Apologies:

James Aburrow, Di Cason, Andrew Roberts, Anne Dickenson, Jane Fide, Lee Chambers, Paul Wilkie, Gareth Bunce, Galina Gardiner, Lucy Roberts,
Liz Farley, Anna McBean.

Present:

 
Roger Lindley, Becky Putnam, Pat Humphery, Alison Winkfield, Joy Way, Sue Watts, Cris Fagarasan, Howard Spellman, Louisa Crisp, Josephine Peach, Jackie Snelling, Jan Howard, Viv Callingham, Elizabeth Haughton.

Minutes of Last Meeting

The minutes of the 205 AGM were accepted as a true record of the proceedings.  There were no matters arising. 

Proposed:  Howard Spellman; Seconded:  Cris Fagarasan;  Carried unanimously.

Chairman’s Report – Roger Lindley

The Chairman advised that we had another successful year for the Club:  we now had a flourishing membership of 115 Adults and 120 Juniors. We continued to have seven teams participating in the county tennis leagues, and our Juniors were also entering into external competitions.  The club also supported the LTA's Great British Tennis Weekend again this year.
 

He stated that we should not underestimate James Aburrow's impact upon our increased membership.  James was an extremely popular and proficient Head coach, and he and his team had consistently coped with the heavy workload required to satisfy the many demands from members. 
 

In order to ensure the smooth running of the club, it required the help of no less than 15 committee members, and the Chairman thanked every one of them for their efforts.  In particular:
 

• Becky Putnam continued to be very efficient and pro-active, keeping us all on the straight and narrow,
   
• Pat Humphery continued to do an excellent job as Treasurer, and was always there to provide solid support whatever the problem.  He also sits on the Minchinhampton Sports Association, where robust representation is absolutely essential.  His practical advice and experience had been well in demand this year as we were facing litigation from an expelled football team.
   
• Clare Gardiner, our Welfare Officer, which required regular attendance at training courses to keep up to speed with legislation.
   
• Di Cason, who week after week maintained the clubhouse in tiptop condition; she had refurbished it recently, and it received much praise from visiting teams. 
   
• Sue Watts, who had successfully taken on the complex task of arranging the dates for the fixtures of all seven teams.
   
• Alison Winkfield and Paul Wilkie, our Team Captains, for organising our teams and the Club Championships.
   
• Cris Fagarasan, who had taken on the Membership Secretary role this year.
   
• David Plant, who organised our Wimbledon ballot again this year.
   
• and finally, all the Team Captains for their leadership.  Matches could be won or lost even before teams step on the court, and our success this season was very much down to the efforts of those captaining our sides.  

Captains' Reports

Men’s Captain's Report – Paul Wilkie

• We entered 3 teams into the 2016 summer league, which was the same number as last year. 
• The A team finished top in Division 2, and achieved promotion to Division1.
• The B team maintained their place in Division 3 by finishing 4th.
• The C team finished 3rd in Division 5.
• The 2015/2016 mixed doubles Winter Floodlit League season resulted in the A & B teams achieving 3rd place in Division 1 and 5 respectively.
• Three teams have been entered into this winter’s competition.
• The league, both summer and winter, caters for all abilities, and so interest from new or less experienced players would be more than welcome.
• Finally he thanked the individual team captains: Gareth Bunce, Howard Spellman, Anne Dickenson, Sophie Davies and Clare Gardiner for their efforts in helping to run the club’s competitive league tennis over the past year.
   

Ladies' Captain's Report – Alison WInkfield

We again had 4 teams in the summer league, which, for such a small club with only 3 courts, was very impressive, not just in our enthusiasm for the game, but in our fixture secretary’s administrative skills. All four teams improved on last year’s results.

The A team, having surprised themselves in staying up in the Premier division, played very well to come 4th in the county, only 3 points behind Painswick A.

The B team played exceptionally well, with some very strong players and great commitment, finishing their return to Division 1 in 3rd place and unbeaten at home. They tied with Cirencester B in points and sets won but we pipped them to the post by not losing as many sets!

High hopes for the C team, who had been jumping up the ladder each season, proved valid as they stormed their way, unbeaten into Division 3 - 9 points ahead of their closest rival.  No doubt they could do the same again next year.

The D team in Division 6 made a valiant effort and progressed to winning 4 points this season.  With some new members and promising juniors to boost this relatively inexperienced team, it was hoped that they would continue to have fun and improve next year.

Thanks go to James who provided some very beneficial match play coaching at the start of the year;  to all the captains: Becky Putnam, Jane Fide, Clare Gardiner and Dee Weir, who have all been fantastic leaders, not only giving up their time to enable competitive tennis for so many of us, but with their help and support to make my first year as Ladies’ captain an enjoyable experience.

Good luck to everyone next season and keep up the great tennis.

