This Newsletter is ONLY sent by email .  If needed, could you therefore share the newsletter with the rest of the family for whom we may not have individual email addresses!
P.S.  Printing out this Newsletter: background colours won’t print - to save on ink...

Welcome to SPRING TENNIS
at Folly Sports Park!

So, we’re finally looking forward to our first full Spring/Summer season at our new club in Folly Sports Park. It's been a long road, but at last we can make the most of our four new courts and Elbourn Arena (the three junior courts ), flood lights and new clubhouse;  to get in as much Tennis as we can, both social and competitive.

Our committee and coaches have been busy planning a fantastic program of events to make the most of our new home. Social events such as Pimms and Prizes evenings, British Tennis Week and much, much more. This newsletter gives you a flavour of what’s coming up – watch out for further announcements by email and on posters.

We are also changing the Thursday social tennis to encourage those who are coming back to tennis or starting club nights for the first time. We call them ROOKIE NIGHTS – see below. Please do come if you feel you need a confidence boost. ALL adults, students & juniors-with-passports welcome to attend the ROOKIE NIGHTS.

And our competitive programme has taken a leap forward, with a Faringdon Championships planned for the first time since the early eighties; there are now more teams playing competitive tennis for the club than ever before, and we have a feast of LTA sanctioned junior events – both our own, and county led – to introduce our younger players to competing.

A huge thank you to all of those involved in putting in the time and effort to making all of these things happen.

So, a new home and an expanding membership. As our club continues to grow, I’m keen to protect all those qualities that make Faringdon Tennis Club such a warm and friendly place to play tennis.

Mark Mobey

DATES COMING UP:

• Thurs 2nd April: First ROOKIE NIGHT
• Sun 12th April: NEWCOMERS EVENT
• Thurs 30th April: WIMBLEDON DRAW
• Tues 26 May - PIMMS & PRIZES
• Tues 26th May: Junior RED
• Weds 27th May: Junior ORANGE
• Thurs 28th May: Junior GREEN
• Tues 2nd June: Committee Meeting
• Sun 14th June: TENNIS FEST (during the
  LTA Great British Tennis Weekend)
• Tues 16th June - PIMMS & PRIZES
• Tues 14th July  - PIMMS & PRIZES
• Mon 27th July: Junior RED
• Tues 28th July: Junior ORANGE
• Weds 29th July: Junior GREEN
• Weds 12th Aug: Junior RED
• Thurs 13th Aug: Junior ORANGE
• Fri 14th Aug: Junior GREEN
• Weds 2nd Sept: Committee Meeting
• Friday 18th Sept: AGM & QUIZ
• Tues 1st Dec: - Committee Meeting

CLUB OFFICERS 2015

Chairman: Mark Mobey
Treasurer: Steve Perry
Secretary: Susanna Hunt

Committee Members:
Alan Elbourn,  Juliane Spiers, Kate Haysman, Steve Pugh,  Matt Williams, Sjoerd Vogt

MATCHES

Winter / Summer Match Secretary:
                          Anne Sawyer (01367) 870285

Winter League Captains:

• Mens A        Matt Williams  07749249555
• Mens B        Mark Mobey (01367) 242636
• Ladies A      Susanna Hunt (01367) 241452
• Ladies B      Kate Trivedi (01367) 710624
• Ladies C      Sam Bannister (01367) 242283

Summer League Captains:

• LADIES A      Susanna Hunt (01367) 241452
• LADIES B      Nicola Foster (01793) 710838
• LADIES C      Mary Mountford-Lister 242394
• MENS A        Matt Williams  07749 249555
• MENS B         Mark Mobey (01367) 242636
• MIXED A       Steve Pugh (01367) 244582
• MIXED B       Chris Noke (01367) 241909

Other Responsibilities Maintenance Alan Elbourn Paul Silver Wimbledon tickets Alan Elbourn Social Activities Susanna Hunt Juliane Spiers Website & membership Sjoerd Vogt Head Gardener Andy Sawyer Clubmark Contact Mark Mobey Consumables restocking Anne Sawyer Welfare Officer Sanjay Trivedi Press Officer Adrian Noke Competitions Organiser Steve Pugh Juniors Alan Elbourn Susanna Hunt Mark Mobey

FTC AGM HELD SEPT 19TH 2014

Held at the new Clubhouse and on the same day as Scotland's referendum on independence, a record 26 members turned up to the AGM - made all the more enjoyable by one of Alan’s inimitable Quizzes.  

