LATEST NEWS
Junior Tennis Tournament
Wedmore Tennis Club is hosting a Grade 6 Matchplay event for juniors on the 30th June 2013. This is for members AND non members of our club. Please follow this link for further details: GRADE SIX MATCH PLAY EVENT
Urgent Reminder
May we remind all members still to return their annual membership renewal form and subscriptions to please do so immediately. Failure to do so will result in a 10% increase in the amount payable and will prevent league players from participating in the NSTL. If there is a reason for a delay please contact a committee member asap at committee@wedmoretennis.co.uk Thank you
Our latest article in the 'Wedmore News'
CLUB MIXED DOUBLES: Saturday 4th May saw the largest ever number of entries for the Wedmore Tennis Club Annual Mixed Doubles afternoon tournament. Fourteen pairs enjoyed a lovely bright and sunny afternoon of tennis. Each pair played four matches in the knock out stages to qualify for a place in the final. The competition was well supported by league team players and social players alike, although the format of the tournament ensured that the games were evenly matched and the competition enjoyable for all players. The winners were Margaret Gould and Chris Wilson who beat Deborah Watkins and Sam Phillips 6-2 in an entertaining final, watched by a large crowd at the end of the afternoon. The winners took home a bottle of wine each.
WINTER MEN’S DOUBLES: The final of the men’s winter doubles was played on Friday 3rd May. The tournament was contested by 8 pairs, each playing 3 matches over the winter months, leading to a final between the two highest scoring pairs. Bill Haley and Chris Wilson beat Matt Drew and David Bennett 7-6, 4-6, 7-5 in a very close match that took well over 2 hours to complete.
CLUB LADIES’ DOUBLES: Six pairs of ladies battled ebulliently for the 2013 Wedmore doubles title in brilliant sunshine on Saturday 18th May. Each pair initially played five closely contested seven game matches, with sudden death at deuce bringing a marked intensity to the event. The tension didn’t diminish during the three play-offs, the final being a particularly tight match. The outcome was eventually decided by a tie-break in which Sandra Evans and Viv Barber overcame Jo White and Jill Howard by 7 points to 3.
THE JUNIORS: On Sunday 19th May club coach, Alastair Gregory, ran the annual Road to Wimbledon challenge. Seven enthusiastic boys competed in the round robin event with 12 year old Tom Baker qualifying for the next stage. He will now represent Wedmore Tennis Club in the county final in Taunton in July. Good luck, Tom!
TONY’S LADIES: Despite poor weather and several key players sustaining injuries – Nicky Attwood with a torn ligament and Shirley Turner unable to play due to tennis elbow – the teams have completed three matches to date and Tony Pearman, newly appointed ladies’ captain, is pleased with their results. The A team, having won one match and lost two are positioned mid-table. The B team have won all of their matches and top their table, while the C team, in the same division, have lost only to the B team so are also well placed. The D team, comprised of a pool of both experienced players and some who are new to league match play, are competing in a strong division. Although no matches have yet been won, the team members have played well and enjoyed their contests.
MICHAEL’S MEN: Following promotion to higher divisions last year, all four of the men’s teams are being challenged to play to a higher standard this season. Nevertheless, valiant play and admirable commitment have produced encouraging, though mixed, results. The B team are currently in second position in division 2 having won two out of their three matches, defeated only by a young, talented Wells A side. Team A in division 1 and team D in division 8 have also performed well against strong opponents. Both teams have won one of their three matches to date and are in 5th place in their divisions. The C team have lost all three of their matches, though close scores in two matches have earned them a mid-table position in division 4.
LOOKING AHEAD: A range of events have been planned for July. Older junior players will be competing in an U16 Doubles tournament on the 14th and, for younger players, a mini red tournament has been scheduled for the 21st. The main event of the year, the club tournament finals, will take place on the 20th. Do come along to socialise, support and spectate! - Article by Sarah Cunningham June 2013
Men's Doubles Tournament
The annual NSTL mens doubles tournament was held at Winscombe tennis club on Sunday April 21st 2013. Three pairs from Wedmore Tennis Club represented us that day. Chris Wilson & BenWylie made it to the final. Alastair Gregory & Sam Phillips to the semi final and Mark Jackson & David Bennett performed well in the round robin stages. See our you tube link for some entertaining highlights. Wedmore TC on You Tube
Our piece in the 'Wedmore News' - Circulated May 2013
The bad weather may continue but members at the Club are as active as ever!
