Archives: News

We’ll be bringing news shortly of the progress of our planning application for the installation of court lighting.  News, too, of the refurbishment of Court 4 (our single court), which will be happening in September.  Also news of Finals Day of the Club Tournament.  Meanwhile…  ADULT COACHING: SPECIAL NEW SESSIONS
There are just a few places remaining on our special new Adult Coaching Camp.  The 3-day course is on 24th, 26th & 28th July, in 2-hour sessions across 3 evenings, Monday, Wednesday and Friday.  On the Friday we’ll have the bar open and some food on offer: please do stay on for a drink and pizza! All members are welcome to join the participants for a drink at the bar from 8 pm at the end of the Camp on Friday 28th.
All the details are here:  Woodstock Tennis Club – Adult intensive Camp – Book Here

AND FOR JUNIORS… SUMMER HOLIDAY TENNIS CAMPS
We’re delighted to say that our popular Tennis Camps for Juniors will be running in two weeks of the Summer Holidays:
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday 31st July, 1st and 2nd August
9.00 am – 11.00 am:  5-9 years
11.15 am – 1.15 pm:  10-16 years
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday 21st, 22nd and 23rd August
9.00 am – 11.00 am:  5-9 years
11.15 am – 1.15 pm:  10-16 years
Places are offered on a first come, first served basis so please book early to avoid disappointment.  To secure your child’s booking, please click on the link below and scroll down to book the camp you wish your child to attend:
Woodstock Tennis Club, Junior Tennis Camps Summer 2023 – Book Here

SOCIAL and PRACTICE TENNIS
Our friendly and inclusive Club Sessions are thriving.  Everyone is welcome.  They’re on TUESDAYS FROM 5.30 ONWARDS and SUNDAYS 1.30 – 3.30.  And on THURSDAYS FROM 5.30 ONWARDS there are Team Practice Nights for all members keen to play team tennis.

COURTS TIMETABLE / DATES TO NOTE
Please note that on the mornings of the Junior Tennis Camps on Mon, Tues and Weds, 31 July and 1 and 2 August, a couple of courts will be free from 9 till 11 and the single court will be available from 11 till 1.15.  After that all four courts will be free as usual.
If ever in doubt about court availability, please check our very simple Courts Timetable on https://wbtc.org.uk/courts-timetable/.  And at weekends, note the days that have matches, which are usually finished by about 4.30 (morning matches by about 1 pm).

HOME MATCHES COMING UP  [each match 2 courts]:

JULY
SATURDAY 15^th, 1 pm:  Men’s B v Bicester; Men’s D v Oxford City
WEDNESDAY 19^th, 10 am: Men’s Midweek v N. Oxford     

SATURDAY 22^nd, 1 pm: Ladies B v Witney;
Ladies D v Benson
THURSDAY 27^th, 10 am: Ladies Midweek v Wantage
SATURDAY 29^th, 1 pm:  Mixed A v Abingdon

AUGUST
WEDNESDAY 9^th, 10 am:  Ladies Midweek v Bampton
SATURDAY 12^th, 10 am:  Ladies C v Kingston Bagpuize
    1 pm: Men’s A v Norham Gardens; Men’s C v Wychwoods
SUNDAY 13^th, 10 am:  Ladies A v Faringdon

 

 

 

 

We are pleased to confirm that the Tennis Committee has now submitted a planning application to West Oxfordshire District Council for the installation of court lighting at Woodstock (as sanctioned by our AGM in 2019). 

Crucially, this is NOT an application for floodlights on columns, for which planning permission would be hard to secure.  It’s something very different.  We’re applying to install an innovative new tennis court lighting system called Tweener.  Tweener has been developed in France by the company NLX.  Ingeniously, instead of being mounted on pylons, LED lights are mounted in continuous strips along the side fences of courts.  For a clear image of this, see the following video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_TxCjZII8E

NLX began exporting in 2019.  Tweener is proving extremely successful (and award-winning), with more than 700 installations now across Europe, not only throughout France but in Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Greece, and in 25 countries worldwide.  In France, installations of Tweener are now outstripping those of conventional pylon lighting.  And Tweener has been installed in some of the most prestigious and beautiful venues there, including the Mouratoglou Academy, one of the premier tennis academies in the world.  Other notable installations are at the Monte Carlo Tennis Club in Monaco and the Alberto Bonacossa Club in Milan.

