Dear Fishbourne Tennis Club member,
Welcome to the latest regular email update of the exciting things happening at your tennis club.
FINALS DAY THIS SATURDAY
The club’s biggest day of the year kicks off at 11.00 on Saturday 1 September. There are eight finals to be played with the promise of some highly competitive tennis as the club’s top players take to the courts. There will be plenty of undercover spectator seating. The barbecue will be going, the bar will be open (from 12.00), and complimentary tea, coffee and soft drinks available. The trophy presentation is scheduled for 3.30. All are welcome: bring friends and family. Courts are open for club session between 9.00 and 11.00 only.
WHO WILL YOU BE SUPPORTING IN THE FINALS?
Here’s the 2018 Finals Day line-up:
- Men’s Singles – Tom Craddock v. Tom Dry
- Ladies’ Singles – Katy Bracher v. Rachel Dekker
- Men’s Doubles – Sam Hart and Tom Craddock v. Phil Tite and Chris Gosden
- Ladies’ Doubles – Sue Lord and Katy Bracher v. Kate Gurl and Rachel Dekker
- Mixed Doubles – Kate Gurl and Sam Hart v. Priscilla Pendle and Darren Triggs
- Vets65 Ladies’ Singles – Hilary Evershed v. Elizabeth Williams
- Vets65 Men’s Doubles – Brian Williams and David Lord v. Roy Hay and Gordon Read
- Vets65 Mixed Doubles – Cynthia Burnett and David Lord v. Hilary Evershed and Steve Bailey
AMERICAN TOURNAMENT – MEN REQUIRED
The American Tournament competition format is a sure-fire winner with everyone and because it’s all change every five games is a great way to play with different partners. It is all mixed doubles and the emphasis is very much on the fun side. The next competition is on Sunday 16 September between 9.30-1pm and still has six places available for men. It is just a couple of pounds to enter and there’s a barbecue afterwards. This is a great way for the club’s new members to see what FTC is all about! Sign up in the clubhouse or email [email protected]
FLOODLIGHTS – WORKS STARTS 15 OCTOBER
Extensive works to renew and upgrade the club’s electrical supply and install floodlights to Court 4 begins on Monday 15 October. All members please note that both Courts 3 and 4 will be closed between 15-26 October, possibly longer depending on the weather. This is one of the largest projects undertaken by FTC for the benefit of its members, and when complete will considerably enhance the club’s facilities for all-year-round tennis. Club sessions will naturally be busier during the work and everyone’s understanding is appreciated.
CHRISTMAS PARTY – WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE?
A barn dance? A DJ set? Or a band like the past few years? What would you support? Should it be a Friday or a Saturday evening? And what would you like to eat? How much should a ticket cost? The committee is throwing open all these questions and more for the FTC membership to have its say. So if you have a view, please email it to membership secretary Ivor, at [email protected]
AUTUMN CLUB SESSION AND ADULT COACHING SCHEDULE
Weekly mix-in club sessions for juniors and adults, just turn up and play (free to members, members’ guests £3 per session):
- Monday evening, 5pm – 9pm
- Wednesday afternoon, 2pm – 5pm
- Thursday evening, 5pm – 9pm
- Saturday morning, 9am – 1pm
- Sunday afternoon, 2pm – 5pm
Coaching with Generation Tennis (fees apply)
- Improvers: Tuesday evenings 6pm-7pm
- Rusty rackets: Tuesday evenings 7pm-8pm
- Men’s team coaching: Wednesday evenings 7pm-8.30pm
- Ladies’ team coaching: Friday mornings, 9am-10.30pm
Check availability for all classes at https://generationtennis.co or email [email protected]
A WORD ABOUT BALLS
Fishbourne Tennis Club is rare among tennis clubs in providing members with balls at no charge for use during club sessions. The balls are replaced regularly and are expensive – the club spends £650 a year on them – but we regard them as an essential service for members. In order that this may continue, we need to look after them. Please follow the FTC Balls Rules:
- Club sessions only – NOT for league matches, FTC championship matches or private games
- If you hit one out, go get it!
- Never mix club balls with old balls or other makes
- Always replace a full can in the cupboard after play
- Never leave balls out on court to get wet
- For practice hitting, use the baskets of old balls in the changing room
EIGHT TEAMS ENTERED FOR P&D WINTER LEAGUE
After the most successful season yet for Fishbourne in the LTA’s Portsmouth & District league, FTC is entering additional teams in the winter competition which gets under way at the beginning of October. This means that for FTC members keen on competitive league tennis (all doubles) there will be more opportunities to play than ever. The try-outs for the teams will happen in September on a date to be confirmed; meanwhile new members keen to join a team can email the club’s league coordinator at [email protected]
The teams and their captains are as follows:
Weekend games, no age limit:
- Men’s No1 Tom Craddock
- Men’s No2 Dick Nicholson
- Ladies Kate Gurl
- Mixed Cressida Williams
Weekday games, women 45+, men 50+
- Ladies No1 Mandy Davies
- Ladies No2 Nicola Dawtrey
- Mixed No1 Luke McEwen
- Mixed No2 Jazz Kimber
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
1 September, FTC Championships Finals Day (Sunday if wet). First match 11.00am
16 September, Sunday, 9.30am, American Tournament, new members especially welcome, sign up in clubhouse
24 September, Monday, 6pm, FTC committee meeting, observers welcome. Clubhouse
15 October Start of floodlights installation, Courts 3 and 4 closed
22 December, Saturday, fancy dress tennis followed by Christmas lunch and New Members reception (11.00-3pm) with complimentary buffet lunch, pay bar, Fishbourne Centre hall
18 January, Friday, 7pm, fish and chips and quiz night, Fishbourne Centre hall
FTC Committee
