Category: Tennis News

HANDICAP TOURNAMENT
 *** SUNDAY 3^rd, 1.30 pm ***
Summer is a-coming in (a rather classy song beginning there), and to celebrate its arrival after a particularly tennis-unfriendly winter…Enter and play in a fun and sociable tournament, complete with Pimms to follow (and strawberries if they’re looking good).  There’ll be an ever-changing handicap to guarantee A CLOSE GAME EVERY TIME.  You don’t need a partner to enter: partners will change each game.  TO ENTER, SIMPLY EMAIL woodstocktennisclub@gmail.com SAYING “YES, I/WE WANT TO ENTER THE HANDICAP TOURNAMENT.”

And talking of tournaments…HENMANS JUNIOR TOURNAMENT
At the end of May, in the half-term holiday, we’re hosting our annual Henmans Junior Tournament, now proudly in its 29^th year, attracting young players from Oxfordshire and the surrounding counties.  In 2026 it’s generously sponsored once again by Blenheim Palace: the Club is very grateful for their continuing support.  It would be great to see Woodstock juniors taking part: entries are open till May 15^th – all the details are on https://competitions.lta.org.uk/tournament/0E44A706-48D4-4327-B183-BAB6182D3C5E
Members please note: The courts will of course be busy throughout the tournament days from Monday to Friday, 25-29 May, but will be free each day by late afternoon, so Club Nights that week will run as usual.

And talking of Club Nights…

CLUB SESSIONS
It’s great to see our Club Sessions thriving again.  If you’re without an arranged game, and would like to meet new members and make new contacts, come and join in: they’re every week on
SUNDAY AFTERNOONS: 1.30-3.30
TUESDAY AFTERNOONS: 1.30-3.30
TUESDAY EVENINGS: 5.30 onwards.

And THURSDAY EVENINGS 5.30 onwards:
TEAM PRACTICE NIGHT for everyone interested in playing team tennis.

MAINTENANCE DAY
Please note that the courts will be closed for maintenance in the morning and early afternoon of FRIDAY 15 MAY.  The work (by our court installers En Tout Cas) will begin at about 8.30 and continue till at least 2 o’clock.  Courts will hopefully re-open by 2.30, but please be patient if they need just a little longer to complete their work.  Many thanks.

COACHING EVENING – WITH PROSECCO AND PIZZA!
The three special Tuesday shot clinics in May and June are fully booked, but you can still register on the waiting list.  And booking has just opened for a special evening coming soon: a 90-minute coaching session followed by pizza and prosecco.  It’s on WEDNESDAY 17 JUNE starting at 6 pm.  For this and all our adult coaching bookings, you’ll find the link on https://wbtc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Woodstock-Tennis-Academy-Adult-Planner-April-July-2026.pdf

HOME MATCHES COMING UP [each match 2 courts]:
April SATURDAY 25^th, 1 pm:  Mixed D v Cholsey
WEDNESDAY 29^th, 10 am:  Mixed Midweek v Wantage
May SATURDAY 2^nd, 1 pm:  Men’s B v Abingdon
WEDNESDAY 6^th, 10 am:  Men’s Midweek v Hanney
SATURDAY 9^th, 1 pm:  Ladies D v David Lloyd
SUNDAY 10^th, 4pm:  Men’s National League v North Oxford  [4 courts from 3.30 till approx. 5.30]
WEDNESDAY 13^th, 10 am:  Ladies Midweek v Appleton
SATURDAY 16^th, 1 pm:  Mixed A v Witney; Mixed C v David Lloyd
SATURDAY 23^rd, 10 am:  Ladies A v Abingdon
   1 pm:  Men’s C v Faringdon; Ladies D v Shrivenham
SATURDAY 30^th, 1 pm:  Ladies B v Kings Sutton; Ladies C v Kingston Bagpuize
SUNDAY 31^st, 10 am:  Men’s A v Oxford City

MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL: EARLY SAVINGS
Many thanks to everyone who’s already renewed for 2025/26.  A quick reminder that our new “membership year” begins on April 1^st, and THERE ARE BIG SAVINGS FOR RENEWAL BEFORE TUESDAY MARCH 31^st.
All the details of prices and the simple payment process are on https://wbtc.org.uk/tennis-membership/

EASTER JUNIOR TENNIS CAMP
Our excellent coaches are running a three-day Tennis Camp for Juniors in the Easter Holidays, on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 30 March–1 April.  For all the details of times, age-groups, prices and to book your place, just click on https://wbtc.org.uk/holiday-tennis-courses/

COACHING
The Summer Term of group coaching, for both juniors and adults, starts straight after Easter.  Booking is now open.  All the details are on our website: https://wbtc.org.uk/adult-coaching/ (for adults, including three special Shot Clinics) and https://wbtc.org.uk/junior-coaching/ (for juniors).

CLUB TOURNAMENT
Another deadline!  Entries for this summer’s Club Tournament close on Tuesday 31 March.  For events, dates and how to enter, check the website: https://wbtc.org.uk/news/club-tournament-2026-entries-open/

TEAM TENNIS
MANY THANKS AND WELL DONE EVERYONE who’s played in our Woodstock teams this Winter.  And congrats especially to [above, from top] our Ladies A and Men’s A who’ve both won their divisions, our Ladies C who’ve won promotion from their division, and our Men’s team who’ve won the Midweek League.  Good luck to all our teams in the upcoming Summer season! 

HOME MATCHES COMING UP [each match 2 courts]:
SATURDAY 11^th, 1 pm:  Men’s D v Cholsey
SUNDAY 12^th, 10 am:  Ladies A v Mapledurham
SATURDAY 18^th, 1 pm:  Ladies B v Witney
SUNDAY 19^th, 10 am:  Men’s A v Appleton
SATURDAY 25^th, 1 pm:  Mixed D v Cholsey

CLUB SESSIONS – BACK IN THE HABIT!
Endless grim weather this winter has got some of us out of the Club Sessions habit.  With the sun returning and the days getting brighter and longer, let’s get those afternoons and evenings back in full swing asap!  Come and join in: they’re every week on
SUNDAY AFTERNOONS 1.30-3.30
TUESDAY AFTERNOONS 1.30-3.30
TUESDAY EVENINGS 5.30 ONWARDS
And THURSDAY EVENINGS 5.30 ONWARDS: Team Practice Night for everyone keen to play team tennis

CLUB TOURNAMENT 2026

The following is a message from Freddie Page…..

Hello everyone,

It is that time of year again when we are asking you to enter the 2026 Club Tournaments.

While of course someone has to win each tournament, so many of you told me that what was so nice about last year’s event was simply the taking part that allowed you to play competitively against club members who you would not normally play.

The tournaments are open to all club members and last year we had a fantastic turnout…..but this year we can do even better I’m sure!

How to enter

You can choose to enter as many of the following tournaments for which you are eligible:

Men’s Singles
Ladies Singles
Men’s Doubles
Ladies Doubles
Mixed Doubles
Senior Men’s singles (Over 50)

For the doubles tournaments there are two ways to enter:

Choose your own partner and enter as a pair

Simply enter alone and we will endeavour to find a partner for you

Send your entries to me, Freddie Page, on:

Email: gkpage@btinternet.com

Text/whatsapp: 07388080377

Tournament Dates

Deadline to enter is 31st March 2026

Matches will begin in April and Finals Day will be Sunday 6th September 2026.

Like last year the finals day is fixed on the date shown above (obviously weather dependent) so that we can have all finals played on one day and make it a nice event where we can have spectators and some refreshments etc.   So……..

IMPORTANT – If during the tournament it becomes clear that you will not be able make the finals day date (6th September) then please withdraw and allow your opponent(s) to go through to the next round. 

Tournament Details

Full details will be sent to you prior to the tournaments starting, but in summary:

Matches will consist of two sets (with tie-breaks to 7 as usual at 6-6) – with a championship tie-break (to 10) deciding the winner if the match is tied after two sets.

