-serving committee members, Eric Winton and Paul Beasley, who were stepping down after many years of service in various roles, including chair and secretary.