LOWER HUTT TENNIS CLUB CROSS COURT AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2000

......FROM THE EDITOR

Since the commencement of the Club in 1927 the Club has had only five Presidents.

E.P. Bunny

Barbara has represented The Hutt Valley as a junior & has played for our club at the highest level for many years. We hope she follows past traditions & stays in office for many years.. She & our new Club captain were at primary school together.

Its great to see these new faces deciding its time they helped out. If there is any one else out there who would like to help its not too late - give your name to one of the contacts below.

It looks like we will be able to go ahead with replacing 2 astrograss courts & putting plexipave on courts 9 & 10. Together with the newly painted clubhouse plus a new resident coach this must make us the club with the best facilities in the greater Wellington area.

Lets help our new Club Captain achieve his goals so we have the best club members as well.

EDITOR

PO BOX 45020, LOWER HUTT

FAX 566 8041

EMAIL: LowerHutt@tennismail.com

SUBSCRIPTIONS

FAMILY $410

CONTACTS

CLUB CAPTAINS CORNER

A couple of years ago, after an absence of 15 years experimenting with golf, I returned to tennis. Now, 30 years since originally joining The Club I find myself back with some responsibilities. Much has changed, but the heart & thrust of The Club remain enjoyment of the sport & good fellowship.

I remember 30 years ago sitting on blankets under umbrellas adjacent to the grass courts along with numerous others waiting for our turn to play on one of the 10 courts. Some days with over 80 members present you were lucky to get more than 45 minutes on a court in an afternoon. Play was compulsorily stopped at 3 pm for afternoon tea (with biscuits for 10 c) & formal announcements regarding club activities. A strict dress code was enforced & a close watch kept on other behaviour. It was not until many years later, I think promoted by Dave & Barbara Allen that certain club members retired to the club house about 5 pm for a cold beer or 2. Social evenings increased, dances in the club- rooms developing into German beer festival evenings & square dances at nearby school halls.

The Club was strong & our competitive teams were to the fore. Some of our younger players such as James Dunphy, Claude England & Chris Lewis went on to NZ representation. Others may well have but unfortunately like Ron Olivercrona were lured away to other sports.

With younger members now having greater access to cars & new sports such as scuba diving & windsurfing it is perhaps not surprising we don’t see many of them in the weekends. But they are the future of The Club & we need to continue to encourage them & make tennis enjoyable for them

Although there are some "knockers" the Saturday afternoon league is working well & has increased playing interest. For those of you fit enough the Monday night singles league provides an additional challenge - lets remember a fitter person plays better tennis & prospective interclub players should be building their fitness levels. We must work at increasing numbers attending club tennis on Sundays.

As club members we should be encouraging & supporting each other & enjoying the each others fellowship & I would like to see more members participating this way.

Specifically this season I hope to see:-

Unfortunately, having been absent for so long I haven’t caught up with many members. Please introduce yourself & give me your thoughts.

Finally a bottle of Oyster Bay Chardonnay to the 1st member providing the source of the following quotation & why it is relevant to tennis players.

"if you can meet with Triumph and Disaster and treat those two imposters just the same"

INTERMEDIATES

You must be in the 4th form or higher to join this group.

Your opening day will be Friday 8 September at 6.30 pm.

This summer we will restrict participation to members only so - encourage them to join The Club

We already have some Intermediates playing in the Leagues. One team on Wednesday night (The Young Guns) are all intermediates

These are a lot of fun so please put your name down as quickly as possible so we can get your into a team.

The same applies to Interclub - put your name down if you want to play.

A Registration Form is available elsewhere on the Web site. It must be completed & returned as soon as possible if you want to participate.

REGIONAL TRIALS

These will be held on Sunday 28 August from 1 pm. If you want to play in a Regional team it would be unwise to miss this day. If wet then the following Sunday.

If you have any friends who are interested in playing for The Club bring them along.

You must complete & return the attached Registration form as soon as possible if you want to play Interclub for the Club

NEW MEMBERS

Now is the time to suggest to your friends or colleagues its time they joined a real club.

If you know other players suggest they visit

The Club at League times to see for themselves how we enjoy ourselves. Alternately they can telephone one of the Contacts on Page 1 for more information

INTERNET

A reminder of our web site

Send us your Email address so

we can contact you direct.

CLERK OF WORKS

The painting of the clubhouse is under way & should be finished by the time you receive this newsletter. Brent Willcock can be congratulated for his fine effort.

We would like to re direct the lights so we can see to play at night - a lot of work - are there any volunteers to assist.

INTERCLUB

If you are want to play WEEKEND, MIDWEEK, or NIGHT Interclub you must complete & return the registration form urgently.

Don’t expect us to ring & ask if you want to play - it’s your responsibility to complete & return the form so if you miss out it’s your fault.

Those who indicate an interest will be advised of dates for trials if necessary.

Last season we reported on actual costs for interclub play in our Feb/March newsletter. There will be an increase in fees this season to better recover our costs.

JUNIORS

Registration days will be held at The Club

For all juniors from 5 years & upwards

Saturday mornings 9 am - 11 am

Make sure you register as play will commence as follows:-

5-7 yo’s - on Wednesday 11 October, at 5 pm

Juniors - on Sunday 10 September at 9 am

Adv. Juniors - 5 pm on Friday 8 September

If you want to be sure of your place in an interclub team start your practice & ladder matches now.

Please let your friends know so they can come along & register as well.

