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Spring Newsletter 2024
Dear Members
First newsletter of 2024! This latest newsletter is packed as always so please read through to the end.
Enjoy your time on court now the evenings are so much lighter!
FCTC Committee
Event highlights so far in 2024
Thanks to the fabulous Judy D'Arcy and the rest of the social committee we have run 3 events so far and it's only April!
Frosty Social Tournament in January had everyone running off the turkey, with Tony D'Arcy cooking up a hot dog storm on the BBQ. Thanks for organising us Judy. The sun was shining as you can see from the picture, and a terrific afternoon's tennis to get the season started.
Easter BBQ the week before Easter had a huge turnout playing on the Sunday morning followed by 40 hungry players tucking into (you guessed it) a BBQ in the main clubhouse.
Well done Judy and Tony ably helped by Tracie Hicks it it was definitely hot in that kitchen while the rest of us enjoyed plenty of wine and chat. And great work Tim you not only helped organise but were an MC extraordinare - Tim's quiz explains the hands in the air in case you were wondering!
And just this month we have already had the Grand National Social Tournament with a lot of fun on court, followed by a well deserved return to the Bar to watch the race for sweepstake. Thank you to Penny McP for running this it was great fun.
Events coming up: Quiz night and Social Tournament
And the events don't stop there please put the following in your diary:
Quiz night in the Main Sports Club Bar Monday 20th May
To further develop our social activities. we are excited to invite you to an additional fun tournament on Saturday, the 13th of July. After the tournament we can move to the bar and Clubhouse to watch and enjoy the ladies Wimbledon Championship Final 2024.
We are planning a different format this time - King or Queen of the Court - the event will be open to the first 24 players to register on the day. More information to follow shortly - please save the date for now!
Pavilion Refurb latest
You can all see the pavilion is looking so much better! Thank you Sue for having driven this update.
As well as the new kitchen and flooring, the wooden doors in the toilet area of the pavilion have been taken down and sanded by Alan and varnished by Maggie and Sue.
We plan to replace the existing toilets and washbasins and lay new flooring next. This is currently booked in for Wednesday 24th April, so please plan on there being no toilet facilities in the pavilion from 22nd-26th April.
In addition a new honours board is now ready and will be installed soon. Will feature all the most recent Club champs senior winners!
And finally, the outside of the toilet area will be repaired as soon as the weather improves.
Wanted ...
If anyone has an under counter small fridge in good condition that they no longer want, please let Sue know. Also needed, a large metal catering teapot.
Play Your Way to Wimbledon
We are taking part in this LTA competition for the 2nd year in a row which covers both Junior Singles/Doubles as well as senior doubles.
There have been some great matches underway. Judy is sending out regular reminders to everyone registered, please do adhere to the deadlines for each round. As this is an LTA competition we have zero flexibility on the dates.
Excited to see who will be going through to the next round and the Regional stages. Last year we did have one junior who got all the way to play on the courts at Wimbledon so it can really happen!
Club Championships 2024
Please start to get ready for the Club Champs this year! Matches will start on Saturday 1st June, with finals day Saturday 14th September. We will plan to run the champs using the LTA tournament software that we are using for the Play Your Way to Wimbledon as this goes then towards rankings this is why we are testing out (thank you Peter St Lawrence for all your patience with this!).
For that reason we will need you to get thinking about your pairings early. We'll need admissions towards the end of May, exact details to follow.
There will be 5 groups:
Winter league match round up
We fielded multiple teams in the Bucks league as well as the FCWL. Thank you to all the players who participated, at times the weather was dreadful this winter and a lot of commitment shown. Here the summary of the season:
Mens Singles: Won 6, lost 1 (top of the league we believe congratulations team!)
Ladies Doubles 1's (vets): Won 4, Lost 1, Drawn 1
Ladies Doubles 2's (vets): Lost 5, Drawn 1
Mens Doubles (vets): Won 2, Lost 6
Medley Doubles 1's FCWL: Won 2, Lost 3
Medley Doubles 2's FCWL: Won 3, Lost 2
The good news is we have started the summer season strong, with the Medley 1's securing a comprehensive 8-0 win against Hambledon at home on the 14th April. Good luck to all the players who have volunteered to play in the teams this summer.