To appreciate how elegant and unobtrusive the system is, note that in the picture below of Mouratoglou, we are seeing the back of one lighting strip along the fence in the bottom right corner; the second is the strip of light in the middle of the picture, two courts away.  Beyond it, another pair of courts is similarly lit by two strips.

MOURATOGLOU TENNIS ACADEMY

MONTE CARLO TENNIS CLUB
In this picture of Monte Carlo, we can see Tweener installed in the pair of courts in the middle distance: one strip of light is visible on the right of the courts, the other fixed on the wall to the left.

ALBERTO BONACOSSA CLUB, MILAN

The running costs of Tweener are approximately 50% those of conventional lighting.  The carbon footprint is further (hugely) reduced because construction, transportation and installation are so simple.  Instead of closing the club for two to three weeks to allow heavy machinery to excavate courts, lay cables and erect lighting pylons, installation will take about two days: there is no excavation, no laying of cables and no erection of pylons – the Tweener strips are simply delivered to the Club and attached to the fences by brackets.

Tweener is now taking off in the UK.  In March, Woodstock club members visited and play-tested installations at three different clubs, in London, Devon and Manchester.  Neil Lovett visited Totnes Tennis Club in Devon, Rhys Lewis visited Our Lady of Muswell Tennis Club in North London, and Phil Reid, Tom Francis and Nigel Bryant visited Baxter Park Tennis Club in Cheadle, Manchester.  Their reports have been sent to all members.  If you have not received this package, please let us know.

ADULT COACHING: NEW THIS YEAR!

Led by Head Coach Tom Francis, we’re running a special new Adult Coaching Camp at the Club this summer.  The 3-day course is on 24th, 26th & 28th July, in 2-hour sessions across 3 days, Monday, Wednesday and Friday.  Content will include: Basket Drills, Live Balls Drills, Stroke Analysis, Breakdown of game situations, Doubles & Singles Tactics.  

On the Friday we will have the bar open and some food on offer: please do stay on for a drink and pizza! All members are welcome to join the participants for a drink at the bar from 8pm at the end of the Camp on Friday 28th.  Booking for the camp is now open.  Places are limited and will be offered on a first come, first served basis. All the details are here:  Woodstock Tennis Club – Adult intensive Camp – Book Here

SOCIAL and PRACTICE TENNIS
Our friendly and inclusive Club Sessions are thriving.  Everyone is welcome.  They’re on TUESDAYS FROM 5.30 ONWARDS and SUNDAYS 1.30 – 3.30.  And on THURSDAYS FROM 5.30 ONWARDS there are Team Practice Nights for all members keen to play team tennis. 

COURTS TIMETABLE / DATES TO NOTE
If ever in doubt about court availability, please check our very simple Courts Timetable on https://wbtc.org.uk/courts-timetable/.  Just two exceptions coming up:
** WEDNESDAY 21 JUNE: Unusually we have two home Midweek League matches on the same morning.  Please note: on Weds 21 all 4 courts will be busy from 9.30 till 12.30.
** SUNDAY 2 JULY: We have a home match in the LTA National League at 4 pm on Sunday 2^nd July.  All four courts will be busy from 4 till about 5.30, then two courts will be in use.

HOME MATCHES COMING UP [each match 2 courts]:
SATURDAY 17^th, 1 pm:  Mixed A v Wychwoods; Mixed C v Blewbury
WEDNESDAY 21^st, 10 am: Ladies Midweek v Wantage; Men’s Midweek v Faringdon
SATURDAY 24^th, 1 pm:  Men’s D v Witney
SATURDAY 1^st, 1 pm:  Men’s A v Kingston Bagpuize
SUNDAY 2^nd, 10 am:  Ladies A v Bicester; 4 pm:  Men’s National League v Cholsey
SATURDAY 8^th, 1 pm:  Mixed B  v Faringdon; Mixed C v Oxford Sports

HENMANS TOURNAMENT
Monday 29 May to Friday 2 June
A quick reminder that in half-term week we’re staging our annual Henmans Junior Tournament sponsored by Freeths solicitors, a great event entering its second quarter-century!  Please note that THE COURTS WILL BE BUSY EACH DAY THAT WEEK (MONDAY TO FRIDAY) UNTIL ABOUT 5 PM, but will be FREE STRAIGHT AFTER, AND CLUB NIGHTS WILL RUN AS USUAL.