Club nights continue to be well attended despite the cold and there is a lot of social tennis being played during the day with the artificial grass surface proving playable in all conditions.
Parents and children are taking advantage of the Sunday afternoon sessions to bring their little ones along for a knock and get rid of some of that pent up energy. Do come along and enjoy a run around.
Winter League is nearly over now and congratulations to the A team for coming top of Division 2, by only dropping 8 points in the entire season. The B team will be promoted from Division 5 but unfortunately the C team is heading for Division 6. The D team had an excellent last match, closely beating undefeated Clevedon C 7-4 , and thus gaining 2nd place in Division 7B. The Veterans mid-week teams will finish in 2nd place and the B team finished the season with a win against Cheddar 10-1. Well done to all the many players who turned out in some awful conditions to play in these matches.
The AGM took place on 19th March, with Matty Small and Chris Wilson being voted on to the Committee and Val Parker and David Walker stepping down – many thanks for all their hard work. There will be new captains for next year with Michael Gill as Men’s Captain and, in the absence of a female candidate, Tony Pearman, as Ladies Captain.
A full list of committee members can be found on the Club’s website.
During the last few months the Club committee surveyed all members to get their thoughts on a number of matters including the facilities provided, activities organised by the club and how they would like to see it develop. Responses are still being assessed but will provide useful input to future direction.
Now that work is about to start on the re-development of the playing fields the Club is starting its search for funding in earnest with applications to the LTA and Sport England. The main thrust of the planned expansion is to give the Club more courts and so more playing opportunities enabling it to meet its objectives of getting more people playing tennis. In particular, we will be looking to get more youngsters to take up and keep playing the game which, as the age range of our membership shows, is a game for life.
Coaches from the club were invited to a morning assembly at Wedmore First School Academy on 19th March and gave a fun tennis demonstration with the help of students. Everyone enjoyed the session and we look forward to see more of the children on court in the coming months. Thanks to staff and children for making us so welcome.
The Club Mixed Doubles tournament is to be held on the afternoon of Saturday 4th May, followed on 18th May by the Ladies Doubles. Also, on Sunday 19th May there is the Junior Road to Wimbledon tournament. There will be posters up for all these events in the Clubhouse so please enter your name there.
John Gould (Chairman)
Our piece in the 'Wedmore News' - circulated in March 2013
Annual General Meeting: We look forward to seeing as many members as possible at the Annual General Meeting of the Club, which takes place in the Clubhouse on Tuesday 19 March, at 7.30pm. There will be a pre-meeting complimentary glass of wine from 7.00pm for members.
Owing to all the rain and snow the courts have been looking somewhat flattened, so it was good to see a bunch of ‘happy’ volunteering members, brooms in hands, spending precious time one Sunday morning to brush the courts. Soon there will be new sand to spread on them, so we hope there will be more helpers when this is requested please. This is what club life is all about!
Winter League: at the end of January the A team were top of Division 2 with 55 points, the B team top of Division 5, with 54 points, and the C team were 5th in the same division with 15 points. The D team have only played two matches, so are unnaturally bottom of Division 7B, with 8 points. In the Veterans Division the A team are 3rd with 22 points, and the B team have had 2 matches cancelled, so are in 8th position.
The Round-Robin events are looking somewhat forlorn – what is it about men that they cannot get themselves organised?! Only one match played so far - maybe by the time you read this, miracles might have happened and some/all matches will have been played.
The Summer season starts soon after the AGM, and there will be league practices and selections for the teams, junior squads too, and afternoon tournaments for all. Subscriptions for 2013/14 will be due by the end of April and information will be sent out to all present members.
Jane Pottow. March 2013
An UPDATED Weekly Calendar of Events for Winter 2012/13
Will existing members please note the updated times for weekly club sessions, junior squads, competitive matches as well as adult and junior coaching being held during the week by using the following link: Wedmore Tennis Club Calendar
Our piece in the 'Wedmore News' - circulated in February 2013
Winter League: Very few matches were played in December so it is impossible to see any changes in the results tables. The A team did not play any matches at all, and so still have a winning record in all their four matches. The B team played one more, and they have now won all five of theirs, keeping them top of Division 5. The C team, in the same division is not faring so well, and has now lost 4 and drawn one. The D team has only played two, having won one and lost the other. The mid-week Veterans teams have not changed their results, as both December matches were postponed. January-March is going to be a busy time making up these matches.
