Is it me, or can we feel the buzz of anticipation in the air around our tennis club? Whisper it softly, but as we move into Spring we can look forward to shedding the winter sports gear and playing a few sets of tennis with the sun on our backs!
There’s also a buzz about the club as we’ve just reached a milestone of 250 members–something we agreed to aim for with our coach, Kevin Durney when he joined us a couple of years ago. Kevin was recently voted LTA Somerset Coach of the Year and has helped us to gain the LTA’s TennisMark+ accreditation–a best practice standard showing our club is ‘safe to practice with an all-encompassing programme’, achievements he and the club can be proud of.
At our recent AGM, our committee reported that the club is in good financial shape, and that we continue to invest in the facilities, having completed pressure washing of all courts, provided new nets and we’ve also placed an order for all new floodlights that should be installed before the summer leagues begin. I would like to thank our committee and other members who all contribute to take the club from strength to strength.
Speaking of league tennis, our teams are looking forward to the new season with two new captains (Dave Mills and Julia Nest), a strong batch of players to pick from and an extra ladies team this year. The men’s team should be strengthened by the return of John Cooksley – hopefully in a playing and coaching capacity. No pressure guys, but John helped Wells A Team win the league a couple of years back! Good luck to all teams as the season gets underway.
So whether you’re a new member enjoying some coaching or social tennis, a junior wanting to see how good you can get, or a fiercely competitive old timer seeking to blast your way to glory, enjoy the buzz. See you on court (hopefully in the sunshine)!
Dan Cooke
Chairman, Wells TC
March 2017
Captains and competitions
We’ve welcomed two new captains to lead our competitive teams for the new season. They are both currently picking teams and getting playing schedules organised.
Dave Mills has been a regular on court at Wells since 2009 and is looking forward to getting the A team upwards in division two and supporting the B team in their new promotion to division four. The mens C and D teams will be facing each other for an inter – club show – down in division six.
Julia Nest was a beginner to tennis when she joined in 2013 and has taken advantage of coaching and making the most of playing time to lead the women’s teams this year. She’ll be getting behind the A team who are meeting the challenge of promotion to division one; the B and C teams in the same divisions as last year and encouraging a new fourth team to enjoy their first experiences of competitive team tennis.
Our teams had a disappointing winter season in the North Somerset League so will be hoping to pick up match wins when the summer season starts in April. A team playing in division three have had a tough season with injuries and have only won one match. The B team playing in division five won two matches, but remain likely to be relegated.
Coaching update
This year we’re taking part in the LTA’s Tennis for Kids campaign. The initiative is aimed to inspire children aged from five to eight to pick up a racquet for the first time. I’ll be leading a six – week course that comes with a free racquet for all participants. As part of the briefing for the campaign I had the opportunity to meet both Dan Bloxham (Head Coach of the All England Club) and Leon Smith (Captain of Team GB). More to follow when I’ve arranged dates.
You may have seen John Cooksley around on court over the last few months. He is part of our performance team set up, specifically taking care of raising standards with our junior players. Also to look forward to is a series of four grade five tournaments with LTA referee Dave Greenwood for our juniors and our U14s participation in the Road to Wimbledon challenge.
With league tennis coming soon I’m currently arranging practice sessions for all teams and look out for details on coaching for children during the Easter holidays.
Kevin Durney
Head Coach
Open Day April 22nd
Once again Wells Tennis Club has joined forces with BTEC students at the Blue School to help plan, organise and run our Open Day. It’s a great opportunity to introduce friends and family to the club and we’d love more members to get involved with volunteering on the day, providing cakes and sandwiches and distributing flyers. If you think you can help please contact Vicky Flicker by email m.flicker323@btinternet.com
Diary Dates
April
Wed 5th: Skittles night and Wimbledon draw
Sun 9th: U10s LTA tournament
Mon 17th : Easter tournament
Sat 22nd : Club Open Day
Sun 23rd : Wells ladies vs Torquay ladies
Mon 24th : North Som League Men’s matches start
Tues 25th : North Som League Ladies matches start
May
Sun 7th : U12 LTA tournament
Sun 28th : Ladies President Tournament
June
Sun 4th : U14 LTA tournament
Sun 18th : 100+ mixed tournament
July
Sun 9th : U16 LTA tournament
Sat 22nd : Great British Tennis Weekend