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 2021!

Dear Tennis Club Member,

Well, the past twelve months have been like no other, and I do hope that you and yours have all coped with the myriad challenges.

But the light at the end of the covid tunnel is getting bigger and brighter. Clocks go forward this coming Sunday giving us an extra hour of light in the evenings; and the roadmap out of lockdown means that tennis can resume on Monday 29th. Hooray! It WILL be carefully controlled ( incl Rule of Six) and we can’t say yet when we will be allowed to re-open the Clubhouse.

And spring is officially in the air, with the spring equinox now officially behind us. The photo above is of the 500 crocuses that we planted in the autumn during lockdown as part of the purple4polio campaign. Next year, there will be twice as many trying to sneak past the nibbling rabbits.

Over the past twelve months, we’ve played as much tennis as the government guidelines would allow, and I want to thank all of the club members that have helped to keep the club such a happy, thriving and welcoming place - even during lockdown. The Captains, the Committee members, the coaches, and the many other Volunteers. A big Thank You.

We now look forward in anticipation, to new beginnings without covid, and you can see that there’s a raft of activities planned,  as we ease ourselves safely out of lockdown. And most of them are tennis-related! So - get your diaries out, and mark in those dates.  There’s events and activities for everyone, for players and spectators...

But there’s also some things that we can’t do yet. The usual springtime ‘New Season Social’  can’t take place this year, and the LTA have already informed us that there won’t be any new 2021 Wimbledon tickets allocated, so no Wimbledon Draw. But as of now, you can already sign up for teams, Club Championships and coaching, and the Slappy Singles Ladder introduced in the Autumn also starts up again 29th March. You can book your courts through Clubspark as of now.

And coming up in just two weeks time is the EASTER TENNIS CAMPS - AGES 5-14 .  BOOK HERE NOW.

As for social events to look forward to - Pimms and Prizes starts again in May, and there’s even a GARDEN PARTY  pencilled in for August-- in the beautiful grounds of Sudbury House Hotel.

As ever, we’d love to hear your thoughts and ideas for the future of the Club.

Looking forward to seeing you on court!

Juliane    

DATES COMING UP (for regular weekly events such as COACHING and CLUB NIGHTS - please see the TENNIS4ALL page) :

• NOW:  Sign up for Teams, Coaching, and Club Champs!
• Mon 29 Mar: TENNIS STARTS AGAIN
• Tue 30 Mar: Midweek Doubles starts again
• Sun 4 Apr: Social Sundays start again
• Mon-Fri 12-16 Apr EASTER TENNIS CAMPS - BOOK HERE NOW
• Sun 18 April: Spectator Event: U12’s County Tournament
• Tue 27 Apr: Tennis Tuesdays start again
• Fri 30 Apr: Friendly Fridays start again
• May –> Sep : Club Tournament Championships
• Sat 1 May: Deadline to renew your membership for HUGE Early Bird Discounts!
• Sun 9 May: DEADLINE to sign up for Club Champs
• Tue 11 May: Silver Servers return to court
• Sun 16 May: Spectator Event LTA Tournament
• Tue 18 May : Pimms + Prizes, 6.30-8.30
• Tue 1 June : Committee Meeting
• Tue-Fri 1-4 Jun: HALF-TERM TENNIS CAMP
• Sun 20 June: Deadline for Champs - last 32
• Sun 20 Jun: Spectator Event LTA Tournament
• Tue 22 Jun: Pimms + Prizes, 6.30-8.30pm
• Sun 18 July: Deadline for Champs - last 16
• Sun 18 Jul: Spectator Event LTA Tournament
• Sun 14 Aug: Spectator Event LTA Tournament
• Sun 15 Aug: Deadline for Champs - Q-Finals
• Sun 22 Aug: GARDEN PARTY 3PM - SUDBURY HOUSE HOTEL
• Tue 31 Aug: committee meeting
• Sun 12 Sep: Deadline for Champs - Semi-Finals
• Sat 18 Sep: Club Tournament Finals
• Fri 24 Sep: AGM + QUIZ
• Tue 30 Nov: committee meeting