All  matches must be completed within a specified timescale which will be shown on the draw sheets – obviously we do have some flexibility if required.

The draw sheets will also highlight who is responsible for arranging each match.

The success of this event will rely on your participation so please enter if you can.

Best regards
Freddie Page

After an exceptional couple of months of rain, spring is surely coming soon, and with it the new tennis season!

*** MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL: EARLY SAVINGS ***

As you know, our “membership year” runs from April to March.  So it’s time to renew.  Many thanks to everyone who’s already renewed for 2026/27, and a very warm welcome to our new members who’ve already joined for the coming year. 

*** THERE ARE BIG SAVINGS FOR RENEWAL BEFORE 31^st MARCH. ***

All the details of prices and the simple payment process are on https://wbtc.org.uk/tennis-membership/.

RE-STRINGING
If you need a re-string for your racket to get ready for the new season, club member Bob Coomber offers a quick and expert service.  You can contact Bob on 07484 368977 or email bob.coomber@icloud.comEASTER JUNIOR TENNIS CAMP
Our excellent coaches are running a three-day Tennis Camp for Juniors in the Easter Holidays, on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 30 March – 1 April.  For all the details of times, age-groups, prices and to book your place, just click on https://wbtc.org.uk/holiday-tennis-courses/                               

TEAM TENNIS
Good luck to all our teams in the run-in to the end of the Winter season.                               
HOME MATCHES COMING UP [each match 2 courts]:
SATURDAY 28^th Feb, 1 pm:  Ladies B v Witney     WEDNESDAY 4^th March, 10 am:  Ladies Midweek v North Oxford
SATURDAY 7^th, 1 pm:  Men’s B v Wantage; Ladies D v David Lloyd
WEDNESDAY 11^th, 10 am:  Men’s Midweek v Oxford Sports
SATURDAY 14^th, 1 pm:  Men’s B v Oxford Sports     WEDNESDAY 18^th, 10 am:  Mixed Midweek v Oxford Sports
WEDNESDAY 25^th, 10 am:  Men’s Midweek v OHRC
SUNDAY 29^th, 10 am:  Men’s A v Bicester

WELL, WE’VE HAD QUITE A BIT OF THE ABOVE (scenic, if nothing else) … and a fair bit of the stuff below …

… neither of which has made January a great month for tennis.  But hope you’ve been able to grab some time on court when the weather’s allowed.  If you’re itching to play, hopefully you won’t need to itch much more and February will be kinder.

Do remember that when time is grabbable but you’ve no game planned, you can always come at the last rain-or-frost-free minute to CLUB SESSIONS (the image above will be relevant soon), where you’ll always find weather-ignoring optimists / obsessives ready to welcome all members.
All the year round they’re every

SUNDAY 1.30 – 3.30
TUESDAY 1.30 – 3.30
TUESDAY 5.30 START

And for members keen to play team tennis, there’s a session every THURSDAY 5.30 START.  And…

VALENTINE QUIZ NIGHT
… following the session on THURSDAY 26^th FEBRUARY there’s a “Valentine” Quiz Night in the clubhouse. There’ll be teams made up of 6, entry is just £1, half the winnings will go to the winners and half to the club.  Whether you’re playing on court that evening or not, do come along at 7.30 and join in!

LOST PROPERTY
All lost property is kept in the white cupboard in the conservatory.  If you leave things on court please always come and claim them, as we have limited space and long-unclaimed items will be given at intervals to charity.  At the time of writing we have an improbable number of water bottles!  Please claim if you think one might be yours!  Thanks. 

