Summer on its way – further relaxation of guidelines 17th May

Dear All,

As I sit here looking at the rain I am happy the garden is getting what it needed even if its not good tennis weather.

The booking system is renewed for another year and all 2020 members have their FOC renewals for 2021 in place to recognise their commitment to the club during 2020.

We have a few new members and local folks are using the facilities now and then so things are gradually getting back to normal.

After 2020 we all need this summer to get our fitness levels back on track and to enjoy some fresh air and sunshine.

The committee have been working on the updating plans for the clubhouse, currently waiting on builders to finish their quotes to rebuild the end wall, the veranda and to insulate the clubhouse to be warmer in the winter.

We will then fit a new kitchen area and refresh the decoration – we might be looking for volunteers later to help out!

Also, if things go in the right direction we were discussing maybe a social event at the end of the summer, perhaps a social tennis evening and BBQ?

Let us know if that might be something you would be interested in.

 

Steve

Tennis returns – 29th March

Dear Members

The LTA have shared the play restrictions that will come into place on the 29th of March.

Here is a simple table defining the limitations that will apply from the 29th

https://mistertontennis.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/C-19-29th-March-Tennis-Rules-2021.pdf 

The LTA recognises the impact of COVID-19 on everyone in Great Britain, however tennis is a naturally socially distanced sport that involves participants stood a significant distance away from each other with a net in between. As such the LTA believes that tennis is a safe sport for participants to engage in as long as they follow the correct procedures. Tennis provides significant physical and mental health benefits to participants, and so can play a role in helping to safely maintain the health and wellbeing of the nation.

We understand and share the disappointment amongst the tennis community that our sport has had to be suspended under the Government’s national lockdown restrictions in England. 

The LTA has continued to push for tennis to be allowed to resume at the earliest stage of any easing of restrictions.. Players up and down the country want to get back on court, whilst coaches, venues and officials have again been affected by this latest lockdown.

National Lockdown – Courts Closed

Dear all,

The government announced a National lockdown starting today.

All sports facilities inside and outside closed until further notice.

Keep well everyone – lets hope for a lowering of restrictions in a few weeks.

 

 

Courts reopening – 3rd December

Dear club members,

In line with the latest info from the government we are opening the courts again on the morning of the 3rd December.

  • As before and as we are in a Tier 2 location the rule of 6 applies so in practical terms it means singles and doubles play with others not in your family bubble is allowed.
  • The club house can be entered to use the toilet facility and to turn on the lights but gathering in the clubhouse should be avoided.
  • The booking system should be used as normal.
  • We will allow guests and visitors in accordance with the club rules.
  • Social tennis should be restricted to a maximum of 6 per court and no mixing between courts, we will expect members to follow the guidance and not exceed the number of players.
  • Those playing should sign in or register using their smart phones as before.

Courts closed from midnight 4th November 2020

Dear All,

The latest news from the LTA – 2nd November 2020 
 
“The Government have today indicated that they won’t be allowing outdoor tennis courts to open in England during the period of the new national restrictions that come into force from Thursday.”
 
In order to comply the courts will be closed from midnight Wednesday 4th November until Wednesday the 2nd of December.
 
Best wishes to all  – keep walking and cycling and be ready for when we can play again.
 
 

Message from the Chairman

MISTERTON TENNIS CLUB CHAIRMAN’S REPORT 2019/20

Well what a year we have experienced in my inaugural year as Chairman. 

In November we had a particularly successful Presentation Evening at the Haselbury Mill. We were given a comfortable private room and had a great meal. The staff were particularly kind and considerate. Unfortunately, it is an occasion which cannot be repeated this year. In December we had our major annual fundraiser, the Christmas Bingo night. This was successful, but takings were slightly down from the previous year.  Later, in December I am v pleased to say that the Chairman’s bash was the best attended in living memory, thanks to everyone for bringing drinks and nibbles, particularly to Steve Beach for the bottle of vintage whisky!  

In February we had a very well attended quiz night at the Globe which raised £275. Also, later in the winter we were just about able to finish the winter Mixed league with the pleasing news that our team managed to stay in Division 2 after their previous year’s promotion.

We now come onto Covid. In March we were forced to close the courts following national advice form the LTA and government. Happily, in May we were able to re-open, initially following strict guidelines about ball use and the need for private bookings. Later in the summer we were able to resume club sessions. I would like to thank members for being so good in following guidelines and showing tolerance during these difficult times. Although summer matches were severely disrupted, the ladies A team has managed to complete a truncated and friendly summer league.

Let us hope that a successful vaccine is available some time in the forthcoming year so that our tennis can get back to normal. In the meantime, I know that the club will be providing hand sanitisers for everyone to use before playing. We also hope to complete the full decoration of the extension and alter sections of the clubhouse during the forthcoming year.

Bob Waterhouse.

2020 AGM – Postponed

Dear Members

The 2020 Annual General Meeting of the Misterton Tennis Club will be postponed until March 2021.

The committee decided to postpone the meeting as there would be no way for the majority of the members to attend with the current restrictions in place.

The current committee members will stay in place until then but we are always looking for new members with fresh ideas.

Please think about standing for committee (Team Captains automatically become committee members)

Wishing everyone in the community well, especially our members.

Changes to Social sessions – Track and Trace

Dear All,

You will find all the social sessions are blocked out on the booking system as usual.
 
However – there is a need for social sessions to be tracked from now on.
 
With immediate effect each player who attends a social tennis session must write their name in the book in the clubhouse.
This will be easiest if one player takes responsibility to do this.
 
This will be essential if we have a need to address a Track and Trace request due to someone falling ill.
 
Also note that gathering must still be avoided so no one should be standing in the clubhouse for any reason other than to use the toilet facilities – especially important if it starts to rain that members do not all retreat to the club house.

August Members Update

Hope everyone is keeping well – Tennis is gradually getting back to a new normal with social tennis back on the agenda.
We had a question raised about the social session times for Monday and received feedback from members on that proposal.
 
Last night the committee concluded that nothing will change to the existing social times for Monday without a vote at the AGM.
 
In relation to that at the next AGM we will be raising amendments to the constitution to update aspects of social play and the booking system – it will be useful if all members attend the AGM to have their say.
 
However somewhat in conflict with the principle of AGM based decisions for social play sessions two aspects of the current situation needed to be addressed urgently.
 
Firstly we still have a drop in adult membership and secondly a rise in demand for coaching for possible new members on Wednesday evenings.
 
Secondly we need to better support the working population who can’t make the daytime sessions.
 
To address this we have relaxed the hold on Wednesday social time to give John some flexibility for extending coaching for these new prospective members and have set up a new Social session for Friday evening from 18:30 to 21:00 hrs to attract those who would like to play in the evenings.
 
These changes were made based on the historic usage of the courts over the last 6 months.
 
Some other news which you might have been aware of relates to our club finances.
We were approached by South Somerset District Council during June to bid for a grant offered by government to protect clubs and associations during these difficult times – we were successful and took receipt of £10,000.
Your club committee will be deliberating on the current programme of works and how best to utilise this windfall.
As usual members input on how we use our funds to develop the club are warmly invited.
 
Finally to just update everyone on the aspect of visitor play  – we now have a key safe by the gate to the courts so we can support visitor play, visitors can book court time (up to 1 hour) and members can bring guests, however payment is now via the booking system and Paypal.
 
A visitor is deemed to be a local resident from Misterton or the surrounding villages.
 
Visitors and members are reminded to follow the well established guidelines for correct attire and especially correct non marking footwear.
 
 
Best wishes to all and enjoy your tennis!