The time has long gone when tennis was almost exclusively a Summer pastime, such has been the advent of indoor facilities and all year round training and competition, though if the weather is kind, the racquets will be out in force and there will be an endless programme of tennis activities over the next few months for tennis enthusiasts of all ages and standards. Indeed, for many of our rural clubs without the luxury of indoor courts or even floodlights, the Summer remains the time when club activities really flourish once again.
Participation is very much at the top of the LTA’s priorities at the moment, as best demonstrated by such initiatives as Places to Play and All Play. Christ- church Park Tennis is a wonderful example of encouraging people to try out the game in the Park, and it was good to see this hive of tennis activity winning the award for “Best Facility” at the recent Suffolk LTA Awards Evening. For more information on Christchurch Park Tennis, visit their website at : http:/ www.ipswichparktennis.co.uk
General play and Club play are essential requirements of any thriving Club programme, as indeed are the competitive challenges for players young and old at all levels of the game. Suffolk has a well supported league programme, as best demonstrated by the Ipswich and District League and the thriving Lowestoft and District League in the north. For the more accomplished competitors there are the Aegon Senior and Junior nationwide leagues, the Ipswich Sports Club leading the way last season with a fine performance.
There are also the usual high number of inter-county fixtures for juniors, seniors and veterans, leading to the Summer County Cup in July where our indomitable Men take on the challenge of Group 2 at Cromer. Indeed, the action starts this weekend for our 14 and Unders with their County Cup event. Our Boys’ team of Ben Jones, Jared Bones, William Cooke-Wharton, Antonio Capasso and Jonathan Simmonds compete in Group D at the West Middlesex Tennis Club against Hertfordshire, Northamptonshire and Bedfordshire.
The Boys will be under the watchful eye of Matt Hough, with Chris Daynes and Sheelagh Watts travelling with our Girls to Oxford Sports Tennis Club. The Girls’ squad of Nia Braidford, Philippa Clarke, Olivia Hine, Flora McWhirter and Florence McCausland also compete in Group D, and will be playing Somerset, Northamptonshire and Bedfordshire. Ollie Sutton and Ben Roberts-Law will also be on duty this weekend, looking after various teams competing in the annual East Region Lionel Cox Trophy, being held at Queenswood School.
For the less experienced players there is the inter-district Suffolk Youth Games at Bury in July, and before we know it, our well-proven Tournament Programme will be underway, leading to the Suffolk Junior Closed at the end of August. Our 14 and Unders have the Road to Wimbledon national competition to look forward to, and with the Olympic tennis event just a few weeks after Wimbledon, there really is a feast of tennis to enjoy for players, spectators and tennis organizers. Let’s hope the weather will be kind, the tennis will be hard-fought and enjoyed, and that the Summer 2012 will be one to remember for all involved.