TEAM TENNIS Home matches this month [each match 2 courts] are:
SATURDAY 7^th, 1 pm: Ladies D v North Oxford; Men’s D v Oxford Sports
SUNDAY 8^th, 10 am:  Men’s A v Goring
SATURDAY 14^th, 1 pm:   Men’s C v OHRC;  Men’s E v Portcullis
SUNDAY 15^th, 10 am:  Men’s A v Bicester
SATURDAY 21^st, 1 pm: Ladies A v Abingdon; Ladies C v Witney
SUNDAY 22^nd, 10 am:  Men’s D v Kingston Bagpuize
SATURDAY 28^th, 1 pm:  Ladies B v Witney      

HOPE YOU’VE HAD A FINE FESTIVE SEASON, and this comes with all good wishes for a happy and tennis-filled New Year.  At the moment the weather makes the chilly image above appropriate, but it’ll soon be more like…As soon as it is (or when you’re inclined to brave the weather whatever) CLUB SESSIONS are always running and ready to welcome all members.  They’re every …

 …  SUNDAY AFTERNOON 1.30 – 3.30   TUESDAY AFTERNOON 1.30 – 3.30 and TUESDAY EVENING 5.30 START, and for members keen to play team tennis, there’s a session every THURSDAY EVENING 5.30 START.

And following the Thursday session on 26 FEBRUARY, you can adjourn to the clubhouse for a VALENTINE QUIZ!  It’s just £1 per person to enter and it’s for everyone – whether you’re playing that night or not, come along at 7.30 and join in. 

If your New Year’s resolution is to improve your game, the new term of the COACHING programme starts this week.  Booking is now open.  For all the possibilities and to book your place, check out the website’s Coaching pages: https://wbtc.org.uk/junior-coaching/ and https://wbtc.org.uk/adult-coaching/

And TEAM TENNIS is back in full swing after the Christmas break.  We’ve a lot of away matches this month (including all Midweek fixtures – there are no Wednesday morning matches at home in January).  Weekend home matches [each match 2 courts] are:
SATURDAY 10^th, 1 pm:  Men’s D v Brackley
SATURDAY 17^th, 10 am:  Men’s E v Kingston Bagpuize
                   1 pm:  Ladies B v David Lloyd; Men’s C v Oxford City
SUNDAY 18^th, 10 am:  Men’s A v Henley
SATURDAY 24^th, 1 pm: Ladies A v Banbury; Ladies C v Wantage
SUNDAY 25^th, 10 am:  Men’s B v Oxford Sports

MANY THANKS TO OUR NEW VOLUNTEERS who are joining the team to help run the club and continue its success:  

Chair:  Bob Frost
Secretary [pro tem] / Fixtures:  Sally Bryant
Treasurer / Membership:  Rob Peacock
Courts Officer [pro tem] / Website:  Nigel Bryant
Communications: Christine A’Court
Welfare and Safeguarding:  Tory Houghton
Balls Officer: Sally Chorley
Henmans Tournament:  Peter Gosling
Social Secretary:  Luke Wildgoose
Men’s Captain:  Matt Penton
Ladies Captain:  Vacant

We still need someone to take on – or at least to assist with – the vital job of Courts Maintenance.  If you would be willing to join a small group to support the Courts Officer and share the work, please let us know by simply emailing woodstocktennisclub@gmail.com.
Our finances depend on this work being done voluntarily, as it has been by our Courts Officer for the last 12 years.  The alternative will be a substantial increase in membership fees to pay for outside work.

Best wishes to all members for a very HAPPY CHRISTMAS!  If it’s a rare white one it’ll rather stop the tennis… But if it’s not and you have visitors, please do feel free to come and enjoy the courts.  But please remember Guest Fees – for details, see the note on the website Membership page: https://wbtc.org.uk/tennis-membership/

And if you’re short of A GIFT IDEA for a tennis fan, how about treating them to coaching?  Booking is now open for all coaching starting in January. For all the possibilities, check out the website’s Coaching pages: https://wbtc.org.uk/junior-coaching/ and https://wbtc.org.uk/adult-coaching/

