Category: Tennis News

Our new single court is now finished and open for play.  Come and enjoy!  If you’ve missed the process and are interested in what’s been involved, here are some pictures:

Stage 1: Cut up and remove the old astroturf:

Stage 2: Dig out the old base and replace with a deep granite foundation, raising the court to the same level as our other three:

Stage 3:  Build a new, raised court surround:

Stage 4: Lay and roll the new tarmac base:

Stage 5: Lay and cut the new astroturf, and apply the sand infill:

Stage 6:  Complete!

FINALS DAY
Amazing weather (at last) and some excellent, close matches made for a great Finals Day last weekend.  CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WINNERS of this year’s Club Championships: Mixed Doubles: Alison Courtney & Neil Lovett (bt Tory Houghton & Mike Allen 7-6, 6-4); Men’s Singles: Josh Ponting (bt James Stoddart 6-4, 6-4); Senior Men’s Singles: James Stoddart (bt Neil Lovett 6-4, 6-2); Ladies Doubles: Alison Courtney & Sarah Stoddart (bt Georgie Ponting & Jenny Collins 7-5, 6-2); Men’s Doubles: Josh & Phil Ponting (bt Simon Cottingham & Rhys Lewis 6-3, 4-6, 6-3). 

And THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO’S TAKEN PART in the Championships this summer and made them such enjoyable competitions, played in a great and friendly spirit in matches from May right through to September.                                           

NEW COURT / CLUB SESSIONS
Work is moving on fast with the BUILDING OF OUR NEW SINGLE COURT.  The final stage, laying the new surface, will start later this week, and if the weather’s kind the court should be open and ready for play in the first part of next, hopefully about Tuesday 10^th.  Talking of Tuesdays, our TUESDAY CLUB SESSIONS have now moved to the afternoon, starting every week at 1.30.  So if you’re free and haven’t got a game arranged, come and join in.  So our CLUB SESSIONS are now on TUESDAY AFTERNOONS, 1.30 TILL 3.30, and SUNDAY AFTERNOONS, 1.30 TILL 3.30.  Everyone is very welcome.

HOME MATCHES
The Winter League season starts this coming weekend.
GOOD LUCK to all our teams!

OPENING HOME MATCHES  [each match 2 courts]:
SATURDAY 7^th, 1 pm:  Men’s A v David Lloyd
SUNDAY 8^th, 10 am:  Men’s E v Hanney
WEDNESDAY 11^th, 10 am:  Ladies Midweek v Kingston Bagpuize
SATURDAY 14^th, 1 pm: Ladies A v Oxford Sports; Ladies D v Abingdon
SUNDAY 15^th 10 am:  Ladies C v Hanney

TOURNAMENTS AND FINALS DAY
Thanks to everyone who’s taken part in this summer’s CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP and made it such an enjoyable event.  The FINALS will take place on SATURDAY 23 SEPTEMBER.

PLEASE COME ALONG AND SUPPORT the finalists and watch some great tennis. The bar will be open and there’ll be hot drinks and ‘nibbles’ available.  The order of play is:

SATURDAY 23^rd SEPTEMBER, 12 NOON:
Men’s singles (Josh Ponting vs James Stoddart)
Mixed doubles (Neil Lovett/Alison Courtney vs Mike Allen/Tory Houghton)
Followed (after a short break) by:
Ladies doubles (Alison Courtney/Sarah Stoddart vs Jenny Collins/Georgie Ponting)
Senior Men’s singles (James Stoddart vs Neil Lovett)
*** If anyone would be willing to umpire one of the matches please let Freddie Page know on 07388 080 377. ***

AND THANKS LIKEWISE TO ALL who made last month’s TIE-BREAK TOURNAMENT such a fun afternoon, and congrats to winners Jackie Orton and Nick Hawker (above) and runners-up Barry Orton and Helen Belmont.
WE’LL RUN ANOTHER SUNDAY TOURNAMENT SOON TO WELCOME IN OUR NEW COURT!

