2021 Road to Wimbledon 'Club' tournament - well done to our juniors

On Saturday 22nd May we hosted our annual Road to Wimbledon U14s Tournament. Unfortunately the event was cancelled last year and it was great to see 19 of our Juniors aged between 10-14 competing. Over half were playing in their very first competition and there were plenty of hard fought matches in both the boys and the girls event.

Congratulations to our Winners Isaac Robinson and Maria Sharova plus our Runners-up Monty Johnston and Karolina Miller. All 4 juniors now progress to the County Finals held next month and an opportunity to progress through to the National Finals held at The All England Club, Wimbledon.

All players are club members and part of our coaching programme and all acquitted themselves very well with no disputes and all matches were played in the right spirit. Hopefully this event will spur many of them on to play more competitions and matches in the future.

If anyone would like information on other LTA Competitions that we run or anything to do with Tournaments please do not hesitate to get in touch with Josh - Head Coach.

2021 ‘Club’ Road to Wimbledon - Monty (runner up) and Isaac (winner)

2021 ‘Club’ Road to Wimbledon - Monty (runner up) and Isaac (winner)

2021 ‘Club’ Road to Wimbledon - Girls event

2021 ‘Club’ Road to Wimbledon - Girls event

Match tennis returns to the Club

The first match of the Summer season at Andover Lawn Tennis Club even more welcome than usual after all matches were cancelled last year.

 The club has two teams in the First Division of the Basingstoke League and the match between the two has to be the first played, so internal rivalries were explored in a competitive but friendly match at the club’s Balksbury  courts.

 The KJM sponsored A team was made up of the youngest player, Kyrill Kennett, with the most experienced, Shaun McDonald and Coach George Beare playing with Alex Boldis.

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The A team first pair of Kennett and McDonald took on B team captain Morgan Jameson and Reece Simpson. Kennett’s powerful serving and groundstrokes were well complemented by McDonald’s superb volleying. In spite of good play from Jameson and Simpson, the A team pair too often had the final shot and they came out winners 6-0, 6-2.

The A team second pair, George Beare and Alex Boldis, meanwhile, took on Harvey Stuart and Milan Garbuja. Beare and Boldis won the first set comfortably but were made to dig deep in the second set with much athletic retrieving on both sides of the net. They eventually came through, 6-0, 7-6.

In the opposite games, Kennett and McDonald started smoothly in control winning the first set 6-0, but they too had to fight in the second set which went to Stuart and Garbuja 6-4.

 Beare and Booldis ,having had their competitive spirits rouised were full of confidence and although Jameson and Simpson both hit a lot of great shots, the A team pair generally had the best of the exchanges and won through 6-0, 6-2.

 The A team won overall by 7 sets to 1 but both teams will  be ready for further competition against the other top clubs.

 Trevor Blake

ALTC '100' Club - join NOW - you could be a winner too!!

Each year, the Club organises a '100' club to raise funds for the club. Please support your club - you could be a winner too.

For those of you unfamiliar with what a 100 Club is, it involves a payment of £12 per year which gives you a number for a year (you can have as many numbers as you like be it for yourself or family and friends) which will then be entered into a quarterly draw. There will be three cash prizes drawn per quarter with 50% of ticket sales being paid out in prizes and 50% going to the club. 

If you would like to support this fundraiser, please view and complete the form on our ‘100’ Club page.

LTA Guidelines for Tennis Players in England

Please read the latest LTA guidelines for Tennis Players in England in conjunction with the Club’s correspondence emailed to all members and published on the ‘COVID-19 guidelines for the Club’ under Latest News.

Thank you for your co-operation in advance to help keep everyone safe.

If you have any queries please speak to a Committee member or email info@altc.net


Annual General Meeting - Wednesday 25th November 2020 at 7.30pm via Zoom

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All club members are invited to attend the forthcoming AGM via Zoom (details to follow in due course).

Adult Club members are entitled to vote.

If you would like to serve on our Committee, we always welcome 'new blood'. Please tell one of the current committee members or contact Christine, Club Secretary via info@altc.net . Your name will then be put forward for election.

Bash awarded the 2020 LTA National Lifetime Achievement Award

Well done to Bash, our Club Coach, who was awarded the LTA National Lifetime Achievement Award 2020 at last night’s LTA National Awards ceremony.

Bash has coached at the club for many years plus trained numerous tennis leaders. His dedication to tennis and our club has been overwhelming – not only coaching but helping at club events, Club Championships… the list is endless...

No one deserves this award more than Bash and I am sure you will all agree a truly amazing gentleman, who we are proud to say he coaches at ALTC.

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Andover Summer Holiday Camps - NOW BOOKING

I hope this email finds you well.