Chairman: Juliane Spiers
Treasurer: Steve Perry
Secretary: Susanna Hunt

Committee Members:
Alan Elbourn,  Mark Mobey, Kate Haysman, Sjoerd Vogt, Sam Bannister, David Crawley, Steve Wright

Winter / Summer Match Secretary:  Adrian Noke

For contact details of all Summer and Winter League captains, see HERE

Other Responsibilities Maintenance Alan Elbourn Sjoerd Vogt Roger Starr Wimbledon tickets Alan Elbourn Social Activities Susanna Hunt Juliane Spiers Sam Bannister Website & membership Sjoerd Vogt Consumables restocking Susanna Hunt Welfare Officer Juliane Spiers Social networks Mark Mobey Press Officer Adrian Noke Competitions Organiser Guy Mobey Steve Wright Juniors Alan Elbourn Susanna Hunt Mark Mobey

FARINGDON TENNIS CLUB - THE FIRST (AND ONLY?) CARBON NEGATIVE CLUB IN THE COUNTRY!

During the past 12 months, the PV solar panels have not been in lockdown! In fact, it was our 2nd best year for electricity generation. Since 2014 (when we relocated from Southampton St) - our PV panels have generated just over 56,000 KWhrs, and during that same  period we’ve used only 40,000 KWhrs. for all our energy requirements. 

To minimise unnecessary energy consumption, the Clubhouse is cocooned in extremely good insulation; we have LED lighting throughout (including the floodlights of course); and we have an air-source heat pump that drives the underfloor heating. This all means that we don’t have to feel guilty using the floodlights, or keeping the Clubhouse warm and cosy.

But that’s not all. Because of the FIT government incentives, we even get paid to generate and save! The payments (16p/KWhr - almost exactly the same as the cost of electricity), means that the initial cost of the panels has been paid off, and we continue to get money in the bank every quarter - for the next 18 years.

EMMA WATTERS - REST IN PEACE

Many of you will know the Watters family, who have all been members of the Club since 2009. Sadly, Mum Emma was diagnosed with a brain tumour and passed away  peacefully earlier this month. Our deepest sympathies go out to dad Malcolm, and daughters Claire, Fiona and Kirsty.

ANNE SAWYER - HUGE THANKS!

For more than thirty years, Anne has steadfastly and conscientiously been our “Club Consumables Officer” ( a job title that didn’t exist until two minutes ago...) . That means she has made sure we don’t run out of tea, coffee, sugar, biscuits, cleaning products, toilet paper, and so on! Anne has now decided to pass on the CCO responsibilities to Susanna Hunt.  BIG thanks to Anne, and also to Susanna for kindly offering to take over.

TWINNING TENNIS 2022!

Le Mele ( our twin town in Normandy) has again invited us to a friendly tennis tournament - as part of the regular Autumn Twinning Visit that will hopefully take place end October 2022!

Interested to know more?  Simply reply to this email!

WHY TENNIS COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE ….(first posted in 2017 - but worth repeating!)

My mentor in tennis--a saint--
Had a system that had not a taint.
"You won't lose at all
If you hit every ball
At a spot where the other guy ain't.

A recent feature article in the British Journal of Sports Medicine followed more than 80,000 people over an average period of nine years, to find out if certain sports protected them against early death....

CLICK HERE TO READ ON!

NO NEW SEASON SOCIAL??

Normally, this very well-attended event would be where we...

MEET other members and SIGN UP for EVENTS and TEAMS and TOURNAMENTS and COACHING ...

Even though it’s not happening this year, don’t let that stop you doing lots of the above!

DO SIGN UP NOW FOR COACHING, TEAMS AND TOURNAMENTS!

