As we come towards spring, I would like to give a quick update on what’s going on with the tennis activities at the club.

Winter leagues have progressed well (despite the weather cancelling a few games) and our 4 teams are now into the knockout stages. Good luck for the remaining matches.

Box leagues have been running over the winter but now take a break over the summer with the last one currently underway during February.  They will return again in the autumn.

We will continue to run social tournaments over the summer, with the next being on the 1st March. Due to court availability numbers at this event will be limited to 12. If you wish to play send your name to Jill on jctennis48@gmail.com. First come, first served!

Further events over the summer will be on confirmed on future newsletters.

Social tennis continues on Sunday mornings 10-12 and Thursday evenings 6.30 - 8.30 (until the 13th March). This is open to all levels and I encourage you to come along.

We also have beginner/intermediate adult tennis Monday evening session, a walking tennis activity planned to restart, member/non-member ‘club’ sessions on Saturdays and a whole range of junior activities but have had to cancel cardio tennis for the time being (due to court availability). Please see Head Coach, Hannah Murdy on 07908 512960 or coach4all@outlook.com for more details of these activities if you wish to take part.

We have entered 26 teams into the summer leagues and are currently confirming team captains , after this we will then make team selections. We’ll assume if you played last year, you are available for this year (unless you’ve already told us otherwise), If you didn’t play in a team last summer and would like to get involved please let Kevin or Jill know. First matches will start towards the end of April.

With the summer league about the start, we are planning to restart team hitting practice as from 12th / 13th March,

Wednesday evenings for men’s 3rd and 4th teams

Thursday evenings for ladies 2nd and 3rd teams teams

Friday evenings for mens 1st and 2nd, ladies 1st teams (this started a few weeks ago)

These hitting sessions will be a great opportunity for those of you who don’t play much in the winter to check your racket still works. These sessions will be lead by the team captains at no cost for players for floodlights/balls. These are open to all members who play team tennis or those who would like to join a team.

We also have the spring club tournament coming. We have decided to run these as single day events, similar to last year. I know this is not ideal, but due to court and floodlight availability (with all the activities we are already committed to) members would find it almost impossible during March/April to get a court in the evenings to arrange matches.

So we will have a men’s event on the 5th April, ladies event on the 26th April and a mixed event of the 13th April, all 1pm starts. These will all be handicap events played to conclusion on the day, please enter with a partner or if you cannot find one just enter and we’ll link you up with somebody. An entry form was attached to your last newsletter which needs to be returned  by 28th March at the latest.

As you will see and reflecting on the club's extensive tennis programme - whether adult or junior, club champ or social player - we hope there are activities for all. That said, it does all take planning and organisation and ofcourse time. All of us are volunteers and it would really help if more members could step forward and maybe lend a hand. It doesn't have to be a huge commitment - there's a multitude of small but nonetheless essential tasks/activities that would really help us just sustain and even grow our programme. This might range from leading a social tournament every now and then; publicising events; distribution of tennis balls to team captains; a helping hand with our disability sessions - in other words countless ways you can help.

If you think you may have some time, please do come forward or contact either Kevin Chidley (Club Captain); Jill Carroll (Vice-Captain) or Alan Jones (Chair of Tennis Committee) via our club email address: boldon.ltc@outlook.com

Looking forward to a good spring/summer of tennis.