Chairman’s Comments – AGM held on 22nd February 2018

The Past Year

Winchcombe Tennis Club has had a very successful first year. We have established our place in the Winchcombe community as a friendly club, where all ages and abilities are welcomed. With over 130 members we are already a good sized tennis club for Gloucestershire. We have 90 adults and 45 juniors who are taking part in social sessions, coaching, competitive league matches and occasional play.

By keeping our subs affordable and offering a pay to play option we have encouraged wide participation. Our schools outreach program has been really welcomed by local primary schools and the secondary school. Our coaching program is broad and effective. The social sessions have been attractive to a wide range of players, but have always been fun. Team spirit has built up over the year, with expanding squads contributing to some good overall performances.

The Summer BBQ and team dinners were both well attended and entertaining. The large number of members who helped build the Clubhouse and man/person the gates at the Winchcombe Show was a testament to the enthusiasm of our members.

We have established a good working relationship with Winchcombe School, with whom we hope to sign a long term lease which will give us the security of long term tenure.

Our Future

Our priority next year is to encourage more participation from our members – either on court, through fund raising, social events or by helping out on the Committee.  

Our facilities are still fairly basic by the standards of most clubs. Our clubhouse does at least offer some shelter but we do not yet have toilets, water or electricity.  However the biggest obstacle to greater participation is the lack of floodlights. We have agreed with the LTA that this should be our current priority.  Floodlights will enable us to play during the winter and even out the league matches during the summer.

We are therefore in the process of trying to raise the £48,000 needed to get these installed as soon as possible. We hope that members will give us the support in this project.

Over the course of next year we are running more coaching sessions, entering more teams into the leagues and running more outreach into the local schools than we did last year. We have sponsorship from Budgens of £1,500 which will be primarily used to pay for the schools coaching program.

Thanks

I would like to thank all our Committee members for their help over the past year – in particular Paul Smith who, despite a difficult shoulder injury,  has played an important role in promoting competitive play; Simon Filiatrault who has done much to develop the coaching program both at the Club and in schools; to Grant who has kept the Club’s finances in good order and especially to Ruth who has provided invaluable advice and support throughout the club’s establishment.

With the continuing support of the our members, the Committee, our coaches and Winchcombe School I am confident that the Club’s future is very bright.