FTC 2020 AGM ZOOMED 4TH OCTOBER

See HERE for full reports and AGM minutes

Summary: 

• Financially, the Club is in a healthy position, even though we’ve lost approx £12,000 in membership income this year.
• 10K grant recd as part of covid support. Will be allocated as Development Fund
• A record number of members (330) partly due to temporary covid memberships
• 102 matches played against other clobs - the highest ever. HUGE thanks to Adrian Noke for organising us so well.
• The many different coaching and tennis camp activities have also helped to increase membership - in particular amongst the juniors. “Tots Tennis” is one of the new programmes recently introcuced. Many thanks to all our coaches, but in particular to our head coaches Dave and Tom.
• Steve Wright (our CHAMPS Head Honcho) is a welcome new addition to the committee.
• Our three officers and all the other members of the committee kindly agreed to continue in their current roles

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 Tuesday 1st June. Committee Meetings start at 7pm.  And the AGM 2021 (with QUIZ...) is Friday 24th September.

Remember - it’s your club and
your views that matter!

ADULT CLUB TENNIS

Social Sundays

Tennis Tuesdays

Friendly Fridays

All sessions are open to all full adult members, students, and juniors with passports.

FRIDAY evenings are ROOKIE NIGHTS ; mainly for beginners and intermediates who feel they first need to build up a bit of confidence - but ALL are welcome! Rookie Nights start at 6.30pm

SUNDAY sessions are from 10.30am-12.30 , and will start up again on Sunday 4th April. TUESDAY and FRIDAY evenings will start again in the week beginning 26th April.

Simply turn up. Balls provided.  See HERE for more details.

THE SILVER SERVERS!

Are you over 65 - or thereabouts?

On alternate Tuesdays we meet 10-12 followed by a spot of lunch to play our equals from Wantage - and hopefully we can get other clubs to join also .

We’re starting up again Tues 11th May.

INTERESTED? CONTACT Kate on 07802-238870 or
email:   katrina.haysman123@btinternet.com

COURT PAINTING

In the Summer of 2020 ( during intermittent tennis/lockdown!) we took the opportunity to have courts one/two and the Elbourne minicourts cleaned and repainted.  This isn’t just cosmetically pleasing, it also renews the grippiness. The special court paint contains  abrasive material - a bit like sandpaper. 

It’s now the turn of courts three and four. The painting does need guaranteed dry weather (it cures over a period of a couple of days) therefore it’s not possible to give exact dates far in advance.

However - all being well, we’ve booked in our court specialists for mid-May. 

We’ll give you as much notice as possible!

RENEWING YOUR SUBSCRIPTION FOR 2021-2022

 The membership year runs from May 1st thru to April 30th. During April, you will be invited to renew your membership..See HERE for more details on the different membership packages. Again (for the 5th year running!), subscriptions have  been frozen at last year’s rates; ensuring that your subscription offers even better value for money than ever before! But it gets better than that.

There are MASSIVE discounts if you renew before 1st May.

Because of all the lockdown interruptions, the committee have decided that  - ON TOP OF THE USUAL EARLYBIRD DISCOUNTS there will be a further £5 discount on all the £20 packages; a £20 discount on all adult renewals; and a £40 discount on Family memberships.  Yes - that’s right. That’s on top of the usual earlybird discounts.

But - you DO have to renew before the 1st May!

IN THE PRESS!

MANY thanks to our Press Officer Adrian Noke, who does sterling work in ensuring that the Faringdon community gets to hear about our tennis-related exploits on a regular basis. And it’s always fun to look through the old press cuttings!

ROOKIE NIGHTS!

Friday evenings ( 6.30-8.00pm) 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 -
and starting up again 30th April!

JUNIOR EVENTS COMING UP!

OUR COACHES ARE AGAIN PUTTING TOGETHER A SERIES OF EVENTS AND MINI-TOURNAMENTS AND TENNIS CAMPS FOR JUNIORS.   LOTS OF DETAILS TO FOLLOW!

5 dates have been allocated to LTA Junior Tournaments: 18 April, 16 May, 20 June, 18 July, 14 August. The LTA Tournaments are Grade 4 and 5 tournaments, open to players from other clubs, and our coaches  will also be encouraging our strongest local Faringdon club members to enter. These will also be wonderful events for spectators!

Adult SUMMER LEAGUE Match Tennis (playing other Clubs)

See HERE for Match Secretary reports from 2020.

For the forthcoming summer season, 9 Faringdon teams have been entered into the Oxfordshire weekend doubles league (3 Ladies, 3 Mens, 3 Mixed) maintaining our 2020 contingent.