Mark Mobey took over from Sjoerd Vogt as chairman;  Kate Trivedi stepped down as committee member (thanks Kate!) ; and Kate Haysman and Steve Pugh agreed to join the committee. Steve has also offered to run internal club tournaments in the Spring. Other officers and committee members kindly agreed to continue in their current roles.

See HERE for full reports and AGM minutes

Do remember that all members are very welcome to come to any committee meeting. Meeting dates going forward are posted HERE, where you will also find minutes from previous meetings. Next Committee Meeting is 2nd June - and Committee Meetings start at 7pm.  Remember - it’s your club!

HOW DID THE FIVE FARINGDON TEAMS DO IN THE WINTER  LEAGUE?

You can check out the  almost final results on the Thames Valley Winter League 2014/15  HERE . (last matches being played this weekend)

Amazingly, four of the five teams will end up in top three positions. For the three ladies teams - check out divisions 2 & 6 . For the men - take a look at divisions 2 & 5 .

WELL DONE TO ALL TEAMS - IN PARTICULAR
THE MENS A TEAM FOR WINNING THEIR LEAGUE!

Remember: It’s the taking part that’s important!

WIMBLEDON TICKETS 2015: We expect to receive our allocation shortly. As happened last year, the selection form will be emailed so that members can tick their preferences for dates.  Members DO need to have a BTM (British Tennis Membership) number and to have registered for the Draw to qualify. 

The DRAW will take place on Thursday 30th April , at 8pm in the Clubhouse.  WATCH THIS SPACE FOR FURTHER DETAILS!

RENEWING YOUR SUBSCRIPTION FOR 2015-2016

 See HERE for more details.  You will shortly be emailed the  renewal form for all the individuals living at your address. There are MASSIVE discounts if you renew before 1st May, and there’s even BIGGER discounts if you take out FAMILY membership!

There’s also two categories of membership for those who want to support their children or enjoy the social side - but aren’t necessarily players themselves.  ONCOURT PARENT allows the parent accompanying their child or children to play with them. And NON-PLAYING SOCIAL MEMBER speaks for itself!

WELCOME EVENT
FOR NEW MEMBERS

Anyone who joined the Club in the past 12 months, DO JOIN US! ( other members also welcome)

Sunday 12 April, 2-4pm

• Friendly doubles for adults and children
• A chance to meet our coaches
• See what the club has to offer!

Please book your place by emailing Susanna Hunt on asmi.hunt@talktalk.net   or tel: 01367 241 452 

ROOKIE NIGHTS!

 Starting in April, Thursday evenings ( 7pm-8.30pm) are the SPECIAL SESSIONS for those beginners and intermediates who feel that they first need to build up their confidence before coming to the Sunday or Tuesday Club Sessions!

Open to all full adult members, and students

JUNIOR TOURNAMENTS COMING UP!

LOTS of Mini-Tournaments coming up this summer - for RED (8yrs & under) ORANGE  (8 & 9 yrs) as well as GREEN (10 yrs) .

CLICK ON THE THUMBNAIL TO FIND OUT MORE

And  Here’s a good explanation of the Mini Tennis Ratings system.

More information to follow via email and posters at the courts. Contact Alan Elbourn (07969028066) or Mark Mobey (242636) for more details!.