I am delighted to announce that we are today launching our Junior Summer Holiday Camp Programme through July and August. The current measures and likely further relaxation of these measures has given us the opportunity to do so. We are still very aware that these camps won't run completely as 'normal' and we will have a few additional safety measures in place in order to adhere to the latest guidelines. A few examples -

-Hand sanitation/cleaning of hands before and after camp each day

-Clear sign in and out points, clear instructions before the day emailed to parents of all the measures in place

-All participants to book online in advance only so ratio's and spaces/bubbles are managed and planned ahead

-Ensuring those who have coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms do not attend. This also applies if a member of their family have symptoms or if they have been advised by NHS Test & Trace as 'a close contact' to isolate at home

-Encouraging coaches and children attending to clean their hands more often than usual, including before and after activities and before and after using toilet/washroom facilities

-Cleaning frequently touched surfaces more often than usual

-Increased frequency of cleaning of toilets and washrooms

-Allocated drop off and collection times and the process for doing so (will be emailed prior to the camp starting)

-All Day camps only to mitigate social contacts throughout the day

-Children attending the setting are in small, consistent groups of no more than 15 children and one or two staff members/coaches

-A daily risk assessment is completed

The full list can be seen on our Holiday Camp page. Of course the landscape is ever changing and we will endeavour to make our camps as safe as possible for the children and for our coaches. If we feel for any reason that we cannot adhere to the latest guidelines or that safety is compromised in any way due to situations out of our control then our camps will not run, if this occurs every booking will have a choice of a full refund or a credit for a future camp.

However we are very optimistic that everything will be able to take place as we have planned. We are currently running private and ad hoc small group sessions and have been doing so for a number of weeks now successfully.

Players will be placed in groups/bubbles of similar ages and standards throughout, we are catering for ages 5 up to 15.

If you already had a booking from Easter Camp and would like to transfer this over to the Summer Camp please get in touch asap and we are happy to do a like for like swap for any prior bookings.

Members and Non-Members welcome for all Camps and total beginners are always catered for (plus rackets can be borrowed FOC, if players have their own racket please bring it as all rackets borrowed need to be cleaned daily). Please see the link for full information and booking-

https://clubspark.lta.org.uk/AndoverCoaching/Coaching/Camps

We hope that the situation will continue to improve and that in due course we will also be able to relaunch our coaching programme for juniors and adults, we are aiming at potentially an August restart and will email separately regarding this.

We are expecting demand to be high so please book in early. We will only accept bookings made in advance online.Initially we are only accepting 15 players per day, this may be increased if restrictions allow.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to email

Josh

Andover Lawn Tennis Club Coaching

Jamie G Sporting Club donate a defibrillator to the Club

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Jacqui Gentlemen and Nicky Bates (Trust member) of The Jamie G Sporting Club awarded our Club a Portable Mobile Defibrillator to young members and the lovely Margaret Winnett (the Club Chairman) who sadly passed away in March this year.

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We are absolutely delighted to receive the defibrillator which will be available for club members, visitors and the local community.






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The Jamie G Sporting Club are proud to share these photos respectfully taken at the Club earlier this year (before the COVID19 Lockdown)

The Jamie G Sporting Club plan to support more local sporting clubs at their next round of ‘Support Awards’ scheduled in September.




Coach Bash, awarded H&IOW Lifetime Achievement and NOW Regional Award

Congratulations to Bash Kara - winner of the 2020 Hampshire & IOW Lifetime Achievement Award and NOW Regional Award - well done Bash!

Many congratulations to our coach, Bash, who after being presented the Hampshire & IOW Lifetime Achievement Award in February, has recently been awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award for the South West region in the 2020 LTA Tennis Awards! As a regional winner, Bash will now represent the Region at the National finals – the winners will be announced in the summer.

Well done Bash – we are all extremely proud of your achievements!

Bash being awarded the 2020 Hampshire & IOW Lifetime Achievement Award in February 2020

Bash being awarded the 2020 Hampshire & IOW Lifetime Achievement Award in February 2020

A heartfelt message regarding Margaret

We have been overwhelmed with the messages of support and sympathy from so many people, it is truly humbling. Thank you.

It is therefore so much harder under the current circumstances of this awful virus that Margaret's funeral, which is to be held on Friday 3rd April, will be limited to immediate family only and a maximum of twelve people in attendance - this in itself is a daunting ask for any family.

Margaret's family


Andrew and Tim (Margaret's sons) and their families are very aware that many people would have liked to attend the funeral so they do plan to hold a memorial service to celebrate Margaret's life as soon as events are permitted. There will be an opportunity to make donations but this will be at the time of the memorial service.

We send our very best wishes, thoughts and love to Margaret's family at this very sad time.

A festive week at the Club...

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A very successful Christmas dinner with all the trimmings. Jennie at her best.

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Delicious, perfectly prepared and served with help from husband Jolyon, Glenys and Linda. What a treat for club members.

The last session of Saturday morning junior coaching until the New Year, with Christmas jumpers, cards and choccies, plus excellent tennis.

Thank you to all the coaches and tennis leaders. Thank you to all the parent helpers with sticker charts, bacon butties and registration.