As last year, we have also entered 2 Mens teams in the Swindon and District mid-week (Monday evening) league.

Oxfordshire midweek (morning) team entries both Ladies and Mens, will follow in due course.

Plenty of opportunities for competitive tennis. Matches expected to start 23/24 April  Yippee!! ( that was from Adrian....)

So - just like in 2020 - a record 13 teams entered.

If you’re interested in playing for a team against other clubs, DO get in touch with the relevant captain.

MATCH PRACTICE SESSIONS take place for LADIES ON MONDAYS (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. 

MENS/LADIES OLTA MIDWEEK LEAGUE

Interested in a bit of competitive tennis during the week? matches are usually on Wednesday or Thursday mornings with 1000 or 1100 starts -  home and away.  There are matches approximately every three weeks. The format is similar to the normal summer/winter leagues - with two pairs competing against each other.  DO contact the relevant midweek captain if you’re interested!

SEE HERE FOR ALL CLUB  CONTACT DETAILS - INCLUDING ALL CAPTAINS.  

COACHING AT FARINGDON TENNIS CLUB

Game, Set & Matchplay are the coaching providers at Faringdon LTC. There is a comprehensive programme for adults and juniors of all ages and abilities. Please click on the link below to find out more information about the STAY-SAFE  Coaching Programme:  https://www.gamesetandmatchplay.co.uk/faringdon-information

Licensed LTA Coaches affiliated to Faringdon Tennis Club:

• Tom Francis        (Head Coach - Level 4) (07747 026377)
• David Tuck         (Head Coach - Level 3)  (07779 123867) 
• Susanna Hunt     (level 3)  (01367) 241452
• Alan Elbourn       (level 3)  (07774) 037862
• Guy Mobey         (level 3)  (07507-377858)
• Paul Butcher       (level 4) (07584 259 413)

In addition to the above, Susanna Hunt also runs Ladies Coaching Sessions as follows (all are 9.30am-11am) :

• Tue  :   Experienced
• Wed :   Beginners/Intermediate
• Thu  :   Experienced
• Fri    :   Beginners/Intermediate

Contact Susanna  <suehunt.tennis@gmail.com>  directly for further details!

The FTC COACHING  Social Media platforms are as follows:

• Facebook- Faringdon Tennis Club Coaching @FTCclubcoaching :
  https://www.facebook.com/faringdontennis.clubcoaching
• Twitter- Faringdon Tennis Club Coaching @FTCclubcoaching :
  https://twitter.com/FTCclubcoaching
• Instagram- ftcclubcoaching :
  https://www.instagram.com/ftcclubcoaching/

FOR ONE-TO-ONE COACHING PLEASE CONTACT COACHES DIRECTLY

THE FARINGDON CHAMPIONSHIPS 2021!

Over the course of the summer we will again 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 on Saturday 18th September!

SIGN UP NOW - Contact Steve Wright by eMail to
s@steviewright.me.uk or text to 07767 331258 by 9th May 2021.
FULL CHAMPS DETAILS HERE!

Faringdon Tennis Club also has a page on Facebook ( www.facebook.com/tennis4all )Anyone can post to it. If you’re into FB - why not LIKE it; post photos, match results, anything else worth sharing?  (And if you’re into twitter:  Follow @10is4all  hashtag  #10is4all )

p.s.   please don’t worry in the slightest if you’re NOT into facebook or twitter or snapchat or instagram or ...  you can also survive very happily without - as long as you’ve got your tennis!

SLAPPY SINGLES LADDER

Fancy a spot of friendly singles now and then? Join the SINGLES LADDER by contacting Mark Mobey on  markmobey@yahoo.co.uk  . 

You can follow the SLAPPY LADDER here.

TENNIS BALLS:

Are provided during official Club sessions. Tubes of high quality branded balls can also be purchased at the Club house from Alan Elbourn  .

CLUBHOUSE WIFI

Yet another little benefit of being a Member of the Club!

NAME = PLUSNET-FTC ,  PW = tennis4all    

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) .