The Round-robin groups are not progressing very well at all – especially the men’s groups. There are some really strong couples, and matches should be very competitive, so do get them all arranged and played before the deadline in March.
Jane Pottow. Feb 2013
On Friday 22 February we are again holding a Skittles Evening at the Panborough Inn, when the finale to the evening goes "Chinese". Authentic Chinese dishes are proposed to complete your evening's entertainment, so please do join us if you can for what is expected to be a really enjoyable social event. Further details will be posted in the clubhouse including full menu selection, cost etc.
Jane Pottow. Jan 2013
Our piece in the 'Wedmore News' - circulated in January 2013
The Winter League matches began slowly in October, with most teams only playing two matches. The A’s began by playing against local rivals Cheddar, and managed to just beat them on games, so gaining a 7-5 victory. Next they went away to Minehead and gained a win of 8-3. The B’s have started even better, with a 10-0 win over Backwell B and then a 10-1 win against our own C team. The C’s have played two, drawing the first 6-6 against Taunton C, and then coming up against the might of the B’s, who are unfortunately in the same division, and so lost 1-10, though the rubbers were closer than the end score might look. The D’s have yet to play a match.
The Veterans Mid Week League teams have only played one match so far, which was when a rather depleted A team went to Minehead to play their B team, and lost 4-7, which is not a very good start to the season, but is a repeat of last year, after which the A team won the whole division in the end. The Vets B team has to wait a few more weeks before starting their season.
Club coach, Alastair, had a busy October, and ran taster sessions for Wedmore First School’s Years 3 and 4 on three successive Thursday mornings. On the last day, with several helpers from the School, he ran a Year 4 mixed doubles mini tennis orange tournament. 14 pairs took part and they played round-robin matches in three groups, each match being first to ten points. The final was a hotly contested match between Gracie White and Thomas Punt against Eleanor Collins and Charlie Jackson which Gracie and Thomas won 10-6
Alastair also ran the annual round-robin Parent and Child Tournament in October. Ten couples entered, but on the day only five couples competed, which was a bit disappointing, but it did mean that they could all play each other. The winners were Steve and Tom Baker, who won all four of their matches.
A Club sub-committee is working with the Somerset Lawn Tennis Association's County Development Officer, James Deem, towards gaining Clubmark over the next few months. Clubmark is the achievement of certain standards set by the LTA which will give Wedmore Tennis Club National Accreditation by the Association. This will enable the Club to have assistance from the LTA for any future development, and for prospective new members to know that the club satisfies the high standards of the LTA.
Those who have entered the winter men’s and ladies round-robin tournaments should have played at least one or two of their matches by the time they read this.
Jane Pottow. Dec 2012
Our piece in the 'Wedmore News' - circulated in October 2012
After the excitements of July, Finals Day and the conclusion of the league season, August is a quieter month for the Club with many away for their summer holidays. The Olympics proved exciting viewing and the success of Team GB included a tennis Gold Medal for Andy Murray in the men’s singles and a Silver for Murray and Laura Robson in the mixed doubles. Our hope is that this success will encourage more to take up or return to the game.
One of our newer members, Finn Bass, who lives in Wedmore and attends Millfield, became the Aegon British Junior National 12U Champion this August. He was the top seed in this prestigious event, and won the final 6-1 6-0.
Whilst most members of the Club cannot hope to emulate these successes, we still have other members who enter competitions and tournaments such as the Burnham-on-Sea Open, and also there are at least eight senior players playing in various age groups for the Somerset county veterans teams.
Social tennis continues and team practice for the Winter league has started on Monday and Tuesday evenings. These matches start in October and run till the end of March.
The opportunity to expand the Club’s facilities as part of the development of Wedmore Playing Fields is moving forward with a planning application being prepared and the Club’s sub-committee is hard at work on this project and the raising of funds that will be needed.
The Club has also decided to apply to the LTA for Clubmark accreditation. The scheme is a national framework that enables all sports clubs to set and meet standards that will lead to better quality sports provision for adults and young people. In particular, the standards are designed to ensure that clubs provide a safe, effective, child-friendly environment in which young people can participate in sports. We believe that Wedmore already meets many of the criteria for accreditation but there is always room for improvement. David Pottow has agreed to chair a sub-committee including David Evans and coach Alastair Gregory, and over the next few months they will be working with James Deem of the LTA towards achieving this accreditation.