Sad news - John Winnett

It is with sadness that we report the passing of John Winnett.

John joined ALTC in 1975 and was made a Life Member in the 1990s. He was very instrumental in helping to construct the extension to the old Clubhouse at Brackenbury, along with Brian Stuart and Eric Chambers, the Bodgit and Fixit trio! John also helped with many maintenance issues day by day at the Club and trained at TVBC as our Asbestos Representative. He and Eric looked after the Saturday morning kitchen for many years, John serving the teas and coffees, whilst Eric entertained the Juniors with jokes and stories. Although essentially a badminton player, John did play occasionally in the Vets tennis team, his service was either an unreturnable ace from his 6’ 3” height or a double fault, there was no happy medium!

Above all else John was a wonderful supporter of Margaret, helping her behind the scenes, taking phone messages, attending all the social functions and spectating at tournaments. The Club has lost a dedicated supporter, who will be much missed.

The funeral service will be held at Charlton Park Crematorium on Friday 1st November at 12.30pm and afterwards in the ALTC clubhouse. All welcome…

Home Tennis Derby starts the Winter Season

After the glorious Summer weather of a few weeks ago which graced the Club’s championship finals, early Autumn rain meant that the first men’s match of the Winter season took place indoors at Balksbury. This featured the KJM sponsored men’s A team versus the B team, both being in division one of the Basingstoke League.

In club rivalry meant that the atmosphere was friendly but competitive.

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A team first pair Gregor Corcoran and Jacob Webb had a lot of tight games against Sam Truscott and Alex Boldis, who both hit strong ground shots and cover the court well. Corcoran and Webb have a lot more match experience, however, and crucially the volleying skills to end points. They won both sets 6-0-6-2.

A team second pair Al Williams and new member Martin Flint took on the more experienced B team first pair, Andy Snellgrove and Dan De Marco. Williams was about to play matches for the Army and was keen to get match practice. That he did in a tight first set, with Snellgrove showing his all court skills and excellent balance, well backed up by purposeful tennis from De Marco. Games were close as Williams and Flint were matched by the B pair with good attacking tennis. The set was decided by Williams’ ability to finish points and the A team pair got through 6-4 and then, with Flint showing increased confidence they took the second 6-1.

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Williams and Flint then went on to play a good looking game against Truscott and Boldis. All four players showed their shot making skills, but with the tighter play of Williams and Flint winning more points, it was the A team pair who won through 6-0, 6-2.

Corcoran and Webb then had a tight first set against Snellgrove and De Marco, rather as Williams and Flint had done, but came home 6-4, 6-1.

The final score was 8-0 to the A team , but the B team had played with spirit and will have learnt from the experience and benefit from it in upcoming matches. The A team will be looking to win all of their matches and regain the Winter Title.

The Ladies team also started their season with a division two match against Hampshire court indoors at Balksbury. The Hampshire Court team could only field one pair so that the best they could do was to draw. Andover pair, Sophie Annett and Clare Thain had a close match against them but had more consistency and fought through to a 7-5, 7-5 win. Claire Reid and Christine Pickford have more experience and had a straightforward win 6-1, 6-3.

The team gained an 8-0 win and will aim to get promotion this season.




Adult Doubles Coaching Masterclass with Josh...

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We are organising a Doubles Coaching Masterclass with Josh on Sunday 17th November 2019

All Adult Club Members and Juniors (who play in Club Teams) are welcome to come along and refresh their skills ... The session is suitable for Improver level and above (if you can serve and rally come along!) Sunday lunch is also available plus FREE Club play in afternoon (if you fancy even more Tennis!).

10am - 12 noon - Coaching Doubles Masterclass with Josh
12 noon- 1pm - Sunday Lunch
1pm - 3pm - FREE Club Play

Members = £5.00
Non-members = £10.00
Sunday lunch = £5.00 (please speak to Margaret with any special dietary requirements)

You are welcome to book both or just one of the above (why not invite your partner/family for lunch too?)

Spaces are limited so please book early to avoid disappointment... Write your name on the board in the clubhouse and pay cash to Josh or Margaret before Wednesday 13th November.

A great Social Family day at the club with Coaching, Doubles Play and a delicious lunch - all with fantastic value for money…

2019 Club Championships Finals Weekend ... a smashing event...

Ladies Doubles Winners; Jennie Pope and Kate Norton with Guest of Honour Andrew Moraghan

Ladies Doubles Winners; Jennie Pope and Kate Norton with Guest of Honour Andrew Moraghan

The Club held its 46th Annual Club Championships last weekend. Great matches were played in glorious weather and well supported by many spectators.

Full reports are published below.

Mixed winners; Jacob Webb and Kate Gailey

Mixed winners; Jacob Webb and Kate Gailey


Thank you to everyone - players, parents, spectators, members, volunteers, Guest of Honours and organisers for making the 2019 Club Championship Finals Weekend such an event to remember. .