Dear Member,
Club matters
The new membership initiative is now underway, with the offer of a free introductory package as a taster that will hopefully lead on to Trial and then Full Membership. Stuart Andrews is taking the lead and is initially targeting staff at Clifton College. We also want to promote the package in clubs, companies and other organizations, where individuals or groups of people might be persuaded to take an interest in the game – and there is a box of posters at the Club just waiting for you to distribute them!
Linked to the new initiative, we are trying to make visiting the Club a more enjoyable and rewarding experience for everyone. So is there a case for bringing back Night Pennants as well as having Club Nights? Would you be interested in weekly coaching clinics at various levels? Would you like the Pros to spend more time watching and commenting on games in progress? What else can we be doing to better the situation?
The car park barrier is beyond repair – it has served the Club well for more than 20 years, but must now be replaced. I am very grateful to, and would like to thank, Nick Ponsford for his very generous contribution towards the cost of the new barrier. Hopefully this will be installed in the next few weeks.
Tennis Matters
Inter Club Match Results
Unfortunately the match against the Hyde at the beginning of February was postponed because of the weather.
However Oxford visited us two weeks later and ended up overall winners by 4 -2. The results are as follows, with the Oxford names first:
Tim Goodacre bt Gordon McClure 9/5
Tim Goodacre & Chris Peri bt Chris Willows & Trish Morris 9/2
Chris Peri lost to Steve Taubman 8/9
Jonathan Clark bt Chris Willows 9/4
Jonathan Clark & DerekWilliams lost to Laurence Brook & Paul Butler 8/9
Derek Williams bt L Brook 9/4
Forthcoming matches
On Saturday 2nd March, 2 of our juniors, Dominic Bruton and Henry Taubman are travelling to Radley to play in the Peter Luck-Hille Cup. We wish them the best of luck and hope that they will have a great experience.
On Friday 8th March we are at home to the Old Etonians, with Julian Hemming as Match Manager.
On Saturday 9th March, Phil Moss will be leading a team against Radley, which is between Reading and Wallingford.
On Saturday 16th March we are at home to the Ladies Real Tennis Association, with a number of members having to decide whether to play for BRTC or for the opposition!
On Sunday 17th March we are at home to a team from Leamington Spa, with Matt Skidmore as Match Manager.
Although we had to postpone the match against Petworth House scheduled for on Saturday 2nd March, we are still hosting the Brigands, a visiting group of Petworth players, on Friday 29th March.
Tournaments
On Sunday 10th March we have our annual mixed handicap doubles tournament - The Ponsford Plate, which is always a great day out, with a very good lunch and a chance to get your name on the board!
PLEASE LET KK or BEN KNOW IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO TAKE PART IN ANY OF THESE MATCHES OR THE PONSFORD PLATE
Other tennis events
We have one ‘official’ taster session on the morning of Sunday 24th March but individual or group tasters can be arranged as required, providing the court is free.
Then there is a singles medal day open to under 30 handicaps Saturday 30th March and the Chairman’s Doubles, with a light lunch, on Sunday 31st March.
Plus, of course, the regular Monday and Wednesday Club nights – please book in with KK or Ben if you want to play - and the next box league starts will start the first week in March if anyone wants to enter – or withdraw!
So there are plenty of tennis to look forward to!
Social Events
There are no Club social events scheduled for March. However KK is keen to raise our profile in Clevedon and wants to get a team of 4-6 members to take part in a quiz night being organised the Clevedon Lawn Tennis Club on Friday 22nd March from 7 pm. More details, if you are interested, are available from KK.
Best wishes,
Claire