HOME MATCHES COMING UP [each match 2 courts]:
November
SATURDAY 29^th, 1 pm:  Ladies C v Appleton; Men’s D v Long Crendon
December
SATURDAY 6^th, 10 am:  Men’s E v Hanney
          1 pm:  Ladies B v Benson; Men’s C v Deddington
SUNDAY 7^th, 10 am:  Men’s A v Goring
WEDNESDAY 10^th, 10 am:  Mixed Midweek v Kingston Bagpuize
SATURDAY 13^th, 10 am:  Men’s B v Appleton; Men’s E v Goring
                     1 pm:  Ladies A v Wychwoods; Ladies C v Abingdon
SUNDAY 14^th, 10 am:  Ladies D v Kings Witney
WEDNESDAY 17^th, 1 pm:  Mixed Midweek v Wantage 

Just some quick reminders for the month: with our courts now lit, CLUB NIGHTS continue all the year round.  Come and join in!  They’re every Tuesday and Thursday, 5.30 start.  There are also CLUB AFTERNOONS every Sunday and Tuesday, 1.30 start.

AGM
The Joint AGM of the Tennis and Bowls Clubs is on THURSDAY 20th NOVEMBER at 7.30 pm in the clubhouse.

RUSTY RACKETS
Feeling rusty?  Want to sharpen up your game?
A new 6-week course of Rusty Rackets sessions is coming up :
WEDNESDAYS 6.00–7.00 pm, starting Wednesday, 5th November.
To book your place, click on https://wbtc.org.uk/adult-coaching/

SOCIAL
Also a reminder that our next social event at the club is a wine-tasting evening (“France vs The Rest of the World”) on Saturday 15 November.  Book your place quickly!  All the details are on https://wbtc.org.uk/news/club-social-wine-tasting-evening/

HOME MATCHES COMING UP [each match 2 courts]:
SATURDAY 1^st, 1 pm:  Ladies A v Brackley; Men’s D v Kings Sutton
SUNDAY 2^nd, 10 am:  Ladies C v Mapledurham
WEDNESDAY 5^th, 10 am:  Men’s Midweek v North Oxford
SATURDAY 8^th, 1 pm:  Men’s C v Abingdon; Men’s E v Goring
SUNDAY 9^th, 10 am:  Ladies B v Kings Sutton
SATURDAY 15^th, 1 pm:  Ladies A v Faringdon; Ladies D v Wantage
SUNDAY 16^th, 10 am:  Men’s B v Brackley
SUNDAY 23^rd, 10 am:  Men’s A v Abingdon
WEDNESDAY 26^th, 10 am:  Ladies Midweek v Bampton
SATURDAY 29^th, 1 pm:  Ladies C v Appleton; Men’s D v Long Crendon

TEAM TENNIS
THANKS to everyone who’s represented the club in the Oxfordshire League this summer, and ***CONGRATULATIONS!!!*** to the five teams who’ve had particularly good seasons and special success: our Mixed A and Men’s B have both secured promotion, our Men’s Midweek team finished joint-top of the Midweek League, and our Ladies D and Mixed D, the latter in their first-ever season, both excitingly won their divisions. The Winter League is already under way – good luck to all our sides: enjoy!

CLUB NIGHTS
With our courts now lit, Club Nights continue all the year round.  Come and join in!  For the times of all our Club Sessions, now including Tuesday afternoons, check out the courts timetable on https://wbtc.org.uk/courts-timetable/

DATE FOR THE DIARY
This year’s AGM is on THURSDAY 6^th NOVEMBER
at 7.30 pm in the clubhouse. Be sure to come along and join in discussion about the club’s present progress and plans for the future.  It matters!VOLUNTEERS
As you know, the club is run entirely by volunteers, and we need new people to step forward and take a role in making the club work and develop and be a great place to play.  In particular, our Chair, Phil Reid, has reached the end of his three-year term, Secretary Sally Bryant is retiring from the committee after holding several roles in the last decade and more, and Nigel Bryant, who has carried out Courts Maintenance along with other roles since 2013, would now like someone else to take on this vital work.  The full list of vacancies is posted on the clubhouse notice board, and is about to be circulated.  When it appears, don’t wait for the mysterious “Someone Else” to come forward!  Please volunteer.

