Issue 18 November 2008
ON-COURT
The Newsletter of the N.C.L.T.C
Chairman’s Report – November 2008
The General Committee have asked that I give a brief personal message to everyone, in addition to the collective update we have prepared on the key areas that have affected the Club in recent months.
Firstly, I would like to thank everyone who has been supportive of me in my first few months of Chairmanship - General and Tennis Committee Members, the Coaches, past Chairman and all those people who have offered the odd helpful comment and supportive word.
My main message is also a thank you. I have been a member of the Club for over 30 years (yes I am that old!) and it is only very recently that I have come to fully appreciate the vast amount of voluntary work that goes on behind the scenes to ensure the Club remains successful. On behalf of the whole membership, I would like to thank those people who “go the extra yard” on the Club’s behalf. – Thank you for your hard work.
I hope you all find this Newsletter interesting.
To any of you I don’t see again beforehand, I wish you all an enjoyable Christmas and a prosperous New Year.
Best Wishes
Rob Luckham
British Tennis Membership
The Club needs the help of all its members who have not joined British Tennis to do so before November.
It is FREE until at least 2012.
o The Club’s Wimbledon ticket ballot for 2009 will only be open to British Tennis Members.
o Sign up on line at www.lta.org.uk/membership ; or collect a membership form from the Clubhouse.
o Our aim is to get 70% of our membership to become members.
o The junior membership has achieved it.
We would urge all senior members who have not signed up to PLEASE do so
THINGS TENNIS
Early in the season, a Mixed American tournament followed by a Fish and Chip supper proved extremely popular. Good tennis, good food and a fine sunny evening. Thanks to Mick Freeland for organising this.
In June the traditional Ladies Evening Tournament and Supper was again well supported. The tennis was good and the cuisine was excellent. Well done Ladies for all the wonderful food contributions.
The Mixed American Tournament and Barbecue in July for whatever reason did not initially bring forth the usual crop of entries. But Beverley saved the day, ringing round for support, and despite the weather everyone had a great evening.
Steve’s Evening & Tournament. Twenty-four hardy players turned up on a wet and windy Saturday afternoon in early September. The tournament began optimistically, but the weather defeated us and play was abandoned. However the disappointment with the tennis was soon made up for in the evening. Thirty-one people sat down for an excellent four-course dinner. What a treat and fantastic value at £10.00 per head. Many, many thanks to Jackie and Roger, who once again excelled with a delightful menu, and thanks also to Becky for manning the bar.
CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS
The weather in the days preceding the finals was pretty awful. Competitors attempting to play outstanding matches did not enjoy the best of conditions. However Sunday morning 14 September was sunny and warm. The competitions began with Ladies and Junior Girls Singles and Ladies Vets Doubles. By mid-day there was
an excellent supporting crowd of spectators, and so it continued throughout the day. The winners were:
LADIES SINGLES Laura Mineards, Runner-up Catherine Thompson
GIRLS 18 AND UNDER SINGLES Alice Markstein, Runner-up Ellie Hall
GIRLS 14 AND UNDER SINGLES Chrissie Shortland, Runner-up Alice Johns.
LADIES VETS DOUBLES Liz Hogg and Catherine Windus Runners-up Ann Goldthorpe and Dilys Wooding.
Next came the Men’s and Junior Boys’ Singles and Men’s Vets Doubles. The winners were:
MEN’S SINGLES Ben Foster, Runner-up Dean Gayton
BOYS 18 AND UNDER SINGLES Sam Wheatley, Runner-up James Williams
BOYS 14 AND UNDER SINGLES Arthur Eyles, Runner-up Aaron Docherty.
MEN’S VETS DOUBLES Tony Pratt and Ian Masters, Runners-up Royston Williams and Mark Webb.
At 3.00pm the spectators were treated to a feast of doubles. The winners were:
MEN’S DOUBLES Barry Wilson and Dave Garrett, Runners-up Dean Gayton and Ben Foster
LADIES DOUBLES Laura Mineards and Eleanor Thompson, Runners-up Liz Heathfield and Andrea Moore.
MIXED VETS DOUBLES Tony Pratt and Ann Goldthorpe, Runners up Barry Searle and Sue Furneaux.
Finally the Mixed Doubles and Mixed Handicap competition rounded off an excellent day of tennis. The winners were:
MIXED DOUBLES Dave Garrett and Laura Mineards, Runners-up Barry Wilson and Catherine Thompson.
MIXED HANDICAP DOUBLES Scott Fleming and Theresa Harper, Runners-up Barry Searle and Cathi Ashby.
Thanks to the competitors, spectators, bar staff, tennis committee and to Beverley and Clare for manning the Barbecue, and all who contributed to making this a finals day to be remembered.
LEAGUE TENNIS RESULTS 2008
Ladies A Division 1 winners, Ladies B 3rd in Division 1, Ladies C 7th in Division 1.
Ladies D Division 2 winners, Ladies E 7th in Division 2, Ladies F 5th in Division 3.
Men’s A were 2nd in Division 1. This by the narrowest margin (one point) the contest for the top spot going to the wire, with the last match of the season played out against Northampton on their home territory. The result was an honourable draw, but not quite enough to gain top spot. Well-done Lads.
Men’s B 5th in Division 1, Men’s C 9th in Division 1, Men’s D 5th in Division 2, Men’s E 6th in Division 2, Men’s F 8th in Division 3, Men’s G` 6th in Division 4.
LOOKING AHEAD
THURSDAY EVENING TENNIS FOR WINTER
The tennis committee will be actively promoting Thursday Evening for Mixed social tennis when the bar will also be open. Tennis from 6.30pm. Please give this your support as it promises to be a good social evening.
