CHAIRMAN’S REPORT 2005
The year of 2005 produced many fine days of tennis playing weather, and our courts were busy as always.
It has been an eventful year beginning with the introduction of grading following a proposal and discussion at the AGM in January.
In the end, the attempt did not even get off the ground because members did not agree with the grading criteria as applied to themselves and in many cases took it very personally. When the proposals were withdrawn, people were happy to forget about the whole episode. I do not believe that we lost any members as a result and the atmosphere at club sessions has continued to be friendly and tolerant.
However, the outcome still leaves many of the better players feeling that their particular needs are not being altogether catered for. There is too wide a gap in the standard of team players and the ordinary club player at the moment. If the club is not to lose the better players, some form of grading sooner or later is inevitable.
The 2005 tennis calendar began with an American Tournament and Tea in April and finished in the same way at the end of November – which was also Paul’s swan song. They are fun events, open to all.
In spring, a Doubles ladder was set-up to join the Singles ladders both run by Mervyn who maintains the club website and organises the Winter League. Both ladders provoked an enthusiastic response when they first appeared and give members a chance to play against a broader spectrum of members.
2004/5’s Winter League took off with a struggle in mid November 2004, with 8 teams, but ultimately worked very well, and was won by the team of Ros, Bert, Darren and Sue. The enjoyable series came to a fitting conclusion with a tennis event, tea and prizes organised by Mervyn at a weekend in late April.
Winter League 2005/6 kicked off at the beginning of October. Twelve teams are involved who each have to play 11 matches before the end of March 2006 – an Everest for those of us who have a life outside the club! Any team who manages to play them all deserves a medal for stamina. Mervyn persuaded most of the women team players to sign up, which is excellent – so new life has been breathed into an event. Let us hope that they won’t be put off by the numerous matches.
The two Ladies Invitation events in May and October this year were organised as usual by the Jordans. These Sunday afternoon tournaments with tea, have become established favourites, are a lot of fun and are hotly contested. If you want to shine, follow the old adage - choose a good partner!
Several times throughout the summer Kate Robinson and Judi Smowton organised BarBQ’s to round off the Saturday afternoon session. These were popular events and also produced some welcome revenue for the club. Judi Smowton has been an excellent social secretary organising the June walk with John Farrar and working with the Preston Cross in July and Beryl Eiseneggar in November to stage 2 quizzes. The November quiz presided over by Peter Eiseneggar and held in the clubhouse is always a very relaxed noisy evening with a lot of banter.
The junior tournaments this year were very successful. The Closed tournament which began in May and culminated in July is well organised by Peter Grabaskey and produced some fine matches. The standard at the top is excellent and we are now seeing older boys admitted into the senior teams. Unfortunately, we do not yet have any girls gaining entry into the Ladies teams, but we have got some promising girls players coming up.
Our Junior Open Tournament was well supported this year and there were over 100 entries into 11 events. It was a case of sunshine and showers all week. Players scurried between courts and clubhouse in an attempt to win their matches and yet stay reasonably dry. There were many players from other clubs and in all 138 matches were played. Entry fees of over £800 were collected. This was the 6th and most successful year for this tournament.
The Adult Club tournament’s format was extended so that there were a few more rounds before the top team members joined in. This encouraged entries from members who had not participated before. The tournament ran from late June onwards to the September Finals Day.
Finals day on 3rd September dawned fine and hot. Too hot for the Ladies Singles finalists playing at noon, in the heat of the day, who wilted and had to be coaxed back to play after each change of ends. In fact the whole day became very drawn out, the last final concluding at sunset. However, since the tournament trophies had not been collected on time, there was fortunately no presentation ceremony. It has now been postponed to the AGM. Dan Carpenter, the organiser had a somewhat stressful day, but nevertheless managed to win all the three finals he had entered. Congratulations!
Our teams performed well in the local leagues this year, in particular the Men’s Second team came top in the Dorking and Leatherhead third division, and will be promoted. The presentation ceremony is at 7.30pm on January 25th at Leatherhead Clubhouse. Our Surrey’s Mens and Ladies teams have also been promoted.
I wish to thank all the members who have served on the Committee this year, and in some cases many years. Christine Jones has been on the Committee as long as I have which is since January 1995 and has been an excellent and meticulous Membership secretary. Without such persons, the club would founder.
This brings me to my annual plea for more volunteers to come onto the Committee so that some of us can retire.
Thanks also goes to members who have committed to regular tasks for the club such as Janet Carr who ensures the supply of squash, paper towels, tea and coffee, Mike Hinchey and Tony Collett who manage the supply of balls, Heather and Brian who look after the garden, Bernard Burbidge who has carried out repairs to court fittings, Liz Meikle who buys the special grey refuse sacks from Mole Valley and all those who see to the bins every week.
As we reach the end of 2005, it is with sadness that we say goodbye to some long standing friends – such as Paul Marshall, and Bob Brooker.
Paul began work at the club in February 1998. He was the club’s first fulltime tennis coach and has been a great asset to it. The club wish him and his family well in their new life in Bude, Cornwall.
The Committee has recruited 2 new coaches who we are sure will carry on the good work. (See introductory letter and offer from our new coaches)
Bob Brooker of course, had been a member for many years. In his last letter, written on the eve of being taken into hospital, he referred to the great pleasure playing tennis with his friends at the club had given him – particularly in his latter years.
Let us hope that we can all play tennis till we are 90!
Irene Gawne
Chairman
23rd December 2005