Welcome to Bethersden Tennis Club

Firstly a very Happy New Year to all members and also a very Happy Birthday to the Club which celebrates it’s 35^th anniversary in 2012.

Established in 1977, on the newly opened Recreation Field, the club began with just one proper court, and a very uneven bit of playground with no fencing around it for a second playing area.

From those beginnings the club has grown and developed into one of the most active and successful in this part of the county. A strong coaching programme, numerous teams competing in leagues, mix-in sessions and an active social calendar means the courts are well used all year round.

Monday Night is men’s night, and a chance for all the local Federers and Nadals  to do battle. The sessions run from 7-9 pm all year, and are free except for through the winter months when a donation £10 for every couple of months to help with floodlighting costs is suggested. (This works out at just over £1 a week – bargain!)

Ladies Midweek Coaching– takes place on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings and cater for all standards from beginners to league players. The times are 9-10.15am and 10.15-11.30am each day. These are open to all members and also to non-members who want to try out tennis with a view to joining.

Contact Tom for more info etc . 01233 820983 / 07759 622273.

Thursday evening / Sunday morning Social Mix-In Sessions. 

This is a chance to turn up and play with other members in a friendly environment. Thursdays run from 6pm-9pm and Sundays between 10am and-1pm. There are usually a few regulars at each session, but please be patient if no one is there immediately – or even better, call up someone before hand and arrange a time to meet !

Private Individual / Group Coaching sessions.If you are keen to improve your game or just want someone to help you practise then we have a great team of coaches to help. To celebrate the Club’s 35^th Birthday we are offering a special deal through January and February of two 1 hour lessons for just £35. Call Tom on 01233 820983 / 07759 622273 or email him This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Social Events planned for 2012.We are always looking to raise funds to maintain and improve facilities, and our aim this year is to resurface both the courts. Not cheap! With this in mind we will be having two main fundraising events which we hope all members will take part in.

Annual Quiz Night – May 18^th

‘The George’ Open  Mixed Doubles Tournament – July 1st

Looking forward to seeing you all on court in 2012

Bethersden Tennis Club Committee

From the Chairman's point of view this year has been a quiet one.

There are a number of reasons for this. The most important is that the success of the club is driven by, and dependent upon, the work of our excellent coaching team. Thanks to Tom Carlton and his colleagues a significant number of local people, of all ages, have learned the pleasures of tennis as a social game and have improved their skills. The court is regularly in action. The club provides a real focus for healthy activity for our young people. The result is a high membership, tennis for all levels, and solid success in the competitions. In short this is a healthy organisation, and has changed out of all recognition since the time I was last the chairman of the club.

The facilities continue to improve. Not long ago the floodlighting was upgraded so that we can now play throughout the year, weather permitting. It is gratifying that the facility is being used regularly, although there is still room for more people to join in on winter's evenings. The outside court, in particular, was slippery but has now been cleaned. The parish council is aware that this court will need resurfacing soon. Thanks to Martin Buckman the kitchen facility has been considerably improved, although it is unfortunate that some of his work was spoiled by flooding after pipes froze during the winter. Discussion continues about improving the facilities and in particular about the possibility of enlarging our clubhouse.

During the year we signed a new agreement with the parish council. This is significant in a couple of ways. Firstly, we now have exclusive use of the enclosed and locked court. Second, the council has been right to emphasise that the outside court is available for other sports, such as basketball and five a side football. We share this court (albeit with priority on club nights and at tournaments) and have agreed to take down the net after each session, except in July and August. I know that members will respect this agreement.

Apart from the work of the coaches, I must pay tribute to the committee members, all of whom have contributed hugely, in a quiet and efficient way, to the well running of the club. Tournaments have been organised and thoroughly enjoyed. We had a large Wimbledon allocation. There is, from the organisers’ points of view, a demanding competitive fixture list. Our social events have been well organised and supported and we look forward to the salsa dance at the village hall on Saturday 15 October. Sometimes disappointment is expressed that for such a large club we do not have a greater turnout at tournaments and social events. While I understand that disappointment, I do not share it. We are first and foremost a sports club and our success must be measured by the quantity, and to some extent by the quality, of our tennis, competitive and non-competitive. Members like me, who attend most social events and tournaments, should do so because we enjoy them, not because of a feeling of obligation. That said, we must pursue a small but active social program for the cohesion of the club and to some extent for financing.

