CHAIRMAN'S NEWSLETTER – SPRING 2018
By Wing Commander (Retired) Roger Lindley
Winter League: Well done all those who participated in the Mixed Doubles Winter League, which offered some challenging playing conditions this year. Our three teams had a very successful season, with the A team finishing 3rd in the top division (with only E Glos A and David Lloyd above us), B team finishing 2nd (and hence gaining promotion) from Div 4 and our C team finishing 2nd (and also gaining promotion) from Div 6. Thanks to Becky Putnam, Mary Omnes and Howard Spellman for captaining our teams and Sue Watts for organising the fixtures.
Coaching: If you need help getting back into tennis after this extended winter, some coaching is the answer; you can find full details of all James Aburrow's coaching programmes on his personal website: www.aburrowtennis.co.uk. And you can email James at james@aburrowtennis.co.uk to book a session.
Summer League: The season kicks off this month, and we are putting forward 3 Ladies' and 3 Men's teams this year. Thanks to those of you who have volunteered to represent the club, and particularly all the team captains; do try to make their life easier by letting them know your availability in good time, and stepping up even when it's an Away match and the conditions aren't ideal.
Juniors: Our junior membership and their standard of play goes from strength to strength, and this year there is plenty of opportunity:
- The 14U Road to Wimbledon tournament, to be played between mid-April & June, details to follow. 14 & Under players rated 10.2 to 7.1 can take part, and the winner goes on to represent the club in the County Finals.
- Team Tennis (Junior Glos League) with the club entering 9 teams aged between 8-18yrs.
- Juniors & Mixed Ability Social on 22 April: Quorn Cup from 10.30-12 (10U tournament, free to enter, child plus parent/adult on mini-red courts).
Social Tennis:
- Don’t forget the Mixed Ability Social from 12-4 on Sunday 22 April, with a progressive handicap format, including a Bring & Share lunch, please contact Galina Gardiner if you are interested in taking part.
- Also a reminder that Jackie Snelling our social tennis secretary is still running Mixed social tennis on Monday mornings 10-11.30 and Ladies social tennis on a Tuesday morning 10-11.30.
- As always club night is every Tuesday night 7-10pm.
Wimbledon Ballot: We have 12 pairs of tickets this year, and 82 eligible opted-in British Tennis Members. Note that only eligible BTM members over 8 years old, who have renewed their club membership are eligible to take part in the ballot, and that those under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
The ballot will be held on Tuesday 1stMay at 7.30pm at Club night. A sign-up sheet is now up in the club house with the dates for the various tickets listed, so that members either sign up for dates they can make, or have the option to just put their name down for all dates / courts. As members are only permitted one pair of tickets from the ballot, once they are successful they are then precluded from any subsequent date or court selections – for joint members it is clearly in their interests to sign up as individuals.
The draw will be started on the basis of the highest profile match dates first, with the first winners drawn on any date being allocated the better show court when there is more than 1 court option.
Committee Members: Everyone has been busy preparing for the season ahead, with Sue Watts sorting out all the fixtures and Alison Winkfield and Pat Humphery, the Team Captains, arranging team selection. Galina Gardiner has re-arranged for the postponed Quorn Family Cup and Mixed Ability tournament to go ahead on 22 April; you will know that Becky Putnam has been very busy keeping us all updated too. Di Cason has done a great job in maintaining the cleanliness of the Clubhouse throughout the winter in the face of all that rain and mud. Andrew Roberts is again taking on the complex Wimbledon ballot challenge.
Pat Humphery, in particular, has done an outstanding job in preparing everyone for the Summer League. He has generated extra attendance at Club Night, arranged team practice sessions, and organised a number of friendly matches against other clubs specifically to bring on our Juniors on the brink of playing in the League. Well done Pat!
2018 Diary Dates: You should have the following dates in your diary:
22 April Quorn family cup and Mixed Ability tournament
1 May Draw for Wimbledon ballot
15 May Signed up for Club Championships?
2 July Wimbledon fortnight commences
15 July Wimbledon Finals
31 August Glos LTA Summer Leagues end
1 September Signed up for Winter League?
16 September Club Finals Day
10 October AGM and Awards Presentation
14 October Mixed Ability Tournament