Eaton Bray Lawn Tennis Club

Posted on June 2, 2009

Don't forget our annual Play Tennis Day, which we're holding as part of the National Lawn Tennis Association's 'Play Tennis' days.

It's on Saturday 20th June at the courts from 12.00am to 3pm.

This is a free tennis taster session for both adults and children, members and nonmembers, so you can bring along as many friends and family as you can muster; we'll have spectacular offers available for any new members joining on the day!

We'll be having a go at putting up our gazebo, and if it's windy it's worth coming along just to watch that event alone; last year never had so many committee members had so little success in so long a time in such strong a wind. It didn't help that the instructions blew away as soon as we opened the box and flew off towards Billington, so bring your camera; it could be worth a shot of us all crumpled in a heap in the mud underneath various poles and a hundred square metres of uncomplying white canvass. Anyway, once we do get it up, there'll be lots of fun tennis related games and activities, competitions such as Fastest Serve and Longest Rally against the Coach, free giveaways, tennis equipment and clothes for sale, plus our famous BBQ (small charge applies but there'll be up to 48 menu options)! Our ball machine may make a special appearance too... so come along and have some fun for a few hours, even if just to sit in the sun with a burger and chips (bring your own chips...)

The recent blue skies have encouraged our fair weather players back onto the courts for our social tennis sessions on Sunday mornings and Tuesday evenings. In fact our Tuesday evening session has been extended to run from 6pm to 9pm, so that those who may work late still have the opportunity to come along. Last Sunday morning was a good example as 15 finely honed athletes demonstrated their skills, competitiveness and amazing fitness levels. Then I switched off the rugby, and went down to the courts for some tennis to join a dozen somewhat different looking individuals, but nonetheless equally enjoying a gentle run-around in the sun and hitting a few balls now and then, when one fortuously went anywhere near a racquet. My best effort was a thunderbolt of a backhand that headed straight for the tramlines; unfortunately they were those in Birmingham rather than on the courts. Then I was aced by membership secretary Jon Moon; thinking back I'd had time to make a cup of tea whilst that ball went past me but I still missed it. I made a mental note to work on my reflexes. Well, work on them when I get some.

The summer South Beds league season has started with, I think it's fair to say, mixed results so far. Whilst our Ladies team is performing admirably, the team I represent, the infamous Men's D team, has been less fortunate. Our last outing was to Flitwick and Ampthill where the highlight of the evening was a spectacular tea of crusty baguettes, ham, cheese, pasta salad, coleslaw and tomatoes, all consumed in their clubhouse in the company of their adopted cat 'Hoop'. It certainly made up for our performance on court, where we didn't unduly trouble the scorers. Team captain Glenn Wigley is a great motivator however, and told us we'd all played to the very best of our abilities.

Which unfortunately weren't good enough and so we're all dropped. Well that's what I think he really meant, but he was very nice about it. I look forward to my next callup and promise to do better next time. I really must focus on the tennis part of the evenings, rather than spend my time on court trying to lose as quickly as possible so I can get to the after-match tea and choose the largest piece of baguette.

For any further information about the club, including when we get together for our social tennis sessions up at the School Lane courts, or our various activities, you can visit our website at www.ebltc.org.uk; alternatively contact Bernadette Hillman, Coach Nick Boys, or if they're all out and I'm not having an argument with a gazebo, me, Andy Cross.

Source: Focus, June 2009