Archives: News

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

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 Freddie Page, on:

Email: gkpage@btinternet.com

Text/whatsapp: 07388080377

Tournament Dates

Deadline to enter is 31st March 2025

Matches will begin in April and Finals Day will be Sunday 31^st August 2025.

This 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 an 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 (31st August) then please withdraw and allow your opponents(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.

After what seems a long and specially dreary winter, spring is surely coming soon, and with it the new Summer 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 2025/26, 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/.

SOCIAL: WINE-TASTING EVENING
You are warmly invited to an evening of wine tasting and good food in the clubhouse at 7pm on Friday 28th March. During the evening you will have the opportunity to flex your palate, taste 8 exceptional wines and engage in some friendly competition with our ‘guess the glass’ challenge. There are even prizes on offer for those with the most perceptive taste buds.

A ploughman’s buffet is included in the price and will be suitable for meat eaters and vegetarians alike.

If you are able to join, please transfer the paltry sum of £25 to the club account [same details as for Membership] and email Luke Wildgoose (lukewilliamwildgoose@gmail.com) with your name and any dietary requirements by Saturday 22nd March.  If you’re not a drinker but would still like to attend the rate is £7 to cover the cost of your food.EASTER JUNIOR TENNIS CAMP
Our excellent coaches are running a three-day Tennis Camp for Juniors in the Easter Holidays, on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 7–9 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 1^st, 1 pm:  Men’s A v North Oxford; Men’s E v Wantage
SATURDAY 8^th, 1 pm:  Men’s D v Benson; Men’s E v Faringdon
SUNDAY 9^th, 10 am:  Men’s C v Oxford Sports
SATURDAY 15^th, 1 pm:  Men’s A v Oxford Sports; Men’s C v Shiplake
SUNDAY 16^th, 10 am:  Ladies A v Shiplake
SATURDAY 22^nd, 1 pm:  Ladies D v Benson
SATURDAY 29^th, 1 pm:  Men’s E v GoringBALL RECYCLING:  A reminder that we recycle used tennis balls.  Please don’t bin your used balls.  Just leave them in the labelled white container in the conservatory, and we’ll recycle them with those from the Club.  But please note that if you mark initials etc on them, they cannot be recycled.  Thanks.

UNUSUALLY WE’RE STARTING WITH AN APPEAL…
As you know, the running of our Club depends entirely on volunteers, and we currently have two posts that need to be filled:
Treasurer / Membership Secretary: As Kate Paice is stepping down after very capably holding the post for the last three years, we now urgently need a replacement.  There are a couple of brief busy spells each year, but Kate estimates that the work averages about two hours per month.  She would of course assist in the handover period to her replacement.
Mixed D Team Captain: With so many members keen to play team tennis, we’re entering a fourth Mixed team for the coming summer season (usually 7 matches), for which we need a captain.  Running a team can be fun and takes little time.

***  If you’d like to volunteer for either role and/or find out more, please just email woodstocktennisclub@gmail.com. ***

CLUB SESSIONS  With court lighting now installed at Woodstock, it’s great to see so many members enjoying evening tennis.  A reminder that our popular Club Nights on Tuesdays and Team Practice Nights on Thursdays now run all year round.  Both sessions start every week at 5.30, and play can continue till 9.30.  There are also daytime Club Sessions on Tuesday and Sunday afternoons, both running from 1.30 to 3.30.  All members are very welcome.

COURT AVAILABILITY  When planning your own games, if you’re ever in doubt about court availability, please remember that all the details are on our website:  https://wbtc.org.uk/courts-timetable/

HOME MATCHES IN FEBRUARY [each match 2 courts]:
SATURDAY 1^st, 1 pm:  Ladies A v Bicester; Men’s B v Chinnor
SUNDAY 2^nd, 10 am:  Men’s E v Blewbury
SATURDAY 8^th, 1 pm:  Men’s C v OHRC; Men’s D v Oxford City
SUNDAY 9^th, 10 am:  Ladies D v Norham Gardens
SATURDAY 15^th, 10 am: Ladies D v Goring
                1 pm:  Men’s A v Witney; Men’s B v Princes Risborough
SUNDAY 16^th, 10 am:  Ladies C v Oxford Sports
SATURDAY 22^nd, 1 pm: Ladies B v Wychwoods; Ladies C v Colston
SUNDAY 23^rd, 10 am:  Men’s B v Colston

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.”