New Path alongside courts coming soon / Shoe changing reminder
We were successful in securing a grant for a new path to run from the Pavilion that will ensure you won't any longer be getting your feet muddy when you walk from courts 1/2 through to 3/4 and 5/6. Thank you again to Tim Needham who did the grant application and Alan Polding who is organising it.
The path works are planned to start early June once the weather is better and equipment can be brought onto the fields.
Even when that path is installed though, please we need to remind you that a shoe change is ALWAYS needed when you use the tiger turf on courts 1 and 2. Mud is the enemy of these extremely expensive courts. We are actively fundraising for floodlights on courts 3 and 4 so don't want to have to spend any extra money on the top courts.
Head Coach's update
The new term has fully started since Easter and Head Coach Alison is busy with group and individual lessons. A full program is running this term. See below for the schedule, coming soon also
- Cardio Tennis
- Adult beginners / improvers
- Adult Intermediates
- Junior Matchplay
- Open Day
- School Tennis
As Alison is still pending treatment on her shoulder she is unable to do full hitting in 1:1 training but is being helped by one of our talented juniors Nikash who is now supporting Alison with her coaching.
Nikash recently completed his LTA Level 1 coaching qualification and is currently working on Level 2. Alex and Millie have also recently completed their LTA Level 1 training which means Alison will continue to have great support in the future.
As always please contact Alison directly via [email protected] or via https://prosharptennis.co.uk
Safeguarding Reminder
Just a reminder that all key safeguarding policies, notices and contact details are available / on display in the pavilion, along with the accident book. In addition, all parents of older juniors (age 13+) should have received a copy of our Guidance for Junior Members and Parents.
We all have a shared responsibility to retain a safe and inclusive environment for everyone, so if you have any concerns, please contact our Welfare Officer, Kirstin Stephens or speak to any Committee Member.
See you on court soon!
FCTC Committee
Dear Members
First newsletter of 2024! This latest newsletter is packed as always so please read through to the end.
- Event Highlights: Frosty Social Tournament, Easter lunch and Grand National Social Tournament
- Future events for your diary: Quiz night Monday 20th May and Social tournament 13th July
- Pavilion refurb latest - no toilets available 22nd - 26th April
- Winter league match reports
- Play your way to Wimbledon latest
- Club Championship dates
- Head Coach's update
- Safeguarding reminder
- New path work starts 3rd June and please please change your shoes
Enjoy your time on court now the evenings are so much lighter!
FCTC Committee
Event highlights so far in 2024
Thanks to the fabulous Judy D'Arcy and the rest of the social committee we have run 3 events so far and it's only April!
Frosty Social Tournament in January had everyone running off the turkey, with Tony D'Arcy cooking up a hot dog storm on the BBQ. Thanks for organising us Judy. The sun was shining as you can see from the picture, and a terrific afternoon's tennis to get the season started.
Easter BBQ the week before Easter had a huge turnout playing on the Sunday morning followed by 40 hungry players tucking into (you guessed it) a BBQ in the main clubhouse.
Well done Judy and Tony ably helped by Tracie Hicks it it was definitely hot in that kitchen while the rest of us enjoyed plenty of wine and chat. And great work Tim you not only helped organise but were an MC extraordinare - Tim's quiz explains the hands in the air in case you were wondering!
And just this month we have already had the Grand National Social Tournament with a lot of fun on court, followed by a well deserved return to the Bar to watch the race for sweepstake. Thank you to Penny McP for running this it was great fun.
Events coming up: Quiz night and Social Tournament
And the events don't stop there please put the following in your diary:
Quiz night in the Main Sports Club Bar Monday 20th May
- Quiz night hosted by your very own Chair Peter St Lawrence
- Entry fee £5 please bring along your friends, neighbours to make up a table of 6 - no need to be a member
- Start time 7pm for a prompt 7.30pm quiz kick off
To further develop our social activities. we are excited to invite you to an additional fun tournament on Saturday, the 13th of July. After the tournament we can move to the bar and Clubhouse to watch and enjoy the ladies Wimbledon Championship Final 2024.
We are planning a different format this time - King or Queen of the Court - the event will be open to the first 24 players to register on the day. More information to follow shortly - please save the date for now!
Pavilion Refurb latest
You can all see the pavilion is looking so much better! Thank you Sue for having driven this update.
