DECEMBER 2020 COPY FOR COURIER

News from Uffington Tennis Club

Happy New Year to you all. Well, what a year 2020 was! I’m not sure we’ve seen one like it with so much uncertainty, affecting everyone in some shape or form. Tennis of course wasn’t left unscathed and it has probably been a year we have played our least tennis, but one in which, unfortunately, the committee has had to be most active. Despite the two lockdowns, and the intervening period where limited and restricted play was permitted, we have managed to get some good tennis in. We generated teams in both local leagues, summer and winter - albeit many matches weren’t played, we played some social matches, ran a full age range coaching programme, cleaned and repainted our courts and of course managed to hold our fabulous summer tournament! Huge thanks from me to everyone who has pitched in to keep things going, and to all our members for continuing to support us despite the limited opportunities to play.

 

In 2021 we intend to migrate our website and membership payment system onto the LTA’s Clubspark platform, which will make subscriptions easier for you and us. We also aim to continue the great work our previous committee has done to make the existing pathway to the courts more substantial, and here we will need the support of the Sports Club. We will also continue to investigate the possibility of installing floodlights, but again support and funding will be critical enablers! Watch this space. 

 

As you are no doubt aware Oxfordshire is now in Tier 4 and things may have changed again by the time you read this. We’ll have to wait and see. As of now we are still allowed on court, but only for singles games, unless you are playing with people from your own household. Please check on the LTA website for any updates here: https://www.lta.org.uk/globalassets/news/2020/local-restrictions-grid---tennis-activity-by-tier.pdf

Restrictions permitting we will try to organise some winter matches assuming we get back on court in time. We will continue to enter teams in the summer leagues and we will continue with our coaching programme. Our providers, Game Set & Matchplay, have done a superb job of building up the coaching programme in a very short space of time, despite incredibly challenging circumstances.  Numbers attending the junior sessions increased into the Autumn/Winter term, and ability and age splits were managed very successfully.  Paul Butcher is available for private 1:1 coaching and can be contacted on 07584 259413. We are keen to maintain interest amongst the adults and are seeking to form a link between Faringdon Tennis Club to enable adult coaching to continue. Once longer days return, we will return to weekday evenings at our own courts in Uffington. All details about coaching is available here: https://clubspark.lta.org.uk/gamesetandmatchplay/UffingtonLTC

 

These are times when events can change quickly, including what we are free to do, so please do check on the LTA website for the latest rulings on what access to our courts is possible. In the meantime, stay safe, and let’s hope as a country we don’t have to wait too long to have greater access to our favourite sports again. 

 

Rob Hart

Chairman