ADULT COACHING: NEW THIS YEAR!
Our excellent coaches are offering a special new Adult Coaching Camp at the Club this summer.  The 3-day course will take place on 26th, 27th & 28th July. The course will be 2-hour intensive sessions across 3 days, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.  Content will include: Basket Drills, Live Balls Drills, Stroke Analysis, Breakdown of game situations, Doubles & Singles Tactics.  Sessions will be delivered by Head Coach Tom Francis & Ben Coomber.
On the Friday we will have the bar open and some food on offer: please do stay on for a drink and pizza!  Booking is now open.  Places are limited and will be offered on a first come, first served basis. All the details are here: https://clubspark.lta.org.uk/Fortyfifteentenniscoaching/Coaching/Camp?courseID=e89491f7-d317-4d42-a0e4-0c485ee7ee26

SOCIAL and PRACTICE TENNIS
Our friendly and inclusive Club Sessions are thriving.  Everyone is welcome.  They’re on TUESDAYS FROM 5.30 ONWARDS and SUNDAYS 1.30 – 3.30.  And on THURSDAYS FROM 5.30 ONWARDS there are Team Practice Nights for all members keen to play team tennis.

HOME MATCHES COMING UP [each match 2 courts]:
SATURDAY 27^th, 1 pm:  Mixed B v Cholsey; Ladies D v Blewbury D
SATURDAY 3^rd, 1 pm:  Ladies D v Blewbury C
WEDNESDAY 7^th, 10 am Ladies Midweek v North Oxford
SATURDAY 10^th, 1 pm:  Ladies C v Portcullis; Men’s C v Oxford City
SATURDAY 17^th, 1 pm:  Mixed A v Wychwoods; Mixed C v Blewbury

The sun image may be a bit optimistic… but in spite of the mostly gloomy April we hope you’ve been playing loads of tennis, and let’s hope May will be kinder and we’ll all play even more.  There’s a lot going on….

CLUB TOURNAMENT:  All the details are on the board in the clubhouse conservatory.  Enjoy your matches, and please keep results coming in.

TEAM TENNIS:  The Summer League season has just begun.  If you’re interested in playing team tennis and are not yet involved, be sure to let us know (just reply to this email).

SOCIAL and PRACTICE TENNIS:
Our friendly and inclusive Club Sessions are thriving.  Everyone is welcome.  They’re on TUESDAYS FROM 5.30 ONWARDS and SUNDAYS 1.30 – 3.30.  And on THURSDAYS FROM 5.30 ONWARDS there are Team Practice Nights for all members keen to play team tennis.

COACHING:
All the details of the great coaching on offer are on the website: https://wbtc.org.uk/adult-coaching/ and https://wbtc.org.uk/junior-coaching/.

COURTS TIMETABLE
In spite of all the activity on court, the timetable is still very simple.  If ever in doubt about when courts are available, just check on https://wbtc.org.uk/courts-timetable/

TO NOTE LATER THIS MONTH:
Coming up at half-term (week beginning Monday 29 May) is our annual Henmans Junior Tournament sponsored by Freeths, a great event now entering its second quarter-century!  Please note that the courts will be busy each day that week until about 5 pm, but will be free as usual each evening, and Club Nights are unaffected.

HOME MATCHES THIS MONTH  [each match 2 courts]:
SATURDAY 13^th, 1 pm:  Ladies A v N. Oxford; Ladies B v N. Oxford
SUNDAY 14^th, 10 am:  Ladies C v Norham Gardens
SATURDAY 20^th, 1 pm:  Men’s A v Faringdon; Men’s C v Brackley
SUNDAY 21^st, 10 am:  Men’s B v Wantage
SATURDAY 27^th, 1 pm:  Ladies D v Blewbury; Mixed B v Cholsey

And if with all your matches, practice, coaching and social play your racket needs a RESTRING, Club member Bob Coomber offers a quick and expert service.  You can contact Bob on 07484 368977 or email bob.coomber@icloud.com

CLOCKS GO FORWARD – RETURN OF CLUB NIGHTS!
With the clocks going forward on Sunday 26^th, our friendly and inclusive Club Nights return, starting Tuesday 28^th and Thursday 30^th March.  Come and join in: TUESDAYS FROM 5.30 ONWARDS are Social Sessions for everyone (the bar will be open when we finish play), and THURSDAYS FROM 5.30 ONWARDS are Team Practice Nights for all members keen to play team tennis.