Talking of which…

CLUB DEVELOPMENT
Work has begun on schedule for the REBUILDING OF OUR SINGLE COURT.  The first step was cutting up and removing the old carpet (pictured).  Next will be the laying of a much-needed protective membrane over the old (and subsiding) base, followed by the installation of a complete, proper foundation of granite, raising it to the same level as the other three courts (next picture). This will then be resurfaced with tarmac and finally the new astroturf carpet will be laid.  It’s a big and urgently needed job, so thanks for your patience while it’s being done.

On the COURT LIGHTING front, there’s a slight delay before a decision can be made on our application, owing to extra surveying being required following our PEA (Preliminary Ecological Appraisal).  We’ve booked these surveys to be carried out this month, the first has already happened, and we hope to have definite news to bring you very soon.

TEAM TENNIS
The Summer League season is almost complete.  Many thanks and well done to everyone who’s played for our Club.  It’s been a strong season for Woodstock’s teams (you can always follow the club’s League fortunes on https://wbtc.org.uk/fixtures/).  A couple of our teams have gone very close, just missing out on promotion, but at the time of writing, with just a match or two left to play, our Men’s A have a great chance of winning their division and certainly of winning promotion; likewise our Mixed B.  Our Ladies D have won promotion for sure – many congrats! – and our Men’s Midweek team have again won the Midweek League.

With a lot of members wanting to play team tennis we’ve entered an extra Men’s team in the Winter League.  Do join our team squads.  It’s FUN!  And it will IMPROVE YOUR PLAY!  We’ve teams across a wide ability range and are always delighted to add new players to the squads.  Your commitment can be as regular (preferably!) or irregular as you want or are able to make it.  If you’re not yet involved and would like to be, just let us know by emailing woodstocktennisclub@gmail.com.

And talking of improving your play…

AUTUMN COACHING CLINICS
Our excellent coaching programme starts this week! For all the details click on https://wbtc.org.uk/junior-coaching/ (for juniors) and https://wbtc.org.uk/adult-coaching/ (for adults).

In addition, our Head Coach Tom Francis is delivering coaching clinics in the next few weeks, on Tuesday lunchtimes between 12:30-1:30pm, starting from Tuesday 19th September and then on the following dates: 19/09, 26/09, 03/10, 10/10, 17/10.
Each session will concentrate on a particular shot / game situation:
Week 1: Consistency when both back (keeping your opponent back with height and depth)
Week 2: Cover territory (know when to volley and hit through the middle)
Week 3: Technical work around the serve and server’s partner
Week 4: Smashing / Overhead
Week 5: Returning Cross Court / Line (decision-making and playing high-percentage shots)

All sessions have a capacity of 8 places and are given on a first come, first served basis

There are two options for this course (Booking Links are beside the courses)
1) You can book ad hoc / individual sessions (Pay As You Go): Woodstock Coaching Clinics – Ad Hoc Sessions – Tuesdays 12:30 – 1:30pm – Book Here
2) You can sign up to the course of 5 weeks (saving of £15.00): Woodstock Coaching Clinics – Course of 5 Lessons (All Sessions) – Book Here

SOCIAL and PRACTICE TENNIS
As always, whenever you’re wanting a friendly, social game, our welcoming and inclusive Club Sessions run all the year round.  They’re currently on TUESDAYS FROM 5.30 ONWARDS and SUNDAYS 1.30 – 3.30.  And on THURSDAYS FROM 5.30 ONWARDS there are Team Practice Nights for all members keen to play team tennis.

HOME FIXTURES COMING UP
[each match 2 courts]:
SATURDAY 16^th, 1 pm: Men’s B v Bicester
SUNDAY 17^th, 10 am:  Ladies B v Witney
SATURDAY 23^rd, 12 noon: CLUB FINALS DAY!

