Category: Tennis News

HAPPY NEW YEAR! AND VERY BEST WISHES FOR A TENNIS-FILLED 2025. If you’ve not played much over Christmas (or even if you have!) and are keen to be back on court, come and take part in our NEW YEAR TOURNAMENT.  It’s the second Sunday Club Afternoon – SUNDAY 12^th JANUARY (1.30 start).  Everyone welcome. Beyond the handicap most of us may have from festive indulgence, there’ll be a scoring handicap to make every game close.  Partners will change each game, so you don’t need a partner to enter – just email woodstocktennisclub@gmail.com asap (ideally NOW) saying you want to take part.

LIGHTING  We’re working to see that all four courts will be lit again in time for the Club Night on Tuesday 7^th and the Team Practice Night on Thursday 9^th.  A message to confirm the date will go to everyone as soon as the repair is done.  Meanwhile the single court is unaffected.

GETTING READY FOR 2025
If you’ve a resolution to play more tennis in 2025, and want to get your game in ever-better shape, our excellent coaching programme, both for juniors and for adults, starts straight away, in the week beginning 6 January.  For all the details of what’s on offer, just click on
Woodstock Adult Tennis Coaching – January to March View & Book Here
Woodstock Junior Tennis Coaching – Spring Term View and Book Here

HOME MATCHES IN JANUARY  [each match 2 courts]:
SATURDAY 4^th, 10 am:  Men’s E v Goring
1 pm:  Men’s A v Wychwoods; Ladies D v Benson
SUNDAY 5^th, 10 am:  Men’s B v Bicester
SATURDAY 11^th, 1 pm:  Men’s C v Oxford Sports; Men’s D v Benson
SATURDAY 18^th, 1 pm:  Men’s A v Henley; Ladies C v King’s Sutton
SUNDAY 19^th, 10 am:  Ladies B v Shiplake
WEDNESDAY 22^nd, 10 am: Ladies Midweek v Abingdon
SATURDAY 25^th, 1 pm:  Ladies B v Brackley; Ladies D v North Oxford

And of course with our courts now lit, Club Sessions are running throughout the year.  All welcome.  They’re on
TUESDAYS, 1.30-3.30  [all members]
TUESDAYS, 5.30 onwards [all members]
THURSDAYS, 5.30 onwards [for all interested in playing team tennis]
SUNDAYS, 1.30-3.30  [all members]  GETTING READY FOR 2025
If you’ve a resolution to play more tennis in 2025, and want to get your game in ever-better shape, our excellent coaching programme will be up and running straight away in the New Year.  For all the details of what’s on offer, just click on  Woodstock Adult Tennis Coaching – January to March View & Book Here

Coaching might be a great Christmas present  (or a New Year present to yourself…)

COURTS AVAILABILITY
If ever in doubt about court availability, please check our very simple Courts Timetable on the website: https://wbtc.org.uk/courts-timetable/

HOME MATCHES BEFORE CHRISTMAS  [each match 2 courts]:
WEDNESDAY 4^th, 10 am:  Ladies Midweek v Kingston Bagpuize
SATURDAY 7^th, 1 pm:  Ladies A v Shiplake; Ladies C v Colston
SUNDAY 8^th, 10 am:  Men’s C v Shiplake
WEDNESDAY 11^th, 10 am: Men’s Midweek v OHRC
SATURDAY 14^th, 1 pm:  Ladies B v Abingdon

AGM
This year’s AGM is on SUNDAY 10 NOVEMBER at 7.30 pm in the clubhouse.  Please come and support.  A lot has happened this year and is planned for the future.  The club is run entirely by volunteers, who need your thoughts and reactions.  See you then.