And talking of TEAM TENNIS …
The Winter League season is coming to a close and the new Summer League begins after Easter.  We’re always delighted to welcome new players to the squads.  Well done everyone who’s played in our teams this winter (we’re very proud that Woodstock yet again has the third or fourth highest number of members playing league tennis of all the clubs in Oxfordshire), and congrats to our Men’s A and Men’s C  for winning promotion and to our Men’s Midweek team for winning the league.

And talking of SUCCESSES…

SUNDAY TOURNAMENT … AND BAKE-OFF!
Thanks to all who took part in last Sunday’s Tie-break Tournament – hugely enjoyed, and some great tennis played, with Tory Houghton and Mike Allen carrying off the Cup.

Just as good (and close-fought!) was the bake-off that followed: three sensational cakes, all gems of their kind – one chocolate, one lemon drizzle and one banana and almond bread with tahini topping… oh my word…  By the narrowest of margins the lemon drizzle won – and the Star Baker (identities of bakers not known till the vote had happened) turned out to be 10-year-old Madeleine! Brilliant!

And talking of TOURNAMENTS…
SUMMER CLUB TOURNAMENTS
If you haven’t yet entered this Summer’s Club Tournaments (Singles, Doubles, Mixed, Men’s and Ladies), email Freddie Page directly at gkpage@btinternet.com BEFORE the 31st March for all the details (or ask at next week’s Club Nights).

FAMILY FRIDAYS
We’re excited to announce the return of Family Fridays, starting on 21^st April, 4.30 to 5.30pm. This is a free session for children and parents to get together on court and enjoy coach-led drills and games. It’s also a fantastic social event for families to meet each other and have fun playing tennis.  It was hugely popular last year, and we hope this will continue.  For all the details, please contact Jenny Collins at plunkett007@hotmail.com

EASTER JUNIOR CAMPS
A reminder that our excellent coaches are running tennis camps for juniors for three days in the Easter holiday:  Mon, Tues, Weds 3^rd, 4^th, 5^th April, 9.00 am – 11.00 am:  5-9 years, 11.15 am – 1.15 pm:  10-16 years.  Places are offered on a first come, first served basis so please book early to avoid disappointment.  For further details and to secure your child’s booking, please click on: https://clubspark.lta.org.uk/Fortyfifteentenniscoaching/Coaching/Camps

*** MEMBERS PLEASE NOTE that on the three mornings of the camps only one court may be available.  After 1.15 all four courts will be free as usual. ***

ADULT AND JUNIOR COACHING
To improve your game and enjoy your tennis all the more, the new term of our group coaching at the Club – for both Adults and Juniors – begins after Easter, and booking is open now.  For all the details of days, times and prices, and to book your place, for adults just click on: https://wbtc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Woodstock-Tennis-Club-Adult-Coaching-Planner-April-July-2023-1.pdf and for juniors click on: https://wbtc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Woodstock-Tennis-Club-Junior-Coaching-Planner-April-July-2023-1.pdf

 

 

SUNDAY TOURNAMENT … AND BAKE-OFF!
Adam Hofman’s post-match cakes are becoming something of a Club legend!  We see no reason why the Men’s teams should be sole enjoyers of this delight, and now you can share in it!  Adam has generously agreed to bake another of his gems for all to enjoy after our SUNDAY MIXED DOUBLES TOURNAMENT on the afternoon of SUNDAY 19 MARCH. Partners in the tournament will change every game, so you don’t need a partner to enter.  To take part, simply email woodstocktennisclub@gmail.com saying “Yes, I / we would like to play in the tournament on Sunday 19^th.”   And the (friendly, fun) competition on court will continue off it: if you think you can bake a cake to rival Adam’s, please bring and share and we’ll have a (friendly, fun) bake-off! 

