Dear Fishbourne Tennis Club member,
Welcome to the regular email update of the exciting things happening at your tennis club.
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
- 15 February P&D Summer League entry deadline (see below)
- 22 February, last date for FTC members to sign up for entry to 2019 Wimbledon ticket ballot (see below)
- 4 March FTC committee meeting, observers welcome
- 10 March, Sunday, Spring American Tournament, details of how to sign up shortly
- 14 March Portsmouth & District league AGM, The Avenue Club, Havant, FTC team captains and players welcome
- 22 March, Friday, evening – FTC Table Tennis night with supper, more details soon
- 17 April AGM AND WIMBLEDON TICKET BALLOT, Wednesday, 7.30pm for 8pm, Blue Room, Fishbourne Centre
IMPORTANT REMINDER ABOUT CLUB SESSIONS
Every club session at Fishbourne Tennis Club is a mix-in session with the priority always on mixed doubles. Members play in strict order of arrival or, if already played, length of time waiting off. Partners are random, as is the opposition. The FTC committee considers this to be by far the fairest system for ALL members and is unanimous in its determination to uphold this brilliant and inclusive club tradition. If you want to arrange a match or choose who you play with please ensure you do so outside club sessions.
Club sessions for 2019 are:
- Mondays 5-9pm (all four courts)
- Wednesdays 1-4pm (courts 2, 3 and 4)
- Thursdays 5-9pm (all four courts)
- Saturdays 9-1pm (all four courts)
- Sundays 1-5pm (courts 2, 3 and 4)
WHATS APP GROUP EXTENDED TO ALL CLUB SESSIONS
After the success of the Thursday WhatsApp group the free messaging system on your smartphone is being extended to cover all club sessions. If there is a better, easier way for members to find out how busy the courts are, what the weather is like and who’s there, we do not know of it. To be part of it, just text your name and mobile number to group administrator Steve Zsibrita on 07779 474 977, he will do the rest.
QUIZ NIGHT WINNERS
Twelve teams, 48 people, packed the hall for the 2019 FTC Quiz Night on 18 January which was won by Anne Kelly’s team, Ace High. Thanks to new quizmaster, Caroline James, for a most enjoyable evening.
‘RUSTY RACKETS’ COACHING CLASSES – HAVE YOUR SAY
FTC and coaching partner Generation Tennis are looking ahead to spring and the resumption of the popular rusty rackets coaching classes. Aimed at both FTC members and non-members, the classes get people of all ages who need a helping hand with their tennis up to speed in a fun way. The classes are particularly useful for people keen to get back into tennis after not playing for a while. If this is something you would be interested in attending please let us know, with your preference for day and time, by emailing: [email protected]
BEST OF LUCK TO OUR MATE JJ
Fishbourne Tennis Club wishes JJ Bone from our coaching partner Generation Tennis the very best wishes for his new career outside tennis coaching. His replacement at GT is Charlie. A warm welcome to him.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO CAPTAIN A CLUB LEAGUE TEAM?
Fishbourne Tennis Club is a major participant in the LTA’s Portsmouth & District League, with eight teams involving 30-40 club players in both winter and summer competitions. With four trophies and four runners-up awards at the most recent prize-giving, Fishbourne is more successful than ever, and it is a success the club is keen to build on. FTC is now preparing its entry for the P&D Summer League (deadline: 15 February) and is calling on members who would like to be considered as a team captain to get in touch without delay, by emailing [email protected] There are teams for weekday matches in the Masters tournament (over 45 women, over 50 men), and weekend games for adult players of any age.
MEN’S DOUBLES LADDER HOTTING UP
Daren Trigg and Tom Craddock are tying in first place in the men’s doubles winter tennis ladder at the halfway way point, with 112.5 points each. Chris Gosden and Lewis Minett are second on 103.5 points, with Simon Fallon and Dick Nicholson not far behind. At this point in the competition it’s anyone’s title. The ladder finishes on 31 March. It’s not too late to join in. All is explained on the website, click here to see more.
TIME RUNNING OUT TO SIGN UP FOR WIMBLEDON TICKETS
As an LTA-affiliated club Fishbourne Tennis Club members can enrol as BTMs (British Tennis Members) and be eligible to win Wimbledon tickets in the club’s ballot. If you are not a BTM or are a BTM but haven’t yet ticked the “opt in” box (something you must do every year) then your name will not be coming out of the barrel at the club’s ballot at the AGM on 17 April. Even if you do not want to go to Wimbledon please enrol as a BTM since the more BTMs we have the larger the club’s ticket allocation. Becoming a BTM “lite” member is quick, easy and free, and all done via the LTA website. For a guide on how to do it click here. If you are a BTM and need to opt in for 2019, you will need your British Tennis Membership username and password. Armed with that go to the website by clicking here.
FTC Committee
