Welcome to Flitwick and Ampthill Lawn Tennis Club

Tennis in the heart of Bedfordshire

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A very warm welcome to new senior member Alison Billington who joined the club in September 2010.
		Interested in becoming a member of the Flitwick & Ampthill tennis club? Then click on the Membership link above to download the 2010 application form

Club News and Events

CLUB TOURNAMENT 2010
	FINALS DAY Saturday 11th September 2010

The 2010 Tennis Club Open Day Report
Saturday 10 July 2010 A sterling effort was put into marketing this event this year notably by Annie and Sara with at least 3 schools either sending out leaflets or including articles in their newsletter and Annie putting in many hours handling out leaflets and pushing them through the letter boxes of famous local athletes. We also offered a free tennis racquet draw and Terry kindly donated a quality £200 limited gold edition Prince 4 series which he unfortunately mistook for one of his practice racquets. The Open day was also assisted this year by hot weather and the promise of quality coaching leading to a steady stream of keen juniors anxious to try the usual games of whack the coach, hit the club treasurer’s car with a tennis racquet and haggling for a decent prize once they realised the quality of those actually on offer.		There were several new members who joined so I am told and of course lots of promotion for the club. The only major criticism of the event revolved around the provision of sandwiches for the helpers which was noticeably absent and led to some fairly unpleasant scenes inside the clubhouse once it was discovered in particular that there were none for the vice Chairwoman. In any event I have to thank everyone who helped on the day including in no particular order Karen, Harrison, Annie, Nick, Barbara, Sue, Terry and anyone I have forgotten. Oh and Terry, try to get the ball machine fixed for next year, there’s a good chap! Robert Smith

CONGRATULATIONS
Congratulations to our South Beds Knockout Cup Team on reaching the final of this competition for the first time in many years. On Sunday afternoon 11 July 2010 we beat Leighton Buzzard at Home 3.5 to 1.5 rubbers Karen Ncube - Ladies Singles Luci Mabbitt & Jackie Jarvis - Ladies Doubles Terry Mabbitt & Matt Packham- Mens Doubles John Kitchener & Barbara Turner- Mixed Doubles Max Hodgson - Mens Singles We play either Vauxhall or Edlesborough in the final on Sunday 19th September (venue to be decided).

FLITWICK & AMPTHILL LTC'S NEW FLOODLIT CARPET COURT OFFICIAL OPENING SATURDAY 12 JUNE 2010
Flitwick & Ampthill LTC's new floodlit carpet tennis court was officially opened on Saturday 12th June by former British No. 1 Mark Cox, who played professional and amateur tennis in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. Following the opening ceremony, Mark Cox, Terry Mabbitt, Norman Church and Eddie Fox played a stunning one set veterans exhibition match.		Mabbitt's eyes were playing their usual tricks but the match referee Richard Ernest kept control of the game. The exhibition match was followed by a mix in American tournament and barbecue for members and invited guests.

Junior Club Night Matchplay

The return of Junior Club Night for matchplay practice, during the Summer season, is running from 16:00 to 18:30 on Friday evenings.

This started on Friday 23 April 2010 and costs £1 per person, per session and is run by Assistant Coach, Russell Hodgson.

Details available from Terry Mabbitt.

Social Events for 2010

During last year more Flitwick & Ampthill Tennis Club social events were held than ever before, and we hope you were able to attend at least one of them. From Barbecue Tennis Tournaments to Quiz Nights, we tried to bring you some different entertainments that we hadn’t tried before. However it’s true to say that whilst these events were successful, attendance might have been better if members had been given more notice so that they could plan the event in their diary.

Therefore we’re detailing below a list of activities/events that we intend to hold this year so that you can pick which ones you’d like to attend - perhaps all of them! Some events are still in the planning stage, and venues and precise dates are yet to be fixed. Keep your eyes on the club website and notice board for the final details. Each event will be publicised separately nearer the date.

We hope that you will be able to attend some – or all of these events. Other than the holiday months of July and August, there is an event that you can participate in every month. Everyone is welcome – new and existing members. My thanks to Annie Kippax, Jo Lewis and Derek Hicks for their assistance in preparing this and their commitment to assist me this year. If you have any suggestions about different events we could undertake in the future please let me know.

Martin Howell Social Secretary mg.howell@btinternet.com

_{Sat 11 Sept} _{Finals Day & Evening BBQ}

_{Sat 12 Sept}

_{Reserve Date for Finals Day}

_Fri_{29 Oct}

_{4th Quiz Night}

_{Sun 14 Nov}

_{Jane Saville Tournament @ The Club}

_Fri_{03 Dec}

_{Christmas Presentation Dinner & Disco at Eversholt Village Hall}

THE 100 CLUB

We are looking for new members to join the 100 club. For as little as £1 a month you can enter the prize draw. Please contact Mike Reay on 01525 861698 or 07775 644071 if you would like to join and have a chance of winning.

Since it started over two years ago, the 100 club has raised more than £1,200 for the club. Trophies have been bought with the funds and we have a number of ideas how the money should be spent for the benefit of the Tennis club, but if you are a 100 Club member and would like your idea added to the list, please contact Mike.

For the chance to win £40 a month contact Mike Reay for details or Click here for a direct debit form.

Click 100club@flitwicktennis.co.uk to email Mike Reay.

Winners of the

100 Club

June draw are ...

1st Prize £25 no 11 Robert Smith

2nd Prize £10 no 67 Loraine Atkinson

3rd Prize £5 no 54 Jenny Barker

Winners of the

100 Club

July draw are ...

1st Prize £25 no 38 Derek Hicks

2nd Prize £10 no 70 Liz Mead

3rd Prize £5 no 16 Nicki Reynolds

Winners of the

100 Club

August draw are ...

1st Prize £25 no 8 Luc Scotts

2nd Prize £10 no 57 Peter Worth

3rd Prize £5 no 63 Sue Agar

Terry's Tip - Preparation

The weather has at last started to change for the better and we have a new season ahead of us.

Standards vary but we can all improve, so why not invest in new equipment!!

If you cannot afford a new racquet try a restring and check your shoes to see if there’s any grip left. Plus, some new kit to make you feel better.

And look at your game and make a conscious decision on which area you want to improve for the season ahead.

Finally, bear in mind that to even maintain our standard most of us need to play a minimum of three times a week.

External News & Events

Maidenhead LTC Open Veterans Tennis Tournament

24-26 September 2010

On September 24-26, Maidenhead LTC will host an Open Veterans Tennis tournament.

The tournament has been sanctioned by the LTA, and will be a Grade 4 rankings tournament. There will be singles and doubles events, in the O-45, O-55 and O-65 categories for men, and O-40, O-50 and O-60 categories for ladies, with prizes to the winners and runners-up.

An entry form is available here or at http://www.vetstennisgb.org/ and on the club’s own website http://www.mltc.co.uk/ where further details are available, so please feel free to enter if you so desire. Catering and bar facilities will be available throughout the tournament.

Closing date for entries Friday 10th September 2010 at 12:00