As well as the new kitchen and flooring, the wooden doors in the toilet area of the pavilion have been taken down and sanded by Alan and varnished by Maggie and Sue.
We plan to replace the existing toilets and washbasins and lay new flooring next. This is currently booked in for Wednesday 24th April, so please plan on there being no toilet facilities in the pavilion from 22nd-26th April.
In addition a new honours board is now ready and will be installed soon. Will feature all the most recent Club champs senior winners!
And finally, the outside of the toilet area will be repaired as soon as the weather improves.
Wanted ...
If anyone has an under counter small fridge in good condition that they no longer want, please let Sue know. Also needed, a large metal catering teapot.
Play Your Way to Wimbledon
We are taking part in this LTA competition for the 2nd year in a row which covers both Junior Singles/Doubles as well as senior doubles.
There have been some great matches underway. Judy is sending out regular reminders to everyone registered, please do adhere to the deadlines for each round. As this is an LTA competition we have zero flexibility on the dates.
Excited to see who will be going through to the next round and the Regional stages. Last year we did have one junior who got all the way to play on the courts at Wimbledon so it can really happen!
Club Championships 2024
Please start to get ready for the Club Champs this year! Matches will start on Saturday 1st June, with finals day Saturday 14th September. We will plan to run the champs using the LTA tournament software that we are using for the Play Your Way to Wimbledon as this goes then towards rankings this is why we are testing out (thank you Peter St Lawrence for all your patience with this!).
For that reason we will need you to get thinking about your pairings early. We'll need admissions towards the end of May, exact details to follow.
There will be 5 groups:
- Ladies and mens Singles
- Ladies and mens Doubles
- Mixed Doubles
Winter league match round up
We fielded multiple teams in the Bucks league as well as the FCWL. Thank you to all the players who participated, at times the weather was dreadful this winter and a lot of commitment shown. Here the summary of the season:
Mens Singles: Won 6, lost 1 (top of the league we believe congratulations team!)
Ladies Doubles 1's (vets): Won 4, Lost 1, Drawn 1
Ladies Doubles 2's (vets): Lost 5, Drawn 1
Mens Doubles (vets): Won 2, Lost 6
Medley Doubles 1's FCWL: Won 2, Lost 3
Medley Doubles 2's FCWL: Won 3, Lost 2
The good news is we have started the summer season strong, with the Medley 1's securing a comprehensive 8-0 win against Hambledon at home on the 14th April. Good luck to all the players who have volunteered to play in the teams this summer.
New Path alongside courts coming soon / Shoe changing reminder
We were successful in securing a grant for a new path to run from the Pavilion that will ensure you won't any longer be getting your feet muddy when you walk from courts 1/2 through to 3/4 and 5/6. Thank you again to Tim Needham who did the grant application and Alan Polding who is organising it.
The path works are planned to start early June once the weather is better and equipment can be brought onto the fields.
Even when that path is installed though, please we need to remind you that a shoe change is ALWAYS needed when you use the tiger turf on courts 1 and 2. Mud is the enemy of these extremely expensive courts. We are actively fundraising for floodlights on courts 3 and 4 so don't want to have to spend any extra money on the top courts.
Head Coach's update
The new term has fully started since Easter and Head Coach Alison is busy with group and individual lessons. A full program is running this term. See below for the schedule, coming soon also
- Cardio Tennis
- Adult beginners / improvers
- Adult Intermediates
- Junior Matchplay
- Open Day
- School Tennis
As Alison is still pending treatment on her shoulder she is unable to do full hitting in 1:1 training but is being helped by one of our talented juniors Nikash who is now supporting Alison with her coaching.
Nikash recently completed his LTA Level 1 coaching qualification and is currently working on Level 2. Alex and Millie have also recently completed their LTA Level 1 training which means Alison will continue to have great support in the future.
As always please contact Alison directly via [email protected] or via https://prosharptennis.co.uk
Safeguarding Reminder
Just a reminder that all key safeguarding policies, notices and contact details are available / on display in the pavilion, along with the accident book. In addition, all parents of older juniors (age 13+) should have received a copy of our Guidance for Junior Members and Parents.
We all have a shared responsibility to retain a safe and inclusive environment for everyone, so if you have any concerns, please contact our Welfare Officer, Kirstin Stephens or speak to any Committee Member.
See you on court soon!
FCTC Committee