And talking of tournaments…

SUMMER CLUB TOURNAMENT
This Summer we’re running club tournaments open to all adult members. This is a great opportunity to play some competitive matches, have fun, meet new players and attend a Finals Day which should provide some great matches.

There will be seven competitions in total, and you can enter any of them for which you are eligible:

Men’s Singles
Senior Men’s Singles (only for those aged 50 and above)
Ladies Singles
Senior Ladies Singles (only for those aged 50 and above)
Men’s Doubles
Ladies Doubles
Mixed Doubles

We aim to start matches during April and finish with a Finals Day either at the end of July or the first weekend in September – this will depend on the number of entries, and all the details will be provided before the tournaments begin.

If you would like to enter any of the Summer Tournaments please email Freddie (Graham) Page directly at gkpage@btinternet.com BEFORE the 31st March with your details and the tournaments you wish to enter.  For the doubles tournaments either choose your own partner (and provide both names) or simply enter on your own and you will be paired with another player through a draw. Good luck!

EASTER JUNIOR CAMPS
Our excellent coaches are running tennis camps for juniors for three days in the Easter holiday:

Mon, Tues and Weds 3^rd, 4^th and 5^th April
9.00 am – 11.00 am:  5-9 years
11.15 am – 1.15 pm:  10-16 years

Places are offered on a first come, first served basis so please book early to avoid disappointment.  For further details and to secure your child’s booking, please click on the link below and scroll down to book the camp you wish your child to attend:

https://clubspark.lta.org.uk/Fortyfifteentenniscoaching/Coaching/Camps

COACHING
To improve your game and enjoy your tennis all the more, the new term of our group coaching at the Club – for both Adults and Juniors – begins after Easter, and booking is open now.  For all the details of days, times and prices, and to book your place, for adults just click on: https://wbtc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Woodstock-Tennis-Club-Adult-Coaching-Planner-April-July-2023-1.pdf and for juniors click on: https://wbtc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Woodstock-Tennis-Club-Junior-Coaching-Planner-April-July-2023-1.pdf 

CLUB SESSIONS
Our friendly and inclusive Club Sessions will be running throughout the month, every Tuesday and Sunday, 1.30-3.30.  Do come and join in whenever you’re free. 

HOME MATCHES COMING UP [each match 2 courts]:
SATURDAY 4^th, 1 pm:  Ladies A v David Lloyd,                            Ladies C v Watlington
SUNDAY 5^th, 10 am:  Men’s A v Princes Risborough
SATURDAY 18^th, 1 pm:  Ladies C v Portcullis
SUNDAY 19^th, 10 am:  Ladies A v Mapledurham

MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL
*** And this is the month for membership renewal.  For details of the BIG SAVINGS FOR RENEWING THIS MONTH, go to: https://wbtc.org.uk/tennis-membership/

HAPPY NEW YEAR!
ALL THE VERY BEST FOR 2023.  If one of your New Year’s resolutions is to play more tennis, you can start with our regular CLUB AFTERNOONS.   Our friendly and inclusive Club Sessions will be running throughout the winter, every Tuesday and Sunday, 1.30-3.30.  Do come and join in whenever you’re free.

COACHING
And if another resolution is to improve your game, the winter term of our group coaching at the Club – for both Adults and Juniors – is running now.  For all the details of days, times and prices, and to book your place, just click on https://www.wbtc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Woodstock-Tennis-Club-Adult-Coaching-Planner-Jan-Mar-2023-1A.pdf for adults and https://www.wbtc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Woodstock-Tennis-Academy-Junior-Coaching-Planner-Jan-Mar-2023.pdf for juniors. 