What is clear is that in future the Club will need the support of an increasing number of volunteers to support its activities. Although many members and parents are already involved, the future success of the Club will be dependent upon more coming forward with offers of their time to help support the Club’s committee. If you would like to become involved then please do not hesitate to let Coach, Alastair Gregory, or Chairman John Gould, know directly, or via the website www.wedmoretennis.co.uk.
Finally, advanced notice of plans for a social/fund-raising Quiz night to be arranged later in the year, date to be announced - but start your revision now!
John Gould, Chairman. October 2012
Our piece in the 'Wedmore News' - circulated in June 2012
Finals Day - Saturday 14th July, 2012
Success! All four of the men’s teams and two of the ladies teams have gained promotion in the North Somerset League, and all but one were actually top of their division. This must have been one of the most successful summer seasons in the club’s history. So there was much to celebrate at the League Players Party held in Tony and Diana Pearman’s garden, where the photographs were taken. Many of the same faces would appear in the Final’s Day photos, so I have linked the two events together.
This photo is of the Ladies A team squad, who came top of Division 2 with 82 points and having won all of their matches. They are, from left: Viv Barber, Tess Hodgson, Clare Gass, Ines Beeson, Liz Randall, Shirley Turner and Olivia Evans. Ines played in every match and did not drop a set. Clare and Olivia were the finalists in a very close Ladies singles final, which Clare won 6-4 7-6.
This is the Men’s A team squad, minus Adam Cox who could not attend the party, but played in all of the matches, as did Alastair. They came top of Division 2, with a total of 86 points. They are, from left: Sam Phillips, Chris Wilson, Matt Drew and Alastair Gregory. Sam and Alastair were the Men’s Singles finalists, with Alastair winning 6-4 6-4.
The Ladies B team were the only team to be relegated, but still managed to acquire 40 points in the season. They will now meet the C team in Division 4 next year, as the C’s came top of Division 5, with 76 points, while the D team will stay put in Division 5, in 4th place with 57 points.
The Men’s B team came top of Division 3, with 72 points, and the C team came 2nd in Division 5, with 64 points. The D team were top of a smaller Division 9, with 61 points. So excellent results all round.
Back to Finals Day, here are the Junior Finalists, from left, Grace White, Rebecca Higginbottom, Charlie Beake and Tom Baker. Rebecca and Tom were the Singles winners.
By custom the last event of the Finals Day is the Mixed Doubles, which is always enjoyed by the spectators, who by this time are replete from the BBQ and drinks. From left, Sam Phillips partnered Barbara Lloyd against Adam Cox and Jane Pottow. Sam proved too strong, with Jane leaping in all directions to either try to return his serves, or to get out of the way of his smashes at the net! Sam and Barbara won 7-5 6-2.
In September the North Somerset League AGM will take place, at which the Winter Fixtures will be arranged, with matches to take place on Sundays and Wednesdays over the next six months. There are 4 teams in the Sunday league, and 2 mid-week veterans teams.
Our piece in the 'Wedmore News' - circulated in June 2012
The Club held its ever-popular annual afternoon Mixed Doubles Tournament in May. Twenty-two members took part in two round-robin groups of five or six couples. It was a friendly but competitive and keenly fought tournament with many close-run matches. The winners of each group played the final, and the tournament winners were Olivia Evans and Graham Holbrook. They defeated Simon Kraeter and Val Parker in the final.
The Club later had another very busy weekend, with the Annual Ladies Doubles Tournament being played on Saturday afternoon, as well as the Junior Road to Wimbledon Tournament on Sunday morning. There were seven drawn-together couples for the Ladies Tournament, and it was a good opportunity for everyone to play against a mixture of league and non-league players. The eventual winners were the strong pairing of Gail Colthurst with 1st team member Liz Randall.
The Road to Wimbledon is an annual club singles tournament for boys of 14 and under, with the winner going forward to the County Finals in Taunton later in the summer. The clear winner was 11-year old Tom Baker from Blackford, who won all of his six matches. Well done Tom!
The League matches are all well under way now, and at the time of writing, (after 3 matches each) all of the men’s four teams are 2nd in their respective divisions. Keep this up and there would be promotion all round.
