Stamford Tennis Club Newsletter

Issue 10 MARCH 2008 [ HOME ]

VICTORY FOR STAMFORD TENNIS CLUB JUNIOR PLAYERS

Stamford junior tennis players took on Eastgate, Deeping and Bourne in the Lincolnshire Mini Green Tennis Leagues on Sunday 27 January at Boston Tennis Club. After some hard fought singles and doubles matches, Felix Beech (no.1 seed) and Alexander Frost (no.3 seed) came through with a clean sheet, winning all their games. They were ably supported by Jed Griffiths who, as 2nd seed, had some tough games, and Benedict Swindells. They both won two of their singles matches and performed well in the doubles.

Stamford are now well placed to take on the unbeaten Boston team to decide the final outcome of the leagues. All the boys are coached by Stamford Tennis Club Head Coach Ralph Clarke.

WINTER LEAGUE TENNIS

The Club has entered two leagues this winter. In the Sunday League we have two teams in the first division. Perhaps not the ideal situation, but we were good enough to achieve that. So far we are third and sixth out of eight. In the floodlit league we have one team in each of the divisions, and we are lying second to Deeping in division 1 and possibly second to Hargate Horrors (Nens Tennis Club) in division 2. This is the first season of this experimental floodlit league, which Stamford Tennis Club has organised and which we have called the Welland & Nene Tennis Floodlit League.

REPAIRS TO THE CLUBHOUSE

Our grateful thanks to Neville Burnett and Graham Winstone, who have done a wonderful job re-jigging the veranda. They have moved the entrance steps to the front of the clubhouse, thus eliminating the damage caused by rain to the unprotected steps on the side of the building. More work has to be done to the clubhouse, particularly to the roof, so that it will last a good few years more. It is also intended to bring in some new tables and chairs when funds permit.

FRIDAY EVENING TEAM PRACTICE

These sessions, which begin about 6 pm, have proved popular. There is a charge of £2 for the floodlights over the winter months, which is paid retrospectively. The sessions continue through the summer, when, of course, there is no charge for the floodlighting.

ANOTHER TEAM IN THE PETERBOROUGH LEAGUE

We are entering another team in the Peterborough League. Our E team gained promotion to the C division and it was felt that we should always have a team in the bottom D division to give match practice to less experienced players.

COMMITTEE CHANGES

New Chairman of the Club is Neville Burnett. Mike Chew has retired after a number of years at the helm, and at the AGM he was presented with a box of wine and a wine goblet. The wine has disappeared, but the goblet is still intact. He will continue to work for the Club, particularly with the e-bulletins until someone offers to take the job on, and he remains one of the two Trustees of the Club who are responsible for co-operation between the Club and the Stamford Endowed Schools. The other trustee is Treasurer James Everitt.

Ian Moss was installed as Vice Chairman, and Ali Orr was elected as an ordinary member of the committee. Gavin Kelly has taken over from Alan Gray as the Club’s Child Protection Officer.

NO MORE NEWSLETTERS

The Newsletters are being discontinued. They served their purpose, but now, with almost all members of the Club on email, the e-bulletin has proved an effective, cheaper and less time-consuming alternative. Those who do not have email will be able to read the e-bulletins in the clubhouse window.

The subscription forms will now be sent separately by post (you will receive this year’s in the next few days), and the Agenda for the AGM will be emailed each October to members with an email address and sent by post to the few who are not on email. Simon Rigby continues with responsibility for the Club website: www.stamfordtennis.co.uk and Mike Chew is responsible for the e-bulletins.

CLUB AWARD WINNERS

For the first time Club awards were made at the AGM. Winners were:

Junior Girl: Barbara Huyskes
Junior Boy Felix Beech
Under 18 Boy Joshua Good
Lady Player of the Year Maureen Paulson
Gentleman Player of the Year Neil Chedd
Club Member of the Year Alex Smith

KEEPING MEMBERS & THE PUBLIC INFORMED

These e-bulletins, the website and the reports in the local press are only as good as the information fed to those responsible for this area of club activity. One of the weaknesses of the newsletters, apart from being time-consuming and expensive, was that material was not being sent in or not sent in on time to the editor.

If you have information which you want publicised, please send it to chewmike@aol.com and copy to Simon Rigby on simon@ukos.com. Don’t wait to be asked.

BRITISH TENNIS MEMBERSHIP

The LTA is offering FREE membership for 2008 to all members of Stamford Tennis Club. You are invited to take advantage of this offer to get the benefits offered to individuals and club. Note: you will only be able to receive Wimbledon tickets allocated to the Club if you are a member of British Tennis. Application is easy.

Go to www.lta.org.uk or google “British Tennis membership”. The Club also has application forms available from the clubhouse or Carol Cotton.

TENNIS KIT SALE

Head Coach Ralph Clarke (ralphashleyclarke@yahoo.com or 07866 433605) is organising a tennis kit sale at the clubhouse on Friday 28 and Sunday 30 March. There will be 40% off all clothing and 25% off all shoes, plus deals on new and ex-demo rackets, with an opportunity to try out ex-demo rackets on court.

All goods are top brands, Adidas, K Swiss, Wilson, Head and Volkl. A Head Radical Team Racket has been reduced from £135 to £85, a Boris Becker 10 was £120 and is now £85. cartoon tennis players