HOME MATCHES COMING UP [each match 2 courts]:
FEBRUARY
WEDNESDAY 1st, 10 am:  Men’s Midweek v Oxford Sports
SATURDAY 4^th, 1 pm:  Ladies A v Wychwoods, Ladies C v Abingdon
SATURDAY 11^th, 10 am:  Ladies A v Portcullis;
             1 pm:  Men’s C v David Lloyd, Men’s D v Hanney
WEDNESDAY 15th, 10 am:  Men’s Midweek v OHRC
SATURDAY 18^th, 1 pm:  Men’s A v Faringdon
WEDNESDAY 22nd, 10 am:  Ladies Midweek v Marlow
SATURDAY 25^th, 1 pm:  Men’s B v Chinnor, Ladies B v North Oxford
SUNDAY 26^th, 10 am:  Ladies D v Goring

CHRISTMAS TOURNAMENT
With Christmas fast approaching we’re holding a SPECIAL, SOCIABLE DOUBLES TOURNAMENT on SUNDAY 11 DECEMBER at 1 o’clock, to be followed by equally sociable and seasonal mulled wine (and mince pies). The competition will be in a new, fun format.  Partners will change every game, so you don’t need a partner to take part.  To enter, simply email woodstocktennisclub@gmail.com saying “Yes!  I/we would like to play in the Christmas Tournament on December 11^th!”

CLUB SESSIONS
Apart from the Tournament Sunday on the 11^th (and a notable day a fortnight later), our Club Sessions will be running every Tuesday and Sunday, 1.30-3.30.   Do come and join in.

AGM
Many thanks to everyone who took part in our very interesting and positive Tennis Section AGM on November 10^th.  The all-club AGM (Tennis and Bowls combined) is on THURSDAY 24 NOVEMBER at 7.30pm in the Clubhouse. There are important votes to be taken about the future of the Club, so please be sure to come along.

HOME MATCHES [each match 2 courts]:
NOVEMBER
SATURDAY 26^th, 1 pm:  Ladies D v Brackley, Men’s B v Oxford Sports
SUNDAY 27^th, 10 am:  Men’s D v Colston
DECEMBER
SATURDAY 3^rd, 1 pm:  Men’s A v Bicester, Men’s C v n Deddington
SATURDAY 10^th, 1 pm:  Ladies B v Thame

AND LOOKING AHEAD TO THE NEW YEAR…  We’re holding a Tennis Club Post-Christmas Dinner at Brotherton’s Brasserie in Woodstock on Friday January 13^th, 7.30.  The meal choices with prices are found on NEW MENU | BrothertonsBrasserie.  If you’d like to come, to book your places just email nigelknightsjohnson@gmail.com

*** STOP PRESS!!!  CHRISTMAS CAMPS FOR JUNIORS  Wednesday and Thursday 21^st and 22^nd December.  For all the details, just click on:  Woodstock Tennis Club – Junior Christmas Camp – Book Here!

 

SPECIAL TUESDAYS

IT’S BEEN GREAT to see so many members playing in our Club Sessions on Sunday and Tuesday afternoons.  Do come and join in: they’re every Tuesday and Sunday, 1.30-3.30.  And starting in November, one Tuesday Club Afternoon each month will be preceded by a special session, 12.30-1.30, run by our Head Coach Tom Francis.  Each of the three monthly ‘clinics’ will work on a specific game situation and tactical intention:  Session 1 – Serve & Return; Session 2 – Smashing/Overhead; Session 3 – Poaching & Protecting at the net.  For team players and social players alike, they’ll be full of brilliant tips and new ideas.  For all the details, and to book your place, just click on

Woodstock Winter Adult Coaching Clinics – More information Here

DATE FOR THE DIARY:  TENNIS AGM
Whether you’re a regular AGM attender, have never been to one before or are new to the Club, do come and join us to discuss the season past, what’s happening now and how we should look to the future:  THURSDAY 10 NOVEMBER, 7.30 IN THE CLUBHOUSE.

HOME MATCHES COMING UP [each match 2 courts]:
OCTOBER
SATURDAY 29^th, 10 am:  Men’s D v Abingdon; 1 pm:  Ladies D v Norham Gardens, Men’s B v Goring
NOVEMBER
WEDNESDAY 2^nd, 10 am:  Ladies Midweek v Appleton
SATURDAY 5^th, 1 pm:  Men’s A v Colston, Ladies A v Portcullis
SATURDAY 12^th, 1 pm:  Ladies B v Cholsey
SATURDAY 19^th, 1 pm:  Ladies A v Banbury, Ladies C v Oxford Sports
SATURDAY 26^th, 1 pm:  Ladies D v Brackley, Men’s B v Oxford Sports
SUNDAY 27^th, 10 am:  Men’s D v Colston