TOURNAMENTS

September 15 Kapi Mana Veterans

September 25 Penn Manawatu Junior Tier 3

October 2 Slazenger Wellington Junior Tier 3

October 21 Slazenger Wellington Junior Tier 4

TENNIS….

ITS WHAT WE DO

ON WEDNESDAYS…..!

…….& SATURDAYS

……...& MONDAYS

If you are bored with

playing tele bingo

Join a league

On Saturdays & Sundays there

will always be a court for

members not in a league

who just want a game.

THE COACH

Our new Coach, Gene Ridgway, is here to help you with your game. If you need to improve your technique, your doubles & singles tactics, fitness & mobility & consistency in your game then give Gene a call at The Club or on his mobile 025 230 1914.

Gene has junior group coaching at The Club weekdays after school & provides lessons from beginners to advanced players. Drop by the Club late afternoon or early evening & discuss your needs with him in person.

The Club has negotiated special rates for Club members with Gene. His normal rate for private lessons is $35 per hour. Club members will enjoy a special rate of $30 per hour. Other concessions will apply to group lessons.

TENNIS TIP

Keep your chin up on the serve. The easiest way to instantly improve your serve is to keep your chin up during the action. By keeping your chin up towards the sky you can watch the ball hit the racquet, & drive your body more efficiently up towards the ball. This will create more power & give you a cleaner contact instantly improving your serve

MIDWEEK MEMO

What a glorious run of tennis weather we have been enjoying. It has been great to see familiar faces returning & some prospective new members coming along.

On the down side we will be sorry to lose Caroline who is leaving to cross the Tasman. Her skill & happy disposition is our loss but a gain to some lucky Sydney club.

We will officially open for summer tennis Tuesday 22 August with play beginning at 9.30 am sharp. The theme is "nostalgia" so bring along your old wooden racquets, your long skirts or gorgeous Gussie knickers. Morning tea will be along similar lines—scones & pikelets, with jam & cream.

No charge but a gold coin donation for Daffodil week please. If wet we will have morning tea at 11 am.

Enclosed with this newsletter is a Registration Form which must be completed & returned by all members new or old. Please pay your subs early. If you are interested in playing Midweek Interclub or in any of the leagues please register your interest as soon as possible as teams are selected early in the season.

A list will also be circulating for this midweek summer interclub. Please consider a commitment to playing alternate Wednesdays until about 1.30 pm. If you cannot commit for every time put your name on a reserves list. Before the competition begins the courts will be available for practice on Wednesday mornings.

The calendar of events for the season is being worked on at present & a member of the committee will shortly be in touch. If you don’t get these regular phone calls, or have other concerns, please let me know.

UNA

Enjoy! Enjoy!

VISITORS FEES & COURT HIRE

No member can bring a non member including members of their family or visitors from out of town to play on the courts unless a visitors fee of $5 is paid every time for each non member.

If you pay a MIDWEEK subscription this only entitles you to play at The Club Monday to Friday. You don’t have any right to come & play with your children or spouse during the weekends unless you pay court hire each time.

With our new Club Coach at the courts most days we anticipate enforcing this rule more vigorously this season.

Why don’t you consider paying a Family Subscription to cover all members of your family at all times. It might be the encouragement they need.

Contrary to popular belief no courts are deemed to be public courts. The public are permitted to use the facilities but only when the courts are open for play & only upon payment of court hire.

NOSTALGIA

Bring along your old wooden racquet

Wear your long trousers, skirt

or "gorgeous Gussie" knickers

Old style morning tea

Summer Midweek Opening

9.30 am Tuesday 22 August

HOW NOT TO BE A GOOD DOUBLES

CLUB MEMBER

LEAGUES

Put your name down now for SUMMER Leagues starting soon.

Saturday - doubles

Monday - singles & doubles

Wednesday - doubles

There is always greater interest during the summer months so get your name in early.

There may be places for Intermediate members in teams if they have sufficient ability.

An organiser has been appointed to run each league. These organisers will help with the efficiency and enjoyment of the leagues.

Contact details for the Leagues are:

Note also telephone details on the front of this Newsletter.

If you would like to try out the singles league but think it might be too tough you just might be surprised. It will be a few weeks before we organise the next Monday night league so here is an opportunity to just come along & join in without any commitment for a few weeks. Just arrive at 7 pm.

A spring Wednesday league commenced on 2 August with 8 teams. Playing in these teams are:

RESIGNATIONS

Our Constitution requires ALL resignations to be in writing. This can be by Email to LowerHutt@tennismail.com

To quote our new Club Captain

"fitter members play better tennis"

To that we could also add that fitter club members will not strain ligaments or tear muscles & have to be subjected to extreme Russian torture. Its old age Mick…... as was illustrated by the Chairmans injury during the week also

IMPORTANT DATES

OPENING DAYS

SENIOR - 1.30 PM SATURDAY 26 AUGUST

MIDWEEK - 9.30 AM TUESDAY 22 AUGUST

JUNIOR REGISTRATION

SATURDAY 26 AUGUST 9 -11 AM

WEDNESDAY 30 AUGUST 7 - 9 PM

REGIONAL TRIALS

SUNDAY 27 AUGUST 1.00 PM

INTERCLUB

CLOSING DATE FOR ENTRIES 31 AUGUST

LEAGUES

CLOSING DATE FOR ENTRIES TO SUMMER LEAGUES

WEDNESDAY 23 AUGUST