A great start for Ben

Ben has asked me to thank everyone who came along to support him and his team on the first Saturday of the year.  We had very healthy attendances at the adult Cardio sessions and drills from 0930 AM to 1230 PM, and also at the junior sessions running alongside those events. PLEASE NOTE: Ben has rearranged the timings of the junior sessions to align better with the mix of adults and children - the 9:30-10:30 AM for 4-8 years will remain the same but the 11+ years session will now be at 1030 AM - 1130 AM and the 8-10 years session will take place from 1130 AM-1230 PM. 

Ben is also running a ladies session on Mondays from 1000 AM to 1130 AM and is then available for 1:1 coaching until about 2 PM on that day. As you will know, he needs to finish his notice period at another club, and he will then be around a lot more when he becomes our full time Head Coach from mid February.

Keen to join any of these Saturday or Monday sessions? See Clubspark.lta.org.uk/BenjaminHardwickCoaching  to sign up!

Our 20th anniversary

The club was first formed in 2004 and we are very keen to celebrate our 20th anniversary throughout this year.  We're VERY keen to hear your suggestions for marking this milestone and no ideas are off the table. Please let us know what you think.  So far, suggestions have included a big summer bash with BBQ and drinks, a parent/child round robin event, a design competition for FOSTC-branded goods, and maybe even a commemorative mid-year quiz.  

Spring beckons

It won't be long until we enter teams for the Gloucestershire summer leagues again.  Before they get underway, I am sure you will be pleased to know that our two mixed winter league teams have done well and our men's over 60s team has also been keeping the flame alive.  Ben plans to hold trial sessions at the end of February for all members who are keen to compete in our summer league teams - so get those rackets dusted off now...

AGM 

Our AGM will take place at 7 PM on Wednesday 6 March. Please try to attend - those who show up always come away with a much better grasp of the challenges facing the club.  We will endeavour to keep the formal proceedings to a minimum and there will be drinks and snacks afterwards. This is a great opportunity to discuss a range of issues, especially our future aspirations.  For starters, it would be useful to gather your views on raising money to fund LED lighting for the courts.  We are also keen to hear how you could help with the running of the club - aside from the committee, other members assist in many ways but there's always scope for others to lend a hand - or perhaps even volunteer to be on the committee. 

Thanks 

Jo Ballinger has hit the ground running as our new Welfare Officer and recently provided the committee with a very comprehensive training session on safeguarding.  Roz Wyatt has now stepped down formally from the post and I would like to thank her for the great job she did for a good number of years. I am also grateful to Ed Parkin and Charlie Denton for keeping the Saturday adult Cardio/Drills sessions going while we searched for a new coach.