AGM

Thank you to all those who completed the recent survey. We have accepted the view of the majority of people who replied and therefore the AGM will be held in person on 20th October. We will publish venue details shortly. We will ensure that social distancing is possible.

Our survey suggested that many of our members planned to attend so we very much look forward to seeing as many people as possible. We know that there will be people who are concerned about larger social gatherings or who unable to attend and for this reason we will do our best to broadcast the AGM via Zoom or record proceedings and upload this to the website shortly after the meeting.

As previously notified, the entire Committee with the exception of the Head Coach stands down each year and will re-nominate for a position if they wish to. During the AGM we are proposing a revised Management Committee structure. Whilst we have received some nominations, we would like to remind members who would like to stand to email their nomination to committeebftc@btinternet.com by 12 am Wednesday 13th October. Nominations must include the following: Name of the individual and the role they wish to stand for plus name of a member who seconds the application.

All nominations received as detailed above will be voted upon at the AGM. If a position receives no nominations by this date, then nominations from the floor will be called for at the AGM. As a reminder we are seeking nominations for the following positions:

Chair

Honorary Treasurer

Head of Safeguarding and Welfare

Head of Facilities

Head of Membership

Head of Club Administration

Head of Tennis Activities

Club Captain

Papers for the AGM together with the proposed constitution will be published electronically prior to the meeting together with the names of those that are nominated for a position on the committee. If you would like to see the role responsibilities which were previously sent, please email committeebftc@btinternet.com

New Coaching Approach

The requirement for coaching at our club has grown significantly since Craig Blythe’s appointment in 2018. The increased participation numbers generated from the world changing events of 2020 has grown the coaching program further. As the need for coaching has increased, so has the need for a larger coaching team. The Committee believes that coaching needs to be at the centre of the growth at the club and this view was heavily endorsed by the results of the strategy survey.

Following a thorough review of possible options over a number of months the Committee

have decided to work together with Evolve Tennis Ltd to build upon our existing program, whilst growing other programs using the benefit of access to a larger coaching team. We will will retain the benefit of Craig Blythe as Head Coach plus Natalia Ilkow running squad sessions. This team will be augmented through access to a new team of coaches from Evolve which will be on hand for members to access for one-to-one and group lessons. 

We are looking to provide a wider range of coaching options and while there may be a small increase in fees for the first time in many years, these will be modest.

More details will be made available shortly, but during the AGM there will be an opportunity to ask questions of Head Coach Craig Blythe and Director of Evolve Tennis Ltd., Tyrell Diaz-Stevens, who has kindly offered to join us. 

Club Champs

It was wonderful to see a return of our annual Club Championship competition – including the new and highly successful plate competition, many thanks to Jax Brabazon and Steve Spikings for running this.

The club was a hive of activity from the first matches at 9.00 until long after the last match completed.  Friends and family were in attendance to cheer on the competitors, with everyone enjoying the late summer sunshine.

Thank you to everyone who donated refreshments, those who manned the BBQ, those who ensured the clubhouse and grounds were all clean and tidy, those who umpired, those who came to support and all those behind the scenes who helped in the overall organisation.  You know who you are and Steve and Ali Lyons thank you personally and on behalf of the Club.

All results of the day together with accompanying photographs can be found here

Well done to all who took part in Club Champs in whatever capacity – we look forward to doing it all again next year!

Club Champs Photo Competition

This year for the first time we had a Club Champs Photo Competition. Thank you to everyone who entered, the standard was high but the winning photo was taken by Laura Campbell. Many congratulations to Laura and thank you to Maria Mills for being such a winning subject 

 

Competitions to come

Box Leagues

We are happy to confirm that Box Leagues, singles and doubles are now re-starting. All Box League information is available on the website (thanks to Steve Spikings for technical wizardry) including a link to the entry form. The form must be completed by 19th October

The boxes will be revealed shortly after this date

Please access the Box League information here

Aylesbury & District Winter League

We currently have the following teams playing in this league

Mens A & B

Ladies A&B

Mixed A, B & C

The Mens & Ladies play on a Saturday (away games only) or a Sunday, with the Mixed teams playing week nights under floodlights

The league covers mainly Buckinghamshire clubs; however, the league organiser was pleased to welcome Bovingdon due to our close proximity to the rest of the clubs.

All fixtures and results will be published on the Website

Should you wish to take part please either contact the Team Captain (see below), Ali Lyons 07980 897087 or our Head Coach Craig Blythe

Men A – Gordon Bettis

Men B – Tim Baldwin

Ladies A – Jill Cohen

Ladies B – Ali Lyons

Mixed A – Angela Morgans

Mixed B – Maureen Grant

Mixed C – David Seddon

Floodlight Tournament

The Floodlight Fun tournaments will continue to run once a month during winter. The latest information can be found on the website here

Winter Play: Floodlight and tokens

Tokens at a cost of £2 per 30 minutes can be purchased from Coaches Craig and Natalia, Brian Stone 07495 738366 and Ali Lyons 07980 897087.

Please remember floodlights must be used in the order Court 5 -> Court 1 Monday to Saturday and cannot be used at all on Sundays

Key Lock Code

The new key lock code (holding the club house keys) will change on the evening of Friday 15th October. The new code will be 6464

Recent Results

Watford & District Summer League

This summer saw the return of Competitive League Tennis with the Watford & District Summer League.  This year it was purely friendlies only, teams either played at home or an away fixture, results were submitted to the league and the results are out:

Div 4 – Men A – Bovingdon 3rd

Div 6 – Men B – Bovingdon 4th 

 

Div 3 – Ladies A – Bovingdon 2nd

Div 5 – Ladies B – Bovingdon 2nd

 

Div 3 Mixed A – Bovingdon 2nd

Div 6 Mixed B – Bovingdon 2nd

Congratulations to all who took part, after not playing competitive tennis for over a year these are excellent results for all teams.

Aylesbury & District League 2019 / 2020

This was the last full league that was completed and entered one team in each category. Well done to the Ladies who won their League.

New Members

Welcome to the following people who joined the club in the last month. We look forward to seeing you on court and at social events!

Simone Detre

Georgia Caddick

Osian Drury (Junior)

Seren Drury (Junior)

Faridah Fiddler

Max Hallam

Chloe North

Harriet Posner

Sarah Robinson

Calendar

October 20th                7.30pm                        AGM

November 19th            6.45 pm                       Brewery Tour (Fully Booked)

Sunday 31st October   9.00 am                       Club Clean Up