Coaching Report – James Aburrow

143 children in the summer  term came to weekly coaching at Minchinhampton Tennis Club.  We were chosen to hold a Tennis for Kids free introductory course for up to ten  5 to 8 year olds funded by the LTA as part of their Davis Cup legacy, we were straight away offered a 2nd course as we filled the first one in 48 hours.

90 children attended summer camps.

Adult Coaching on Saturday has had strong numbers through the season including a waiting list on a couple of occasions (max 8)

The coaching programme has supported 16 children in the Duke of Edinburgh scheme this year

Tennis Xpress returners beginners course generated 5 new members and in Autumn the follow on course should hopefully bring a few more new members.

Ladies Coaching preseason was well attended and all teams improved their performance this year.

Coaching of non members has brought in from Jan to August £510 and a further expected £170ish for the final quarter of the year.

Junior Report

We have had a great year and achieved so much all without a Junior Co-Ordinator, imaging what we could be achieving with one!!!

Aegon Boys  County Under 12 champions – I believe the first time the club has won a top county league – Well done Sammy Davis-Berry, Peter Gardiner, Thomas Spellman, Ben Weir and Archie Dowie.

Quorn Family Tennis Tournament a success at club level with 8 pairs. Graham & Katie Harbord went on to the regional finals at the Aegon Classic in Birmingham and came in 4th place. They had a great day meeting the players including Simona Halep.

Leo Gardiner has been chosen again this year for county training squads.

U8’s mixed open tournament Katie Harbord came 3rd in her first tournament, 10 players from all over the region had a great morning at the club.

Road to Wimbledon – Peter Gardiner won the u14 club event which had 10 entries and went onto the county finals where he won the plate event.

Six juniors competed this season in the Adult teams including Ed Englefield playing regularly for the Mens A Team.

Many of our juniors our competing in tournaments throughout the county and region.

Great social tournament and bbq held in July and Davis Cup Competition in the coaching sessions during the week of last year’s final got over 90 children competing in a fun week long competition. This year’s will happen W/C 31/10 with a Halloween theme and focusing the children to the 2 World Tour Final Tournaments.

Junior membership is, I believe, the highest it has ever been with them all enjoying their tennis.

Treasurer's Report – Pat Humphery

The Treasurer provided a detailed explanation of the statement of account as at 30 September 2016, which showed a healthy surplus of £6264.  The Sinking Fund for court resurfacing stood at £35,000, which was very satisfactory. 

Proposed that the Club accounts were accepted:  Alison Winkfield;

Seconded: Sue Watts; Carried unanimously.

Level of 2016 subscriptions – Roger Lindley

Financially, we have continued to consolidate our savings without unduly taxing members;  we have maintained subscription rates, halved match fees, provided free balls for Ladies tennis morning and Club Nights, subsidised social functions, and made no charges for refreshments in the clubhouse. 

Also, we make no charge for the use of floodlights, nor for your visitors.  And we are required to pay a MSA levy, which now stands at £14.50 per head. 

The maximum annual level of subscription is currently £99, or just £1.90 per week.  Many of you pay significantly less, given our policy of encouraging youths and families.    

We need to maintain these rates in order to build up our contingency fund, but I'm pleased to say that, given the satisfactory financial situation, we do not propose to make any changes to subscriptions next year.

Proposed:  Pat Humphery; Seconded: Howard Spellman; Carried unanimously.

Election of Committee 2016/17

All current members are prepared to continue in post.  The Junior Representative post and Social Secretary remain vacant for a third year through lack of volunteers.

Proposed: Howard Spellman; Seconded Viv Callingham; Carried unanimously

Any Other Business

 Social Tennis  The Chairman advised that for some years now the paucity of players at Club Night had been a cause for concern.  In particular, it could deter prospective new members from joining if this was their first impression of the club.

Also, some retired couples have been discouraged from joining as they were hoping to find a regular daytime club event was available to both of them.  We do of course run a Ladies Morning on Tuesdays, and perhaps one solution would be to expand this event to embrace all members.     

The committee would be discussing this issue at their next meeting on 5 December; members were asked to advise the Secretary if they had any positive proposals for improvement.

Bonus Ball

The Treasurer explained that when the Club started out in the early 70s, it was the norm to arrange coffee mornings, dances, raffles, wine and cheese parties, and charge competition entry fees each year in order to raise income. 

We don't ask that of you, although Ann Sherrington kindly runs a Bonus Ball competition which makes money for the club.  Currently there are only about a dozen members who take part.  So please, consider subscribing to this competition.

Vote of Thanks

 It was proposed that Jackie Snelling should receive a reduced subscription in view of her efforts in masterminding ladies' daytime tennis.  The Chairman explained that subsidies were only awarded to defray members' expenditure, but that he would record a vote of thanks to Jackie for her work.

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