CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE from John Braint
Several members, including myself, recently attended the Tennis Leicestershire Awards Evening at the Leicester Tigers Rugby Ground. I was very proud to see the Club pick up three of the major trophies for winning the Summer Mixed, Men's Veterans and Men's Winter Leagues - undoubtedly a record Division One haul for our Club. Special congratulations also go to last year's Chairman, Simon Leavy, who won the Veteran Player of the Year award.Pictures from the event are on the club's website.
It is great that the Club has a spread of talented players to win at the top level in a variety of events, but equally important to a successful Club, is a strong social base that encourages and improves players who will form the core of our teams in the future and also provides enjoyment for those who do not yearn to play in a team. It is very pleasing to see that Monday evening social mix ins, in particular, are proving very popular with a wide variety of team players and we are grateful to Gordon Sheard (and Katie and Sue in his absence) for organising the tennis to achieve (hopefully) balanced fours.
Whatever your level of tennis, I hope that many of you will enter the forthcoming Opening Season Tournament (details of which are below). Due to a lower numbers of entries in the last couple of years, and to give the tournament some extra variety (as well as a bit of inter-club rivalry!) we have opened up all the events (except the mixed doubles) to our close neighbours Carisbrooke, Victoria and Roundhill. I hope members will see this as a positive development. As always, please let me (or any other Committee member) have any feedback that you wish to give after the event.
In my last newsletter, I referred to the importance of volunteering to the success of the Club. We are always looking for potential new members for the main committee so if you are interested, please would you approach either myself or Sue Lester, our secretary, for an informal
chat.
We have recently done some work to improve the surface of courts three and four close to the baselines, where compacting can occur. It was noted that this problem is not happening to the same extent on court two, which is particularly under-used. We would, therefore, be grateful
if everyone could use court two in preference to courts three and four when you have a choice, so that we expend the life of all courts more evenly. This will increase the time between replacement and hence reduce costs.
Finally, will members please remember that if they do bring visitors to the club (maximum of four times in a year before being required to become a member) that they must pay a £3 fee. Previously we have requested that this is handed to a Committee member but, to make things
easier, we have now installed a Visitors Fees Box near to the floodlight boxes for courts one, two and three, so that it is accessible at all times to members with a clubhouse swipe card.
John
Membership
Thanks to the 246 seniors/juniors who have already renewed their membership for 2014 – a good total for this stage of the tennis year ! We have lost a few bar helpers, however, and may need to ask for some other category helpers to one bar duty if we are to be able staff the bar during our tournaments/other events.
TENNIS UPDATE
Match Practices
It's that time of year when we start to look ahead to the match season. The dates for the match practice are as follows:
Tues 11th March Ladies 1&2 6pm Men’s 1&2 7.45pm
Sat 15th March All Ladies 1 - 5 1.30pm
Sun 16th March Men’s 1/2/3&4 1.30pm
Tues 18th March Ladies 4&5 6pm
Ladies 1/2&3 7.45pm
Thurs 20th March Men’s 1/2&3 6pm Men’s 4/5&6 7.45pm
Sat 22nd March Ladies 3/4&5 1.30pm
Sun 23rd March Men’s 4/5&6 1.30pm
Thurs 27th March Men’s 5&6 7.45pm
Opening Season Tournament Saturday April 5th – Saturday April 12th
Full details of the tournament are here http://oadbytennisspring2014.blogspot.co.uk/
It is essential that we have an entry form from everyone wanting to take part by Wednesday 26th March.
Please don’t assume we can guess that you want to enter, who your partners are and when you’re available !!!
Please either fill in a paper copy and leave at the club for Gary or download the document (Word), fill in and then e-mail it to Gary.
(Last years online entry did not, unfortunately, give us enough information about people’s availability – hence reverting to this system).
Sally and Louise will be in touch soon with helpers to organise rotas for the bar/kitchen throughout the tournament. Withers will be at the club on Sunday 6th April with a range of clothing, footwear, racquet etc.
GROUNDS UPDATE from Tim Greenwood
I will be organising the first working party of the year on Saturday 22nd March for grounds helpers. I will be in touch to check everyone’s availability for that date. We already have a list of jobs which need to be done in advance of the tennis season ! Also, can I please ask that all members adjust court nets with the net post handle or adjuster on the end of the centre net band and NOT by twisting the net band.
Finally - If your group is the last one on court PLEASE switch off the floodlights, after lowering the net and shutting the gate. This applies to social sessions and fixed fours and is everyone’s responsibility – please don’t just assume someone else will do it. Lights were left on three times this week (on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday) after play had finished.
On Mondays and Wednesdays, lights will be over ridden for social – so just use the key to switch them off. On other nights, if the lights have been left on after coaching (to avoid the 10 minutes it takes for them to warm up) the box will say FREE. In this situation, your fixed four should put their £4 in as usual, but they will need to switch the lights off at 7.45pm if the court has not been booked, or at 9.30pm if playing in the second slot. Please ask if you are unsure how to turn the lights off/get the key etc.
SOCIAL NEWS
American Tournament
The last tournament of the year takes place this Wednesday at 6.45pm. No partner needed. Please sign up at the club or e-mail Sue
A Question of Sport Quiz - Saturday 22nd March 7.30pm Please come along and take part in this quiz – you don’t need a in depth knowledge of sport to take part… and there are skills challenges alongside the main questions ! Sign up in teams or individually/pairs and we’ll sort out a team for you. Open to all members, friends, family etc.
JUNIOR NEWS from George Milne
Congratulations to our 14 and under boys “A” and “B” teams - both won all their matches and their respective divisions in the Junior County Winter league. Well done Alexander, Aaron, Alex and Geoffrey! We held an “Australian Open” event on the 26th January. Fortunately we had good weather and a large number of junior players of all ages took part in a competitive, fun event.
We again hosted an LTA Grade 4 Tournament in February half-term week. This attracted players from far and wide and produced a high level of tennis. Congratulations go to two of our own young players, Taylor, who won the age 8 and under event and Jack, who won the 9 and under consolation event. Our 9 and under teams are taking part in their final winter league matches on Sunday 2nd March.
Good luck to Oli, Jack, Eve and Arun. Our AEGON Junior Summer League programme will start in early April. This year we have four teams taking part: boys 14&U, 16&U, 18&U and girls 16&U. We will also be holding a 14 and under boys “HSBC The Road to Wimbledon” event on Saturday 3rd May.