CLUB OUTREACH ACTIVITIES

Folly Sports Park gives us a tremendous opportunity to reach out into the community and get more people playing tennis - also through imaginative use of our new facilities! Alan Elbourn has already run a number of very successful TENNIS BIRTHDAY PARTIES ( contact Alan if interested!) ; a posse of STANFORD CUBS had an hour of fun under the floodlights; and NETBALL have been using the facilities for one hour a week during the winter months. These activities not only represent invaluable income to the club; but also lead directly to new members. Definitely win-win!

Do speak to any committee member if you have good ideas for outreach activities.

ADULT CLUB TENNIS
Every Sunday, Tuesday,  & Thursday

Sunday/Tuesday sessions are open to all full adult members, students, and juniors with passports.

THURSDAY evenings are ROOKY NIGHTS ; mainly for beginners and intermediates who feel they first need to build up a bit of confidence - but ALL are welcome!

SUNDAY sessions are from 10.30am-12.00 , and TUESDAY/THURSDAY sessions run from 7pm-8.30pm. Simply turn up. Balls provided.  See HERE for more details.

Adult SUMMER LEAGUE Match Tennis (playing other Clubs)

We have an incredible SEVEN  teams in the Wilson Summer League 2015
( CLICK HERE FOR FIXTURE DATES ) . Matches are on Saturday or Sunday afternoons, usually starting at 1.30pm. Each team  plays seven matches spread from April to September, and the format is 2 couples per team. This means that you are usually home by 5.30pm at the latest. If you are interested in playing for a team please contact the appropriate Summer League Captain:

• LADIES A      Susanna Hunt (01367) 241452
• LADIES B      Nicola Foster (01793) 710838
• LADIES C      Mary Mountford-Lister 242394
• MENS A        Matt Williams  07749 249555
• MENS B        Mark Mobey (01367) 242636
• MIXED A       Steve Pugh (01367) 244582
• MIXED B       Chris Noke (01367) 241909

MATCH PRACTICE SESSIONS take place for LADIES ON MONDAYS ( alternating between teams A/B and C from 7pm-8.30pm)  and MEN ON WEDNESDAYS (7pm-8.30pm) .  If you’re a full adult member of the Club (or Student member, or Junior-with-passport)  and are interested in playing in matches, then you’re very welcome. Simply turn up to the Men’s Wednesday Session;  for the ladies please phone the relevant captain first.  

Coaching at Faringdon Tennis Club

We are very fortunate to have three Licensed LTA Coaches:

• Alan Elbourn        07969-028066
• Susanna Hunt      01367-241452
• Matt Williams       07749-249555

Alan’s Saturday sessions are pay and play sessions which run all year, including school holidays.  

• Alan’s contact details for mid week squads are: info (at) heasmanandsadler.co.uk  Tel: 07969028066
• For details of Susanna’s sessions please email asmi.hunt (at) talktalk.net or tel: 01367 241 452
• For details of Matt’s sessions please email matt (at) acedpsychology.co,uk or tel: 07749 249 555
• Susanna and Matt’s sessions run during term time only and details of course dates and costs will be forwarded each term. 
• In general all group coaching sessions work out approximately £5 per person per hour.
• All children who wish to attend coaching need to become members of the club (£20 for the year) and fill out an Emergency Contact Form
• Any adults who attend only the coaching sessions and are not club members need to pay £20 for the year to cover insurance.   

THE FARINGDON CHAMPIONSHIPS 2015!

Over the course of the summer we will for the 1st time since the early eighties be running Adult tournaments for Men’s Singles, Women’s Singles, Men’s Doubles, Women’s Doubles and Mixed Doubles – culminating in a Glorious Finals Day to rival the SW19 event!

WATCH THIS SPACE...

TENNIS BALLS: Are provided during official Club sessions. Tubes of high quality branded balls can be purchased at the Club house from Andy Sawyer, Alan Elbourn, or Susanna Hunt.

Remember: To get into the Members’ Area of the website (you’re in the Members’ Area at the moment!) go to the homepage ( www.faringdontennis.org.uk )  - or any other page for that matter - and click on the cloud just to the right of the Folly Tower (top left of page) .