RUSTY RACKETS: BOOK NOW
A SPECIAL SIX-WEEK COURSE on Wednesday evenings starts on Weds 6 November, for beginners and for anyone feeling rusty after a while away from the game.  All the details of dates and how to book are on  https://wbtc.org.uk/adult-coaching/CLUB KIT
Starting to think about Christmas presents? A reminder that WOODSTOCK TENNIS CLUB KIT is now available.  It’s easy to purchase direct, online, on the BlueBlood webshop:
https://bluebloodonline.co.uk/woodstock-tennis-club
N.B.: TO BE SURE OF DELIVERY FOR CHRISTMAS, BLUEBLOOD NEED CHRISTMAS ORDERS BY 16 NOVEMBER                HOME MATCHES COMING UP [each match 2 courts]:
SUNDAY 27^th, 10 am:  Men’s B v Watlington
SATURDAY 2^nd, 1 pm:  Men’s C v Henley; Men’s D v Banbury
SUNDAY 3^rd, 10 am:  Ladies B v Portcullis
SATURDAY 9^th, 1 pm:  Ladies C v Horsenden
SATURDAY 16^th, 1 pm:  Ladies A v K’ston Bapgpuize;
                                           Ladies C v Mapledurham
SATURDAY 23^rd, 10 am:  Men’s E v Faringdon
            1 pm:  Men’s A v Oxford Sports; Ladies D v North Oxford

This year’s AGM is on SUNDAY 10 NOVEMBER at 7.30 pm in the clubhouse.  Please come and take part.  A lot has happened this year and is planned for the future.  The club is run entirely by volunteers, who need your thoughts, reactions and input.  See you then.

CLUB NIGHTS

COURT LIGHTING has now arrived at Woodstock, and it’s great to see so many members enjoying the lights.  It’s especially good that our popular Club Nights on Tuesdays and Team Practice Nights on Thursdays can now run all year round. Both evenings start every week at 5.30, and play can continue till 9.30.  

                        RUSTY RACKETS: BOOK NOW
It’s also great that we can now offer evening coaching sessions throughout the year.  A SPECIAL SIX-WEEK COURSE is starting soon, for beginners and for anyone feeling rusty after a while away from the game.  All the details of dates and how to book are on https://wbtc.org.uk/adult-coaching/

CLUB KIT
A reminder that WOODSTOCK TENNIS CLUB KIT is now available for purchase direct, on line, on the BlueBlood webshop:
https://bluebloodonline.co.uk/woodstock-tennis-club

TOURNAMENT FINALS
THANKS TO EVERYONE who entered this year’s Club Tournament, and CONGRATS TO THE WINNERS of some close and exciting finals.  For pictures and results, go to https://wbtc.org.uk/news/club-tournament-finals/

HOME MATCHES COMING UP [each match 2 courts]:
SATURDAY 5^th, 1 pm:  Men’s C v North Oxford; Men’s D v Brackley
WEDNESDAY 9^th, 10 am:  Ladies Midweek v Portcullis
SATURDAY 12^th, 1 pm:  Ladies A v Abingdon; Men’s D v Abingdon
SUNDAY 13^th, 10 am:  Ladies D v Abingdon
WEDNESDAY 23^rd, 10 am:  Men’s Midweek v North Oxford
SATURDAY 26^th, 10 am:  Men’s E v Portcullis
            1 pm:  Men’s A v Bicester; Ladies D v Kingston Bagpuize

Thanks to all members who took part in this year’s Club Tournament.  The Finals in September saw some excellent tennis and exciting matches.  In the Men’s Singles there were outstanding rallies between James Lilburne and Billy Groves before James (left) emerged the winner…

In the Senior Men’s Singles, James Stoddart (left) and Chris Manson had a fine contest, James prevailing…

But there was compensation for Chris when he and son Arthur (right) overcame Neil Lovett and James Stoddart in the Men’s Doubles…

In the Mixed Doubles, Georgie Ponting and brother Josh (right) triumphed in a closely fought match against Alison Courtney and Neil Lovett (umpire and tournament organiser Freddie Page pictured between)…

And in the closest final of all, a 10-8 championship tiebreak decided the match between winners Alison Courtney & Sarah Stoddart (right) and Tory Houghton & Liz Hipkiss… 

Thanks again to all who entered!  And let’s not forget the cakes…

COURT LIGHTING has now arrived at Woodstock! The Club Nights on Tuesday 17^th and 24^th, and the Team Practice Nights on Thursday 19^th and 26^th, will be our first to be lit.  It’s at these sessions that we’ll be delivering key-fobs to members who pre-order their own.  For all the details, go to https://wbtc.org.uk/news/court-lighting-how-to-order-your-key/

NEW CLUB KIT
We’re delighted to announce that BlueBlood Sports, an Oxfordshire company, now stock Woodstock Tennis Club kit on their webshop:
     https://bluebloodonline.co.uk/woodstock-tennis-club
As a club member you can purchase direct from them.