CLUB DEVELOPMENT
In the next “What’s On” we hope to have the outcome of our planning application for the installation of court lighting: we’re in the final stages, with an ecological appraisal before WODC gives a decision.  Meanwhile…

The refurbishment of Court 4 (our single court) will be starting in the week beginning 4 September.  It’ll take the whole month and possibly longer (it’s a big job, essentially building a brand new court:  to address the multiple problems with the court we’re constructing a complete new base to raise it to the same level as our other courts, as well as laying a new surface).  But the other three courts will be unaffected throughout, and available for play as usual.  Please expect car park space to be reduced.  And please take care at all times when entering and leaving, and be understanding if there is noise or any obstruction at any point.  It’s in a very good cause!  SUNDAY TOURNAMENT, 20 AUGUST
To cheer us up after the dreary weather we’re holding a special, sociable Sunday Tournament, with the added attraction of post-match strawberries and Pimms!  It’s on the afternoon of SUNDAY 20 AUGUST.  It’ll be a doubles tournament with partners changing every game, so you don’t need a partner to enter.   To enter, simply email woodstocktennisclub@gmail.com saying “Yes!  I/we want to play in the tournament on Sunday 20^th!”

SUMMER HOLIDAY TENNIS CAMPS
The second of our popular Tennis Camps for Juniors will be running on
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday 21st, 22nd and 23rd August
9.00 am – 11.00 am:  5-9 years
11.15 am – 1.15 pm:  10-16 years
To secure your child’s booking, please click on
Woodstock Tennis Club, Junior Tennis Camps Summer 2023 – Book Here
*** Members please note that on these mornings of the Junior Camps a couple of courts will be free from 9 till 11 and the single court will be available from 11 till 1.15.  After that all four courts will be free as usual.

SOCIAL and PRACTICE TENNIS
Our friendly and inclusive Club Sessions are thriving.  Everyone is welcome.  They’re on TUESDAYS FROM 5.30 ONWARDS and SUNDAYS 1.30 – 3.30.  And on THURSDAYS FROM 5.30 ONWARDS there are Team Practice Nights for all members keen to play team tennis.

COACHING
Wanting to improve your game?  Booking is now open for the Autumn Term of our excellent coaching programme for juniors and adults.  All the details of dates, times, prices and how to book are on our website pages https://wbtc.org.uk/junior-coaching/ (for juniors) and https://wbtc.org.uk/adult-coaching/ (for adults).

HOME MATCHES THIS MONTH  [each match 2 courts]:
WEDNESDAY 9^th, 10 am:  Ladies Midweek v Bampton
SATURDAY 12^th, 10 am:  Ladies C v Kingston Bagpuize;
                                           Men’s C v Wychwoods
***[N.B. Very unusually, we have two matches this Saturday morning]***
                              1 pm: Men’s A v Norham Gardens
SUNDAY 13^th, 10 am:  Ladies A v Faringdon
SATURDAY 19^th, 1 pm: Mixed B v North Oxford; Mixed C v Benson
SUNDAY 20^th 10 am:  Men’s D v Oxford City
SATURDAY 26^th, 1 pm: Men’s B v Bicester; Men’s D v North Oxford
SUNDAY 27^th 10 am:  Ladies D v Abingdon
WEDNESDAY 30^th, 10 am:  Ladies Midweek v Portcullis
SATURDAY 2^nd September, 1 pm:  Ladies B v Wantage

We’ll be bringing news shortly of the progress of our planning application for the installation of court lighting.  News, too, of the refurbishment of Court 4 (our single court), which will be happening in September.  Also news of Finals Day of the Club Tournament.  Meanwhile…  ADULT COACHING: SPECIAL NEW SESSIONS
There are just a few places remaining on our special new Adult Coaching Camp.  The 3-day course is on 24th, 26th & 28th July, in 2-hour sessions across 3 evenings, Monday, Wednesday and Friday.  On the Friday we’ll have the bar open and some food on offer: please do stay on for a drink and pizza! All members are welcome to join the participants for a drink at the bar from 8 pm at the end of the Camp on Friday 28th.
All the details are here:  Woodstock Tennis Club – Adult intensive Camp – Book Here