When you kindly invited me to return for a second term as chairman, I did not know what course my career would take next. As it happens, my work responsibilities have prevented me from taking as active a role in the club as I would like, and do not permit me to stay for another year. I know the club will go from strength to strength.

Howard Riddle                                                                                                11 September 2011

Click Here to download a copy of the minutes for the 2011 Bethersden Tennis Club AGM

The Kent Winter League 2010/11 was successful again with the men’s team securing another promotion by winning their league. The mixed team – captained by Jane Harvey - won all their matches too but a mix up with a weather affected game denied them promotion.

In the Ashford Winter League 2010/11 the ladies – captained by Liz Robinson had a solid season finishing mid table. The men’s team – captained by Martin Jamieson – won their division and will be playing in the top division this winter, with the same story applying to the mixed team – captained by Sam Carlton.

In the Kent Summer League (Paul Robinson), the men were again victorious in all matches and the mixed team (Jane Harvey) lost just one match.

The Ashford Summer League however proved more difficult to get consistent teams out for and Martin Jamison (Mens), Sam Carlton (Mixed A) and Les Wilson (Mixed B) both found the captains task challenging, with getting men to commit to matches proving difficult. Liz Robinson’s ladies team were more reliable and a large number of players were used with mainly successful results.

A big thank you to all those team captains that have had the thankless task of arranging teams, however a different approach may be needed to simplify the captains job.

I suggest – 

• Use only those who are able to commit to play rather than try and give everyone a game. Hopefully this will promote a sense of being an important part of the team and not just helping out.     
• A small squad of approx 6/8 players to be selected for each team. Teams for each match set early, with two named reserves. 
• Dismiss with match fees in favour of a fund raising event. Match fees are never all handed in for one reason or another, making it very unfair on those that pay, whilst increasing the captain’s workload. 
• Teams due to play on a weekend encouraged to have a team practise night on the Friday beforehand. 
• For members who can’t commit to playing regularly in competitive matches but would like the odd inter club friendly fixture, we have the Mid-week Ladies Friendly League, and I am happy to help contact other clubs with view to a similar type of thing on the occasional weekend.

The coaching team have all worked hard again this year to keep the programme improving and maintain the Club as one of the most pro-active in Kent. The amount of juniors have increased (approx 170 of all ages have signed up for this term) - as the numbers of coaches has gone up. Laurence is now a Level 3 coach, Sam has done his Level 3 up-grade, Sara is at Level 2 and Danny Shearing is soon to complete his level 2. I have up graded Level 4. We are all either LTA licensed or registered.

The schools work has been more challenging with the government’s school sports partnership funding stopping. However, it’s pleasing to note that most schools we were in have continued to have coaching delivered and are funding it themselves.

We continue to enter junior teams in local and county leagues as well as arrange a number of friendly matches against other clubs.

The Coaching Team has an aim to get children enjoying the game and to feel part of the Club. Through the tennis we hope they develop characteristics that will help them in all aspects of life – hard work, determination, respect and commitment. Those that want to pursue tennis more seriously are encouraged to do and we also try and introduce juniors into the adult teams when suitable.

The adult coaching programme is also busy, with group coaching taking place two mornings a week all year round and on Tuesday evenings through the spring and summer.

Thanks to the club with their support for the coaching programme.

It is that time of year again - the annual membership renewals are now due.  Please could you return a completed copy of the membership form to the membership secretary, Lina Hopkins, at the address shown on the form along with your subscription.

If you would like to be included in the Wimbledon ballot, please make sure that you are signed up as a member by 31st March and include your British Tennis Membership number on the form.

The new floodlights are up and working well, so do come and join us on Thursday evenings from 7-9 pm, there will always be someone there (weather permitting).

Other dates for you to put in your diary now are –

• April 17th 1pm - Opening Tournament. Open to all adult members and juniors playing regular full court tennis.
• May 13th – Quiz Night at Bethersden Village Hall to raise funds for club. Please try and come along and support your Club.
• October 15th – Annual Presentation Dinner Dance. Details to follow.

There will be lots of other social and competitive events happening so please check website regularly.