LATC Newsletter March 2012
So, here we are – a new tennis season is upon us. Finally, the weather that has made the courts unappetising (not to say unplayable) for the last few months seems to be behind us, and it will soon be time to see if we remember whether it’s the pointy end or the stringy end of the racket that we’re supposed to hold.
While tennis in the early part of March is actively encouraged, the “official” start to the season will be on Saturday March 31st. There won’t be a tournament as such on the day, but in this year of Olympics and a Diamond Jubilee, there will be a “red whiteblue” theme, and the player whose outfit best expresses this theme will win a small prize. Please come along from 2pm, and help us get another season underway with a bang! If this all sounds worryingly sociable, there will be plenty of tournaments to get involved with, too, and the dates for these are as follows:
SUN15 APRILAMERICAN TOURNAMENT
SAT12 MAYMIXED DOUBLES
SUN10 JUNEMENS DOUBLES
SUN24 JUNELADIES DOUBLES
SAT30 JUNEMENS SINGLES
SAT14 JULYCAPTAINS DAY
SAT11 AUGAMERICAN TOURNAMENT
SAT1 SEPTFINALS DAY-SUN IF WET
SUN7 OCTCHAIRMANS DAY
NB.ALL THE ABOVE TO START AT 1PM PROMPT
MAINTENANCE
Anyone seeing the club for the first time since Christmas won’t fail to notice a few differences around the place, and it won’t surprise many to learn that the various improvements haven’t just happened by themselves. There have been regular working parties on Friday afternoons throughout the latter part of the winter, and a fair bit has been achieved, although there is still much to be done. In no particular order (and if anyone’s favourite project has been left out of the list, sorry!):
The shed has been emptied, dismantled, moved to the bottom court and reassembled next to the water tank, on a purposely laid concrete platform.
A new drainage pipe has been buried under the near court, next to the bowls club gate, to alleviate some of the regular flooding of that court.
New line tapes have been sourced, and repairs carried out the top 2 courts.
Dressing has been added to the courts, and rolling has now begun. Court 1 is not playable at the time of writing, but should be very soon.
New windbreaks/sightscreens have been obtained to cover the fencing on the far side of the top courts. With support from our neighbour on that side, and also the generous sponsorship from N-Legal Solicitors and Royal Acres Financial, these not inexpensive items will not require any direct financing from club funds.
Various plumbing repairs have been carried out, mostly to fix problems caused at least in part by severe frosts. Burst pipes, broken taps – you name them, Derek has muttered rude things at them…
COACHING PROJECT
Recently, the club were approached by Paul Bayliss, a tennis coach based at Penns Lane TC, with a view to using LATC’s facilities as a base for coaching juniors from local schools. Essentially, this would entail giving over a couple of sessions per week (at times when the courts are hardly ever used) to Paul and his team of professionals, and in return, the club would get some extra income and a greatly improved profile in the community. Furthermore, much of the LTA’s funding is not available unless a club has a regular junior membership, and so the potential benefits of such an arrangement are very great indeed. Discussions between Paul and LATC’s committee are still ongoing, but it is hoped that we can reach a mutually beneficial arrangement for the coming season.
CLUB WEBSITE
Don’t forget that LATC now has its own website - . It’s still a work in progress, so any contributions, photographic or otherwise, will be welcomed. Contact Leanne Rowe if you have anything to offer.
MATCHES
It probably seems awfully early, but with March comes the start of competitive matches. Once again, we have a team in the Spring League, and most team players will have the chance to play in one or two matches to try to regain their tennis legs. The real matches start a bit later, with most of the summer leagues kicking off in May. Anyone wanting to play competitively is therefore encouraged to get down the club ASAP and start impressing the captains with their silky skills! Throughout the season, you can keep up-to-date with the scores and statistics via , a veritable treasure-trove of Midlands tennis info.
Finally, this is totally unrelated to our own leagues, but here’s a couple of useful sites if you want improve your game: and If you think you know how to hit the ball properly, think again! Seriously, even if you think coaching’s not for you, take a browse around the (mostly free) stuff on these sites. They’re packed with useful and clear info. Other tennis sites are available, of course, but several LATC players already try to pick up tips from these two, so why not take a peek?
Anyway… that’s far too much waffle for a Monday night. Hopefully, you’ve all kept yourselves fit over the winter, and we look forward to seeing you on court soon!
Finally finally… if anyone’s looking for a cheap reliable car, the author of this newsletter is looking to dispose of his 1999 Ford Cougar. Sensible offers in the mid-£700s invited.
See Steve King for more details.
Newsletter produced on behalf of the committee by Stephen King : – 07973 523304