AND FOR JUNIORS… SUMMER HOLIDAY TENNIS CAMPS
We’re delighted to say that our popular Tennis Camps for Juniors will be running in two weeks of the Summer Holidays:
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday 31st July, 1st and 2nd August
9.00 am – 11.00 am:  5-9 years
11.15 am – 1.15 pm:  10-16 years
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday 21st, 22nd and 23rd August
9.00 am – 11.00 am:  5-9 years
11.15 am – 1.15 pm:  10-16 years
Places are offered on a first come, first served basis so please book early to avoid disappointment.  To secure your child’s booking, please click on the link below and scroll down to book the camp you wish your child to attend:
Woodstock Tennis Club, Junior Tennis Camps Summer 2023 – Book Here

SOCIAL and PRACTICE TENNIS
Our friendly and inclusive Club Sessions are thriving.  Everyone is welcome.  They’re on TUESDAYS FROM 5.30 ONWARDS and SUNDAYS 1.30 – 3.30.  And on THURSDAYS FROM 5.30 ONWARDS there are Team Practice Nights for all members keen to play team tennis.

COURTS TIMETABLE / DATES TO NOTE
Please note that on the mornings of the Junior Tennis Camps on Mon, Tues and Weds, 31 July and 1 and 2 August, a couple of courts will be free from 9 till 11 and the single court will be available from 11 till 1.15.  After that all four courts will be free as usual.
If ever in doubt about court availability, please check our very simple Courts Timetable on https://wbtc.org.uk/courts-timetable/.  And at weekends, note the days that have matches, which are usually finished by about 4.30 (morning matches by about 1 pm).

HOME MATCHES COMING UP  [each match 2 courts]:

JULY
SATURDAY 15^th, 1 pm:  Men’s B v Bicester; Men’s D v Oxford City
WEDNESDAY 19^th, 10 am: Men’s Midweek v N. Oxford     

SATURDAY 22^nd, 1 pm: Ladies B v Witney;
Ladies D v Benson
THURSDAY 27^th, 10 am: Ladies Midweek v Wantage
SATURDAY 29^th, 1 pm:  Mixed A v Abingdon

AUGUST
WEDNESDAY 9^th, 10 am:  Ladies Midweek v Bampton
SATURDAY 12^th, 10 am:  Ladies C v Kingston Bagpuize
    1 pm: Men’s A v Norham Gardens; Men’s C v Wychwoods
SUNDAY 13^th, 10 am:  Ladies A v Faringdon

We are pleased to confirm that the Tennis Committee has now submitted a planning application to West Oxfordshire District Council for the installation of court lighting at Woodstock (as sanctioned by our AGM in 2019). 

Crucially, this is NOT an application for floodlights on columns, for which planning permission would be hard to secure.  It’s something very different.  We’re applying to install an innovative new tennis court lighting system called Tweener.  Tweener has been developed in France by the company NLX.  Ingeniously, instead of being mounted on pylons, LED lights are mounted in continuous strips along the side fences of courts.  For a clear image of this, see the following video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_TxCjZII8E

NLX began exporting in 2019.  Tweener is proving extremely successful (and award-winning), with more than 700 installations now across Europe, not only throughout France but in Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Greece, and in 25 countries worldwide.  In France, installations of Tweener are now outstripping those of conventional pylon lighting.  And Tweener has been installed in some of the most prestigious and beautiful venues there, including the Mouratoglou Academy, one of the premier tennis academies in the world.  Other notable installations are at the Monte Carlo Tennis Club in Monaco and the Alberto Bonacossa Club in Milan.

To appreciate how elegant and unobtrusive the system is, note that in the picture below of Mouratoglou, we are seeing the back of one lighting strip along the fence in the bottom right corner; the second is the strip of light in the middle of the picture, two courts away.  Beyond it, another pair of courts is similarly lit by two strips.

