Lunesdale Lawn Tennis Club, Lancashire

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Welcome to Lunesdale Tennis

Dear Members

As a blizzard howls outside I think of Eric preparing his hallowed turf for the 2008 season and the glorious time we will have this year. It is only a few weeks away and so we are hastening to present this year’s programme and entice you to return your membership forms (to me), just as soon as possible.

The grass courts should be ready for play by the last weekend in April. We are aiming to have the first organised afternoon the following week, 4th May and then hope that, unlike last year, the weather allows us to welcome lots of new members on 11th May, with more mixing-in on 18th May.

You will then have earned a good supper (but don’t forget teas on the above dates) : Robert and Carole Webb have very kindly asked us to Longbarrow on 7th June – the diary provides all the details.

By then the season will be well under way and we will be able to celebrate the early successes of all the teams. We are proposing to field 2 Mixed teams in the Lancaster League and one in the Kendal League, as well as Men’s and Ladies teams in the Kendal League. Please indicate your preferences on the Form. Harry Ball, as Match Secretary is co-ordinating all these teams. He and our selection committee are anxious to accommodate everyone’s ambitions!

Junior Tennis

You will see that Dr. Jeremy Marriott’s Saturday morning sessions start again on 19th April and Junior coaching on 21st April. We are hoping to field both Under 14 and Under 16 teams (and possibly Under 12 as well) this year, which shows how successful and popular our Junior programme has been. Please let us know whether you would like to join any of these activities. The Club has a firm policy of encouraging junior tennis of all standards – if you have any queries please contact Dr. Marriott and I’m sure he will be able to help get you into action.

Social Tennis

Keith Soothill continues to provide our weekly diet of precisely matched and entertaining fours, For the uninitiated, they comprise of 8 games with each of the other players in the four. He provides a weekly programme through the winter months, with gentle commentary on the outstanding performances from the previous week and an unfathomable, but extremely effective draw to entertain us and entice us for the following week. It is established as a unique feature of the Club and has become very popular.

The Summer series starts on 2nd May, with diversions for “Speed Tennis” and “World Dingles Championship” on 21st May and 30th July respectively (I won’t attempt to explain them, but suggest you watch your e mails carefully for further information from Keith – on these events and for other Club news.

John Orry is our Club Captain this year - and he will let you know all about Captains Day on 22nd June as well as the Dinner on 6th October

Tournaments

Everyone is encouraged to enter all the (appropriate) competitions. Heather will be operating a “Plate” competition this year for all those early casualties in the men’s singles (at least) – to encourage entries of all standards. The Finals are on 30th August but it is hoped that all or most of the qualifying rounds can be played by the end of July. Please follow Heather’s programme to achieve this.

The Lunesdale Open (Rembrandt Trophy) was a great success last year and Robert and Carole Webb have agreed to organise it again this year on 26th July. Any standard of player is most welcome and we hope a lot more of our own members will enter, as well as those from other clubs.

We may also be holding a Junior Tournament so please watch out for more information.

Admin

The Committee would like to circulate all correspondence, including notices of the AGM, by e mail, to save postage costs etc. If you cannot receive by e mail then just leave the e mail box empty and we will assume you wish to continue receiving a mailing – otherwise we will use e mail only.

I will be asking for volunteers for various tasks in the next few weeks. Last year there wasn’t a great response to such a request but I am ever hopeful. We have a substantial membership who get a lot of fun from the Club – it would be good to see effort put back in from many of our members, not just the dedicated few… so please help if you can.

I am afraid that we are already missing Rosie Grant. I will take on her role as Membership Secretary for the time being and so please send the completed forms to me and I will dispatch shoe tags etc. as soon as possible. Shoe tags should be worn at all times. Anyone without a tag (apart from visiting teams) will be asked to pay a visitor’s fee. All visitors should enter their names in the visitor’s book provided.

If you are interested in entering the draw for tickets to Wimbledon (the one in the South!) please let Carole Webb know.

I’m looking forward to the Season and to seeing everyone have some really enjoyable tennis. Hope to see you.

Best Wishes

David Gillibrand
Chairman

General Information

* Please note there will not always be matches at these times, so check clubhouse for fixture listings.