Welcome to  the start of the Eastgate Summer Season 2025

Thought for the SEASON

BEFORE YOU COMPLAIN….HAVE YOU VOLUNTEERED YET???

Welcome to Eastgate if you are a new member, and thank you to those re-joining for another year. Wherever you are on your tennis pathway, beginner, returner or established competitive player, I am sure you will enjoy your tennis at Eastgate.

It has been a splendid few weeks  with a lot of Social Tennis and Matchplay on court.

The first league matches have been played, making a promising start to the season.

I have just been reading the last few newsletters to remind myself of on-going topics, what went well and what would have been even better if…

I was quite dismayed to read the topics I had listed as EBI as they are those that come up all the time.

So….

A reminder of what is expected of members of Eastgate.

We have removed the small bins as these were not being used for TIN TOPS only but general rubbish.

PLEASE USE THE BLACK BINS PROVIDED

RESPECT OTHER PLAYERS FOLLOWING YOU ON COURT. TAKE ALL RUBBISH HOME!

Recycling

 Please take your empty tins home for recycling. Simon Jackson or I have ended up either taking them home or using the bins at the club. Another job we would rather not do as volunteers.

Lost property

Goodness!!  What forgetful players! Clothing, water bottles, specs, racquets… Check once and check again.  The lost property is in a box near the changing rooms. Children’s stuff left after coaching is usually in the shed for a couple of weeks and then moved to the box inside the club.

Gum on Court☹️

One of my pet hates has always been the disposal of chewing gum - or lack of it, in this case.        I have noticed a lot of gum on court recently. Please do not chew gum on court. It is unsightly, difficult and expensive to remove.  If you are chewing gum on arrival, then please dispose of it in a wrapper in a black bin!

A Reminder that there is NO SMOKING ON THE PREMISES ANYWHERE.                                       

Not by the trees, not behind the shed, not in corners. JUST DON’T!

Disappearing court handles and measuring posts

At the start of last season, we made sure every court had a measuring stick and a handle that was securely screwed in. When we did a walk around last week two handles, two screws one handle and one measuring stick were missing. The stick  now been retrieved but the handles have had to be replaced, again, at a cost of over £30!  CHOOSE IT USE IT PUT IT BACK ( where it came from)

Membership –

We enjoyed a record year  for membership.

If you haven’t  yet joined Kay Cliff ( Jamie Clifford’s replacement) and I will be meeting at the end of the month to remove lapsed members. Don’t delay rejoin!

Bank account details changed last year  when we became a limited Company. A few people did contact me as they  were trying to pay into the old account! Make sure you are a member Don’t miss out.

BOX LEAGUE 24/5

The Box Leagues have gone really well, thanks to Julie Vitoria.  The ‘mug ‘videos continue to be amusing.

Some matches were difficult to arrange as the weather was not always conducive to outdoor tennis. However, there was some complacency with A players (nominated organiser) not getting on with the organising, leaving a last-minute scramble, and insufficient time to complete the matches.

I have met some lovely new players who will certainly be moving up the ladder next year. We will announce who has scored the most games over the season.

The WA group can still be used to invite people to play, but non-members will be removed shortly. Thank you to all who made it possible.

Men’s Singles League   Now the MIXED SINGLES LEAGUE

Thank you to Vince Ford  who has taken this task on and done a great job. It has been a  great success with ladies and some juniors now playing in the league and participants being diligent in playing the matches. We hope this will be reflected in the club champ entries!

Harry Kipling Round Robin Trophy

This was the best attendance yet, with 32 entrants and a few reserves.  The weather was kind and great fun was had. I even got to play! Thank you to Claudia, Honor and Jacquie for being such fab helpers and Simon Taylor for the BBQ.

Overall winner of the Harry Kipling Trophy - Ben Hicks – a last minute reserve! Well done Ben

Men’s winner - Richard Jenkinson

Women’s winner - Priscilla Tyers

We will be holding more but need volunteers on the day to support.

The Strategic Plan  on the notice board and on the website

As I come from a background where having a 5-year plan with measurable outcomes is the norm, the committee set about brainstorming what we wanted to achieve and who can help achieve it.

I am delighted that support of the committee along with the ‘JUST ONE THING‘ initiative  has meant that the club is going from strength to strength.

Team trial days have encouraged new players to come forward.

Ladies day celebrated the lovely setting and ambiance of the Eastgate Club.

There are now at least three evenings of Social Tennis- as well as more daytime tennis sessions.

More Juniors are playing in competitions.  Several players are now part of the county squad.

We still have much to achieve but there is already so much be really pleased about.

We need parents to help to run mini practice sessions. We Do Tennis will be running a training session for parents who volunteer. If you think you can help, please message me on 07917518319.

PYW2W- Play your way to Wimbledon

We hosted this event at the club on 27th April and are delighted that we are sending  Samarth Manjunath to play in the regional finals in Boston in July. Well done everyone who entered.