MOURATOGLOU TENNIS ACADEMY

MONTE CARLO TENNIS CLUB
In this picture of Monte Carlo, we can see Tweener installed in the pair of courts in the middle distance: one strip of light is visible on the right of the courts, the other fixed on the wall to the left.

ALBERTO BONACOSSA CLUB, MILAN

The running costs of Tweener are approximately 50% those of conventional lighting.  The carbon footprint is further (hugely) reduced because construction, transportation and installation are so simple.  Instead of closing the club for two to three weeks to allow heavy machinery to excavate courts, lay cables and erect lighting pylons, installation will take about two days: there is no excavation, no laying of cables and no erection of pylons – the Tweener strips are simply delivered to the Club and attached to the fences by brackets.

Tweener is now taking off in the UK.  In March, Woodstock club members visited and play-tested installations at three different clubs, in London, Devon and Manchester.  Neil Lovett visited Totnes Tennis Club in Devon, Rhys Lewis visited Our Lady of Muswell Tennis Club in North London, and Phil Reid, Tom Francis and Nigel Bryant visited Baxter Park Tennis Club in Cheadle, Manchester.  Their reports have been sent to all members.  If you have not received this package, please let us know.

ADULT COACHING: NEW THIS YEAR!

Led by Head Coach Tom Francis, we’re running a special new Adult Coaching Camp at the Club this summer.  The 3-day course is on 24th, 26th & 28th July, in 2-hour sessions across 3 days, Monday, Wednesday and Friday.  Content will include: Basket Drills, Live Balls Drills, Stroke Analysis, Breakdown of game situations, Doubles & Singles Tactics.  

On the Friday we will have the bar open and some food on offer: please do stay on for a drink and pizza! All members are welcome to join the participants for a drink at the bar from 8pm at the end of the Camp on Friday 28th.  Booking for the camp is now open.  Places are limited and will be offered on a first come, first served basis. All the details are here:  Woodstock Tennis Club – Adult intensive Camp – Book Here

SOCIAL and PRACTICE TENNIS
Our friendly and inclusive Club Sessions are thriving.  Everyone is welcome.  They’re on TUESDAYS FROM 5.30 ONWARDS and SUNDAYS 1.30 – 3.30.  And on THURSDAYS FROM 5.30 ONWARDS there are Team Practice Nights for all members keen to play team tennis. 

COURTS TIMETABLE / DATES TO NOTE
If ever in doubt about court availability, please check our very simple Courts Timetable on https://wbtc.org.uk/courts-timetable/.  Just two exceptions coming up:
** WEDNESDAY 21 JUNE: Unusually we have two home Midweek League matches on the same morning.  Please note: on Weds 21 all 4 courts will be busy from 9.30 till 12.30.
** SUNDAY 2 JULY: We have a home match in the LTA National League at 4 pm on Sunday 2^nd July.  All four courts will be busy from 4 till about 5.30, then two courts will be in use.

HOME MATCHES COMING UP [each match 2 courts]:
SATURDAY 17^th, 1 pm:  Mixed A v Wychwoods; Mixed C v Blewbury
WEDNESDAY 21^st, 10 am: Ladies Midweek v Wantage; Men’s Midweek v Faringdon
SATURDAY 24^th, 1 pm:  Men’s D v Witney
SATURDAY 1^st, 1 pm:  Men’s A v Kingston Bagpuize
SUNDAY 2^nd, 10 am:  Ladies A v Bicester; 4 pm:  Men’s National League v Cholsey
SATURDAY 8^th, 1 pm:  Mixed B  v Faringdon; Mixed C v Oxford Sports

HENMANS TOURNAMENT
Monday 29 May to Friday 2 June
A quick reminder that in half-term week we’re staging our annual Henmans Junior Tournament sponsored by Freeths solicitors, a great event entering its second quarter-century!  Please note that THE COURTS WILL BE BUSY EACH DAY THAT WEEK (MONDAY TO FRIDAY) UNTIL ABOUT 5 PM, but will be FREE STRAIGHT AFTER, AND CLUB NIGHTS WILL RUN AS USUAL.

