Those of you who have registered on the website will have already received an email about this but for those of you who haven't ...

This year Beth Harvey's Tennis Tournament is taking place on the morning of Sunday 19th September 10am -12 midday(ish).

Entrance will cost £5 and all proceeds will be divided between Cherry Lodge Cancer Care & RLTC.

Please email Margaret Gibson on g.r.gibson@btinternet.com in order to enter - places will be limited so please hurry!

Competitors are asked to arrive by 9.30am but to soften the early start Bacon Butties will be available from around 9.15ish so please indicate in your email whether you may be tempted by this so that it will help me with the shopping!

I look forward to hearing from loads of you as "you have to be in it to win it!" and "it" indeed is a lovely Trophy which so far has Andy Hind & Chris Williams names engraved on it ... who will it be this year?

.... just to confirm that the scheduled Social tournament is going ahead on Bank Holiday Monday, starting at 2pm.  The weather forecast is good - come and join in!

Were you there? If yes, then you will have enjoyed a great day's tennis.

Thank you to all of you who came along to support all the finalists with play starting at 11.30am and finishing just after 8.00pm.

The winners and runners up were as follows,

MAIN COMPETITION

LADIES SINGLES    Carolyn Ferguson beat Kim Henderson

MENS SINGLES      Adrian Todd beat Chris Williams

LADIES DOUBLES Marisa Nicholes & Jo Ireland beat Margaret Gibson & Kim Henderson

MENS DOUBLES     Chris Williams & Ian Pittams beat Isaac Moore & Ben Sopel          

MIXED DOUBLES   Kim Henderson & Chris Williams beat Jo Ireland & Ian Pittams          

PLATE COMPETITION

LADIES SINGLES     Melanie Butler beat Julie Kimberley                                      

MENS SINGLES         James Timbrell beat Simon Golding

LADIES DOUBLES     Schelay McCarter & Stacey Golding beat Jane Northam & Melanie Butler

MENS DOUBLES       Nick Hardy & Barry Henderson beat Andy Hind & Will Jones

MIXED DOUBLES    Jane Northam & Barry Henderson bt Richard & Judy (White & Jordan!) 

As always, a massive thank you to Steve Porter for organizing the whole event ….. not just on the day, but going back to when it all started in April ……. and for umpiring for most of the day …... it was Steve’s own personal marathon!

It’s an unenviable task making sure that everyone plays their matches by the deadlines and even though we are all given ample time, some matches are always played a little late. So, if I can make one plea for next year [and indeed for any tournament] please, please make sure you get your act together and not leave everything to the last moment ….. and, if you are not 100% sure that you are free for the Finals Day right from the outset, then please do not enter the competition. It is grossly unfair to all concerned, particularly your partner, if appropriate.

A huge thank you to all of you who helped in any way on the day …. washing up, clearing up, etc etc. Special thanks to Julie for organising all the catering and to all those members who made/donated salads, cakes, puddings etc.

Also massive thanks to anyone who lent a hand at the BBQ or for helping Steve with the umpiring duties … Sean, Mike, Matt and Simon.

If I’ve missed anyone, many apologies and I’ll buy you a drink next time I see you!

The summer competitions are the blue ribbon events in our playing year and I hope that you continue to support them next year and make very effort to participate.

And finally, and as promised by both Steve and myself on Sunday, we will be acquiring trophies for all the Plate winners over the autumn with a view to presenting them at our Christmas (Tennis) Ball in December.

Congratulations to all our Winners and Runners Up once again,

Barry Henderson

The new edition of the RLTC Members' booklet is now available from the clubhouse.  We have printed enough for one for each Senior and Intermediate member.  Do call in and pick up your copy!

The back gate (from behind the clubhouse to Ravenscroft Park)will be padlocked at all times from now on.  Keys for this gate are available for hire from Dick Elms at a cost of £5 - please ensure you contact him (8441-0040) if you want him to cut one for you.

Members using this gate are asked, having opened the gate, to lock the padlock onto the open gate, to ensure it doesn't get lost, and also to lock up the gate if they are the last one leaving.

... Can be seen in the Photo Gallery in the "Members Only" section!!!  Take a look!  Many thanks to our photographer Sean!

The Committee has decided - for the second year - to peg all membership fees to the same as last year.

Dick Elms, Membership Secretary, has sent emails to all those with email addresses, giving details of the fees and how to pay them, and he is posting the form to all other current members.  Let him know if you haven't received anything - email dickelms@aol.com, or tel (020) 8441 0040

Following a discussion at the AGM, it has been decided that both Tuesday and Wednesday Practice nights will be open to both Ladies and Men - hopefully this will increase the opportunities for more enthusiastic players to improve their play throughout the winter.  Practice starts around 6pm, finishing promptly at 9pm.