MEN’S & LADIES OPEN TOURNAMENT
It is proposed to run a Men’s and a Ladies Open Tournament next year, on Sunday April 26th. This date has been selected so that there is no clash with other established tournaments and will therefore start off the season of Open Tournaments in the area.
THE TENNIS COMMITTEE
Open tournaments - Home and Away
County’s players continued to support the Open Tournaments, both at the Club and at other Clubs in the area,
John Duff Open Mixed – 22 June 2008
We have had an Open Mixed Tournament for several years, but this year decided to name the tournament in memory of late John Duff, a very active and popular member of our Club.
A record 28 couples entered, several from our own club and other local clubs, but we also had entries from Rugby, Leicester Forest East and Warwick Boat Club. The event was organized by Theresa Harper and Cathi Ashby. There were four sections of seven couples, and the top two in each group qualified for the quarter finals. Dave Garrett and Laura and Barry Wilson and Catherine Thompson reached the semi-finals, whilst the eventual winners were Kate Goodwin and Ben Foster, who beat a pair from Dallington in the final.
Although the rain kept away, the players had to put up with very windy conditions, but still managed to produce some high quality tennis.
A superb lunch was provided, later followed by tea and cakes (donated by club members, all greatly appreciated.
To round off the event, the trophies were presented by John’s widow, Liz.
Many thanks to everyone who helped with the food and organisation on the day.
Ladies Invitation Tournament
On a sunny day in August (a rarity) 36 ladies from 9 different clubs turned up for the above tournament.
As in the previous 5 years, the tennis was played in a social but competitive atmosphere. The semi-finals being between three NCLTC couples and one from Rugby, finishing in a final between Rugby and NCLTC, with Theresa Harper and Rita Freeland managing to win the Tournament.
Thanks to Julie for preparing a superb lunch accompanied by the Bar, ably supervised by Bev. Also Mick for running the tournament on the day and keeping all the Ladies on their toes!
Lastly, thanks Ladies for your support.
Rita (Freeland)
MEN’S 90+ TOURNAMENT 2008
On Sunday 21st September, we held our 11th 90+ Tournament which was supported by 18 couples from 12 different clubs around the county and beyond. The Club looked splendid in the early morning light and we were fortunate in having one of the few days this summer where the sun shone from start to finish.
After kicking off the day with bacon rolls for all players and supporters, the tennis started on schedule at 10:15am. As the accent on this event is to provide a full days tennis plus ample time for socialising and catching up with players from other areas, we also provided a Wimbledon Quiz to be completed during the day, Sunday papers, a hot lunch with tea and coffee being available all day – not forgetting the bar being open from midday.
The sections were completed by 4:30pm and we were delighted to see one of our senior members Alan McPherson, ably supported by Dave Garrett, making it through to the semi-finals. Having beaten them in their section, they just lost out to the eventual winners Tony Pratt and Ian Masters, who beat the father and son pairing of Barry and Jon Searle.
This was the first year we were able to provide a cash prize for the winners and runners-up and many thanks are given to our anonymous donor. A big thank you also to the wives and helpers who assisted Jackie in her roll as Chef / Bar Steward / Score Keeper and general overseer on a very long but successful day.
The day finished at 6:30pm with the presentation and prize giving and it was heartening to receive, once again, many encouraging comments from the respective participants on our organisation and sociability, which NCLTC is noted for.
We hope that newer and younger club members will partake next year and see another aspect of the club and all it has to offer.
Roger Aran
THE WARWICK MEN’S AND LADIES DOUBLES TOURNAMENT 29 JUNE 2008
Competing were Tony Pratt and James W, Ashley Maddy and Mike Musson,
Barry Wilson and Dave Garrett and Johnny Searle with Charley Swallow from Northampton Club. The ladies teams were Cathi Ashby and Dilys Wooding, Theresa Harper and Sylvia Duffy and Catherine Thompson with Pippa Fisher from Northampton Club, and Laura Mineards with Alex Fisher, also from Northampton.
All our teams did very well in the preliminary rounds with all four Mens teams making it into the quarter finals. The Mens final was contested between Johnny Searle and Charley Swallow against a couple from Warwick and the County/Northampton team came out worthy winners. The ladies team of Catherine Thompson and Pippa Fisher also ran out very good winners of the final, again beating the best from Warwick. Our teams had very good support from our travelling Members and apart from a few drops of rain (which was not enough to interrupt play) the weather was kind to us and of course the setting by the river was perfect.
A very good Tournament following our own excellent one.
The superb setting at Warwick was also host to a Mixed Tournament in September, and County pairs put up a good performance again.
James W and Sarah Vickers, and Kate Goodwin and Ben Foster made the quarter-finals; Tony Pratt and Ann Barr(Abington) and Scott Fleming and Cassie Dix made the semis, whilst the winners were Dave Garrett and Laura Mineards.
Long Buckby Men’s, Ladies and Mixed - July
Barry Wilson and Dave Garrett made the final. Neil Caswell and Tim from Abington made the Vet’s final. Catherine Thompson and Pippa Fisher (Northampton) made the Ladies final and Dave Brown and Suzanne Clark made the Mixed Final.
Stony Stratford Mixed – July
A good turnout from County on a rare hot day. James W and Sarah Vickers made the quarter-finals, Tony Pratt and Alex Fisher (Northampton) made the semis, and Catherine Thompson and Barry Wilson lost in a close final.
At Stony Stratford Men’s Tournament in September, James W and Tony Pratt made the semi-final.
Finally, Jonny Searle and Ben Foster won a tournament at the new indoor courts in Peterborough.
Look out for details of our own Men’s and Ladies Open Tournaments on 26th April.