ADULT COACHING: NEW THIS YEAR!
Our excellent coaches are offering a special new Adult Coaching Camp at the Club this summer.  The 3-day course will take place on 26th, 27th & 28th July. The course will be 2-hour intensive sessions across 3 days, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.  Content will include: Basket Drills, Live Balls Drills, Stroke Analysis, Breakdown of game situations, Doubles & Singles Tactics.  Sessions will be delivered by Head Coach Tom Francis & Ben Coomber.
On the Friday we will have the bar open and some food on offer: please do stay on for a drink and pizza!  Booking is now open.  Places are limited and will be offered on a first come, first served basis. All the details are here: https://clubspark.lta.org.uk/Fortyfifteentenniscoaching/Coaching/Camp?courseID=e89491f7-d317-4d42-a0e4-0c485ee7ee26

SOCIAL and PRACTICE TENNIS
Our friendly and inclusive Club Sessions are thriving.  Everyone is welcome.  They’re on TUESDAYS FROM 5.30 ONWARDS and SUNDAYS 1.30 – 3.30.  And on THURSDAYS FROM 5.30 ONWARDS there are Team Practice Nights for all members keen to play team tennis.

HOME MATCHES COMING UP [each match 2 courts]:
SATURDAY 27^th, 1 pm:  Mixed B v Cholsey; Ladies D v Blewbury D
SATURDAY 3^rd, 1 pm:  Ladies D v Blewbury C
WEDNESDAY 7^th, 10 am Ladies Midweek v North Oxford
SATURDAY 10^th, 1 pm:  Ladies C v Portcullis; Men’s C v Oxford City
SATURDAY 17^th, 1 pm:  Mixed A v Wychwoods; Mixed C v Blewbury

The sun image may be a bit optimistic… but in spite of the mostly gloomy April we hope you’ve been playing loads of tennis, and let’s hope May will be kinder and we’ll all play even more.  There’s a lot going on….

CLUB TOURNAMENT:  All the details are on the board in the clubhouse conservatory.  Enjoy your matches, and please keep results coming in.

TEAM TENNIS:  The Summer League season has just begun.  If you’re interested in playing team tennis and are not yet involved, be sure to let us know (just reply to this email).

SOCIAL and PRACTICE TENNIS:
Our friendly and inclusive Club Sessions are thriving.  Everyone is welcome.  They’re on TUESDAYS FROM 5.30 ONWARDS and SUNDAYS 1.30 – 3.30.  And on THURSDAYS FROM 5.30 ONWARDS there are Team Practice Nights for all members keen to play team tennis.

COACHING:
All the details of the great coaching on offer are on the website: https://wbtc.org.uk/adult-coaching/ and https://wbtc.org.uk/junior-coaching/.

COURTS TIMETABLE
In spite of all the activity on court, the timetable is still very simple.  If ever in doubt about when courts are available, just check on https://wbtc.org.uk/courts-timetable/

TO NOTE LATER THIS MONTH:
Coming up at half-term (week beginning Monday 29 May) is our annual Henmans Junior Tournament sponsored by Freeths, a great event now entering its second quarter-century!  Please note that the courts will be busy each day that week until about 5 pm, but will be free as usual each evening, and Club Nights are unaffected.

HOME MATCHES THIS MONTH  [each match 2 courts]:
SATURDAY 13^th, 1 pm:  Ladies A v N. Oxford; Ladies B v N. Oxford
SUNDAY 14^th, 10 am:  Ladies C v Norham Gardens
SATURDAY 20^th, 1 pm:  Men’s A v Faringdon; Men’s C v Brackley
SUNDAY 21^st, 10 am:  Men’s B v Wantage
SATURDAY 27^th, 1 pm:  Ladies D v Blewbury; Mixed B v Cholsey

And if with all your matches, practice, coaching and social play your racket needs a RESTRING, Club member Bob Coomber offers a quick and expert service.  You can contact Bob on 07484 368977 or email bob.coomber@icloud.com