Recyclaball.

Thank you to James Ashford who has been brilliant at doing this job. We have started to receive payments for the recycling.

REMINDER

Please take the tins home as we will not be disposing  of them at the club.

Wimbledon Fortnight

We are talking to Nick/ Rick about events that could be held to promote tennis during Wimbledon fortnight. Any suggestions, please contact me on tennischair@eastgateclub.co.uk

If you were fortunate to get tickets in the ballot do take pictures for our gallery and will post them on the website.

Now for the good news!  LTA AWARDS

The Lincolnshire LTA awards recognise the contribution coaches, clubs and volunteers make to keep Tennis thriving in their clubs. There are several different categories.

Eastgate Tennis Club was a runner up in best Tennis Club in Lincolnshire.

Jamie Clifford, our outgoing membership secretary, was highly commended. Sandi Proctor visited the club to meet Jamie and present his certificate.

Sadly, Jamie has moved away and will leave Eastgate at the end of the month.

We bid a sad farewell with thanks to Jamie who has really made a difference in so many different ways. He has been a valuable asset, meeting and greeting new members, a true ambassador for what the club offers. He has ensured that new members  are able to play, book courts and join in wherever they can.

Kay has kindly stepped into Jamie’s role. Jamie has done a great job training her. The email remains the same membership@eastgateclub.co.uk

Eastgate needs you to volunteer and do JUST ONE THING!

The current committee members are

Me: Jenny Wheeldon, Chair. The job no one else wants and more besides.

Brian Main: Vice Chair and Safeguarding Lead

Jane Good: Ladies Events Ladies Tennis Captain

Liz Cooper: Talent spotting and developing our coaching offer. Ladies Tennis  Captain

Fran Keane: Secretary. Match secretary and Club Champs organiser.

Chris Stock. Junior competitions and Junior coach

Kay Cliff. Membership and social tennis

Rich Harwin.  Men’s Tennis Captain  rep. and all things involving spreadsheets

What next?

What talent or skill do you have that we might be able to harness as part of the tennis section?

Can you help with Our Strategic Plan ? Many hands make light work!

Can you help run a social tennis session? 

We want to encourage wider access to tennis through ‘Tennis for all’. Active Tennis, Tennis for pupils with Additional needs etc.

Do you know any primary schools interested in tennis coaching for their children?

Training days and £250 kit available. Contact nigel@wedotennis for more information.

Can you help promote Walking Tennis or Pickle Ball?

Do you know anyone who could support running a tennis session for those who need to move more, meet people and socialise?   We are exploring links with Active Lincolnshire. Can you help?

Do you know anyone who would sponsor a team? Or our Tennis Balls for the season?

WE DO TENNIS

Please do check out our website for information on the Juniors and adult Coaching programme.

May half term camps on at the club  Tuesday 27th May Wed 28h and  on the website now to book.

Club Champs

After a really successful  ‘euro style’ tournament last year  we will be running the same format.

The sign-up info is now up in the corridor. Payment will  be taken later. Details of eligibility are on the notice board but will also be sent out separately.

Junior Cub Champs

We will be running a Fast 4 Junior Club Champs - more details to follow.

Padel/Pickle Project

Padel Ball is the squash of the 60s/70s. It has come to Lincoln and is definitely a talking point. There are the two courts at Doddington  more to be built and three indoor courts on Deacon Road with two more planned at Rustons  in North Hykeham. Will the market become saturated? It is certainly expensive as a pay as you go sport.

I have spent a lot of time with Nigel Hunter (WDT) measuring up and looking at a potential location on our site. We have come to the conclusion that it would not work, with a high spend, loss of court space, and noise in a protected area. Recent newspaper articles on a site similar to ours (surrounded by houses) report neighbours complaining of noise and swearing!

The favoured plan is to explore Pickle Ball, and a new sport emerging across the pond, ‘Red Ball for All’,  by converting court 4 into 4 mini tennis courts which can also be used for Pickle Ball and Red Ball for All ‘. This would release a t least one back court for members’ play as a greater number of mini players can use court 4, or for pickle ball, Redball for all.

We would explore a partnership up with Lincoln BG University to use our courts in the summer and their Sports hall in the winter. This project is very much in its infancy as it is not without cost.

Red Ball (for all ages) is a mini version of tennis played with a mini racquet and a softer ball. It is easy to learn and not as noisy as Padel or Pickle and can be either a great way to learn a racquet ball sport or to continue playing when the mind is willing but the body less inclined!

I will be sending out more details and our proposals. If you have any thoughts on this do contact me for an informal chat.

I look forward to seeing you on court or in Bar 89 enjoying your tennis at the Eastgate Club.

Hoping for the best season of Tennis.

Jenny Wheeldon, Chair.