Brioney from BlueBlood is coming to the club during the Club Afternoon on Sunday 15th September (1.30-3.30 pm), so you can try on samples, find your size and get the ball rolling.  For all the details, click on:
https://wbtc.org.uk/news/new-woodstock-club-kit-available-to-order/

TOURNAMENT FINALS
FINALS OF THE CLUB TOURNAMENT are coming up this month.  They should be great matches: come along and support!  The first are:
SUNDAY 15^th, 11 am:  Men’s Singles – James Lilburne v Billy Groves
Senior Men’s Singles – James Stoddart v Chris Manson
SATURDAY 21^st 11 am:  Mixed Doubles – Josh & Georgie Ponting v Alison Courtney & Neil Lovett                                          Men’s Doubles – James Stoddart & Neil Lovett v Chris & Arthur Manson or Josh & Phil Ponting

ENTER AND PLAY IN THE HANDICAP TOURNAMENT
SUNDAY 22^nd, 1.30 pm:  Come and join in our social tournament (complete with Pimms to follow), with an ever-changing handicap to guarantee a close game every time.  You don’t need a partner to enter.  SIMPLY EMAIL woodstocktennisclub@gmail.com SAYING “YES, I/WE WANT TO ENTER THE HANDICAP TOURNAMENT.”

COURT LIGHTING
THE MAIN NEWS THIS MONTH is of course the arrival of court lighting at Woodstock!  The system is now fully installed and ready to go.  As the days get shorter we may need to turn on at some point in the next week or two, but we certainly will in the second half of the month, so the Club Nights on Tuesday 17^th and 24^th, and the Team Practice Nights on Thursday 19^th and 26^th, will definitely be lit.It’s at these sessions that we’ll be delivering key-fobs to members who pre-order their own.  For all the details, go to https://wbtc.org.uk/news/court-lighting-how-to-order-your-key/

NEW TERM’S COACHING:  The new term of group coaching at the Club, for both adults and juniors, is about to begin.  It starts in the week beginning September 9th.  For all details go to our website pages https://wbtc.org.uk/junior-coaching/ (for juniors) and https://wbtc.org.uk/adult-coaching/ (for adults).

TEAM TENNIS
CONGRATULATIONS to our Men’s A team, who have won their division of the Summer League.  Our Ladies A have an excellent chance of promotion from theirs, too, and our Men’s Midweek team may well have won the Midweek competition again.  The Winter League season starts at the end of this month, and we run teams across a wide ability range.  So if you’re interested in playing team tennis we’re always delighted to welcome new players to the squads.  If you’re not sure who to talk to, just send a quick note in an email to woodstocktennisclub@gmail.com.

COURT LIGHTING – DETAILS
Our court lighting is now fully installed and ready to go!  It’ll be in use for the first time in September.  We have planning permission to play under lights from September till the end of March, with an automatic cut-off every night at 9.30 pm.
The club’s current timetable can now run all the year round, so that our coaching programme, for example, and our popular Club Nights on Tuesdays and Thursdays, will continue right through the winter.

TO USE THE LIGHTS: We’ve installed a touch-pad on each side of the courtside feeder pillar, one controlling the lights on the single court and the other controlling the lights on the three-court block.  Both pads switch on and off using one and the same key-fob.

If you’d like your own fob so that you can play in the evenings whenever you wish, you can order one and pay for it by bank transfer.  The cost will be £15.  This is for the whole winter from September through to 31 March, and enables you to play as often as you like.

TO ORDER YOUR FOB, SIMPLY EMAIL woodstocktennisclub@gmail.com WITH THE MESSAGE “FOB, PLEASE!” and pay £15 by BACS TO:
Account Name: Woodstock Bowls and Tennis Club
Sort Code: 20-98-48
Account: 10952672
Payment Reference: Key-fob /Your Name

YOUR FOB WILL THEN BE READY FOR YOU TO COLLECT at the Tuesday Club Nights and Thursday Team Practice Nights (5.30 ONWARDS) on the following dates:
Tuesday 17 September
Thursday 19 September
Tuesday 24 September
Thursday 26 September

***  N.B.:  YOUR FOB MUST BE ORDERED AND PAID FOR IN ADVANCE – THEY WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE ON THE NIGHT. ***

If you are unable to collect on any of those evenings, please let us know by email and we will make an alternative arrangement with you.