The Ladies are having a more mixed time, with the A and C teams both top of their divisions, while the B and D teams appear to be having a harder time, being 4th and 5th respectively. But there is still much time for change before the end of July!
July brings us the end of the League matches, coupled with the Club Finals Day on Saturday 14 July. There should be many good matches to see on that day, so do come along to watch, and maybe join us for the barbeque as well. On the following day, Sunday 15 July, Alastair is running an U.16 Junior Doubles Tournament. For further information about this and other events in the club, contact Alastair on 01934 712377
Jane Pottow. June 2012
Our piece in the 'Wedmore News' - circulated in May 2012
Winter League: Well done to our A team who has come top of Division 3 – a position that was decided on their very last tense match, when they lost to a strong Woodland B team by 3-8, but these three points were enough to enable them to win the Division by being one point ahead of Nailsea B. Over the season the squad of A team players consisted of Tony Pearman (Captain), Alastair Gregory, Clive Ross, Ines Beeson, Clare Vickery, and Olivia Evans, with Sam Phillips and Michael Gill stepping in for one match each. They won 8 of their 10 matches. In Division 6 the C team has also gained promotion, by coming 2nd, behind Taunton C. Next year they will be in the same division as our B team, who ultimately came 4th in Division 5. The C team squad was made up of Sandra Evans, Jo Attiwell, Sue Skeates, Alice Swain, David Bennett, Matt Drew, Simon Kraeter and Baz Attiwell. David and Harry Evans also played in two matches each.
Further success has come for the club, as the Veterans A team are Veterans Champions by winning the whole Division of nine teams, winning a total of just three points more than Bridgwater. This keeps the trophy last year won by Wedmore B in the Club again. The Wedmore A squad consisted of Clive Ross (Captain), Tony Pearman, John Gould, Shirley Turner, Matty Small and Jane Pottow, and they won six of their 8 matches.
Winter Round-Robin tournaments: These were just about completed by the end of March, with the winners of the men’s tournament being David Bennett and John Hodgetts, who only lost one match, while the winners of the ladies were Alice Swain and Alison Campion who won all five of theirs. They were presented with shields as keepsakes of the event.
The Summer League matches begin on 30 April and 1 May, while also in May there is the annual Mixed Doubles Afternoon Tournament on 5 May, and the Ladies Doubles on 19 May.
Junior News: The Annual Junior Road to Wimbledon tournament for Juniors is to be held on 20 May, so there is a busy time ahead for the Club.
Jane Pottow. April 2012
Our piece in the 'Wedmore News' - circulated in March 2012
The Club held a non-tennis social event in February with a very successful Skittles Evening at The Panborough. Terry Mewse made all the arrangements, and everyone enjoyed both the skittles and the food that followed. Bill Haley was the most successful man, and Di Pearman the winning lady. The picture in our Image Gallery shows them with their prizes.
Winter League: We have to wait just a few more weeks for the final positions in the Winter League, but at the moment, with only one more match to play, the A team will certainly gain promotion, and will most likely be top of Division 3. The B team also has only one more match, and is currently lying in 2nd place, but those behind are very close with more matches to play. So they may not gain the promotion for which they are hoping. If not they will be in the same division as the C team, who will surely gain promotion from Division 6 in either 1st or 2nd place.
The Veterans division could be won by any one of the top five of the nine teams, as there are only 10 points between the 1st and 5th places, which shows what a fiercely competitive division it is. The A team is in 2nd place at the moment, one point behind Nailsea, but Bridgwater, currently in 5th position, have more matches left to play. The Wedmore B team moved up one place by defeating Victoria 8-3 in a sunny mid-week match.
Summer League practices will be held on Monday and Tuesday evenings throughout April, with the actual matches starting on 30 April and 1 May, continuing until mid-July.
Junior News: Alastair is running an Easter Holiday course from 3-5 April inclusive. There are groups for both beginners and improvers. See the noticeboard for information, or contact Alastair on 712377 - he may still be able to fit you in when you read this.
Club Tournaments: The first of the summer half-day tournaments is the Mixed Doubles, which is to be held on the afternoon of Saturday 5th May. The entry poster will be in the Clubhouse.
Jane Pottow. March 2012
Club AGM 2012
The club AGM was held in the clubhouse on Thursday, 8th March. Minutes of the meeting are on the notice board in the clubhouse for you to read.