SOCIAL
A reminder that our next social event at the club is a wine-tasting evening (“France vs The Rest of the World”) on Saturday 15 November.  An invitation will be coming soon, but you can book your place already.  All the details are on the website page: https://wbtc.org.uk/news/club-social-wine-tasting-evening/

HOME MATCHES COMING UP [each match 2 courts]:
OCTOBER
SATURDAY 11^th, 1 pm:  Ladies B v Oxford Sports; Men’s C v Blewbury
WEDNESDAY 15^th, 10 am:  Ladies Midweek v Abingdon; Mixed M’week v Portcullis
SATURDAY 18^th, 1 pm:  Men’s B v Wychwoods; Ladies D v Abingdon
SUNDAY 26^th, 10 am:  Men’s A v Wychwoods
WEDNESDAY 29^th, 10 am:  Mixed Midweek v Wantage

NOVEMBER
SATURDAY 1^st, 1 pm:  Ladies A v Brackley; Men’s D v Kings Sutton
SUNDAY 2^nd, 10 am:  Ladies C v Mapledurham
WEDNESDAY 5th, 10 am:  Men’s Midweek v North Oxford

TOURNAMENT DAY

31 August: There was plenty of good tennis to enjoy on our latest Tournament Day, with the six Finals of the 2025 Club Championships.  Many of the finalists are pictured above, along with Club Chair Phil Reid and tournament organiser Freddie Page, not forgetting barbecue chef Luke Wildgoose. Notes of the winners, runners-up and more pictures are on https://wbtc.org.uk/news/tournament-day-2025/

Earlier in the day, the morning had seen a fully-subscribed and hugely enjoyable Handicap Tournament, the handicap ensuring that almost every five-game match ended 3-2!  The Final was equally close, Ed Houghton and Sally Bryant pipping Freddie Page and Ulli Parkinson 11-9 in the championship tiebreak.

COURT LIGHTING
8 September:  A little bit of club history was made with the first League match played under our court lighting,as our Mixed C and Mixed D teams, playing in the same division, took the opportunity to play on a week-night, their earlier weekend match having been rained off.

OUR COURT LIGHTING IS NOW AVAILABLE AGAIN for evening play till the end of March.  Existing lighting-fob holders have already been emailed about renewing.  Most holders have done so but some have not responded – IF YOU HAVE A KEY-FOB AND HAVEN’T RESPONDED TO OUR EMAILS, PLEASE DO SO NOW.  If you didn’t invest in a fob last year and would like to do so, it’s very easy: just click here for details:  https://wbtc.org.uk/news/court-lighting-how-to-order-your-key/

And having our courts lit means, of course, that CLUB NIGHTS now continue all the year round.  Come and join in!  For the times of all our Club Sessions, check out the courts timetable on https://wbtc.org.uk/courts-timetable/

 COACHING  Court lighting means that coaching, too, can continue all year round. For all details of the group coaching on offer at the club, go to our website pages https://wbtc.org.uk/junior-coaching/ (for juniors) and https://wbtc.org.uk/adult-coaching/ (for adults).

      *** This Autumn’s adult coaching includes… ***

 Feeling rusty?  Want to sharpen up your game?
RUSTY RACKETS sessions are running for 6 weeks on WEDNESDAYS 6.00–7.00 pm, starting 17th September.
To book your place, click on https://wbtc.org.uk/adult-coaching/

SOCIAL  Our next social event at the club is a wine-tasting evening (“France vs The Rest of the World”) on Saturday 15 November.  An invitation will be coming soon, but you can book your place already!  All the details are on the website page: https://wbtc.org.uk/news/club-social-wine-tasting-evening/

            HOME MATCHES COMING UP [each match 2 courts]:
SEPTEMBER
SATURDAY 20^th, 1 pm:  Mixed D v Benson
SUNDAY 21^st, 10 am:   Ladies D v Deddington
SATURDAY 27^th, 1 pm:  Mixed C v Kingston Bagpuize; Men’s E v Shrivenham
SUNDAY 28^th, 10 am:   Men’s A v OHRC
OCTOBER
SATURDAY 4^th, 1 pm:  Ladies A v Marlow; Men’s D v David Lloyd