ELLISWICK LTC JANUARY 2025 NEWSLETTER
Welcome to our January Newsletter. We have some exciting news to share with you. Firstly, we are pleased to announce that Jim McGown was unanimously re-elected as the Club’s President at the Board meeting held on Monday 13th January 2025. Directors also confirmed the appointment of Ken Michie as the new Membership Secretary.
If you wish to read the minutes of the Board/Committee meeting, they are available on the notice board in the clubhouse. Any input would be gratefully received.
RESURFACING OF COURTS 4-7
Please note that the resurfacing works on courts 4-7 will be carried out from 21 July – 5 September 2025. If the weather stays fair through late July and August, the work may be completed ahead of time. But that may just be wishful thinking and thus any matches should be organised outside of the period 21 July – 5 September.
SAFEGUARDING
We are very pleased to inform you that LTA has confirmed that one of our junior members, Emily Gardiner, has been selected as the Young Person’s Welfare Ambassador for Elliswick! Emily will play an important role in safeguarding at our club, such as:
- Raise awareness of safeguarding and welfare issues amongst members and players
- Gather feedback and become a voice for young people
- Provide an important link between club committees and children and young people
We are sure you will join the committee to congratulate Emily and support her in her new role.
Our Welfare Officer, Andree Haxton, always tries to ensure that our club is a safe place to be for everyone (members and visitors), either to play tennis or to socialise. If you have any concerns regarding safeguarding at the club, please do not hesitate to contact Andree in confidence on 07900006526 or contact the LTA at https://safeguardingconcern.lta.org.uk and contact the local authority children/adult services team. If the concern involves an immediate risk of harm, please call the police on 999.
ELLISWICK CLOSED CUP CHAMPIONSHIPS 2025
The date for the finals will be Saturday 21st June 2025 with back up day being Sunday 22nd June 2025.
| Competition sign-up sheets go up | 2nd February 2025 |
| Closing date for entry | 3rd March 2025 |
| Draw Published | 8th March 2025 |
| Matches Start | 9th March 2025 |
| Semi Finals matches to conclude by | 18th June 2025 |
| Finals Day | 21st June 2025 back up 22nd June 2025 |
All finalists must ensure that they can play on both dates. If you have any queries regarding the Tournament or if you are unable to make it to the clubhouse to sign up then please email [email protected].
We are also trialling a plate round for those in the 1st or potentially 2nd rounds depending on numbers entered. Not all categories will have a plate. There will be draw sheets on the board with both the tournament and plate rules once we have final numbers and draw has been made. For more information, please contact either Kate Curson at [email protected] and/or Amy Martin at [email protected]
MEMBERSHIPS
A big thank you to everyone who has paid their renewal fees promptly.
On Thursday 1st February, the fees will go up to reflect the removal of the 5% prompt payment discount. In any case, if you haven’t already done so, please pay your fee by Feb 28th.
From 1st March, any unpaid places will be offered to some people on our waiting list.
Please contact Ken Michie with any membership queries at [email protected]
TEAM TENNIS
All winter matches are currently underway. We are now looking forward to the summer leagues matches (Datchworth, Hot Rackets, Herts League and Herts National League).
If you played last year in a team then you will be included this year. If you have not played team tennis and would like to play in a team, please do not hesitate to register your interest by contacting our Captains as follows:
MEN’S CAPTAIN : Jem Collier-Garrity at [email protected]
LADIES CAPTAIN : Kate Curson at [email protected]
MIXED TEAM CAPTAIN : Amy Martin at [email protected]
MIXED FRIENDLIES : Andree Haxton at [email protected]
JUNIORS : Marc Stacey at [email protected]
The dates for the Team Practices in March 2025 have been arranged and will be led by Ben Wood & Rupert Tillbrooke. Captains will be in touch with their squads and slots will be allocated for all individuals as court space is limited.
SOCIALS
Events in February
- Saturday 8th – We have Ross and Vicky (The Out of the Blue duo) returning to Elliswick to play our favourite party hits from the 70’s 80’s and 90’s LIVE. Reserve your space for this great evening of fun and dancing. Entry is £10.00 each if purchased in advance. Tickets can be ordered on this link: https://forms.gle/Bmi9wXJipkMvsgu37
- Friday 28th – Home-made Pizza Night – 7pm at £10/pp
One of our junior members, Jack Beasley is raising fund for the World Challenge in Cambodia in 2026. He will be working in a bear orphanage. To attend this event, please contact Susan Beasley directly at [email protected]. Spaces are limited, so please sign up early.
Events in March
- 19th – Jesus Christ Super Star at the EMC featuring our member Tim Spencer. SOLD OUT
- 22nd – Wine Tasting Evening hosted by Barrie & Alison. This is a very popular event, so please sign up ideally with a full table of 8. Tickets £20 each.
Book early to avoid disappointment at https://forms.gle/aBcGskXihcV1cKQV7
Events in April
1st – Mens Night begins
2nd – Ladies Night begins
3rd – Club Night begins
17th – First Supper Night hosted by Jenny Stevenson. Sign up here: https://forms.gle/gwu437ufr8fFiyEL6
Supper Nights – Every Thursday evenings, once a month, starting on Thursday 17th April to 11th September.
All members and their family are welcome to join us for a delicious supper cooked by our fabulous members.
We are still looking for members who are interested in cooking for our famous supper nights on the following dates: 12th June and 11th September. These dates can be altered to suit but obviously need to be on a Thursday evening after club mix-in night.
BANK HOLIDAY TOURNAMENT 2025
This is a fun and friendly tournament, organised for Intermediate 16+ up to senior players and is a great way to meet and play with new people and have some fun followed by a delicious lunch! For more information, please contact our BHT Organisers Jane and Justin Bisseker at [email protected]
Dates for the Bank Holiday Tournaments held in 2025 are as follows:
Monday 21st April – Easter Monday
Monday 26th May – Spring Bank Holiday
Monday 25th August – Summer Bank Holiday
There may be a Christmas Bank Holiday Tournament to be organised on the 29th December. This is to be confirmed.
Any queries regarding any of our social events, please contact our Social Secretary, Jane Bisseker, at [email protected]
JUNIORS
2025 JUNIOR TOURNAMENT – SUNDAY 29TH JUNE 2025 with reserve date of SUNDAY 6TH JULY 2025. Our Junior Secretary, Marc Stacey, will liaise entry to competition games with the Junior Captains of each age group, in conjunction with Ben Wood who allocates the teams. We will need volunteers to help out in the kitchen and on courts on the day.
THE FRIDAY JUNIOR NIGHTS WILL RECOMMENCE ON FRIDAY THE 25TH OF APRIL
These popular evenings are organised and run by our wonderful coaches and are aimed at mixing players of all abilities and ages. This is an informal session encompassing a range of fun games and activities for our junior members and free social play. Sessions are as follows:
4:30pm to 6pm for Primary School age (must have a parent present for supervision)
6pm to 8pm for Secondary School age (an adult volunteer needed each week to supervise).
We are looking for volunteers for the Rota with the 6-8pm shift. The Junior Nights will not go ahead if we don’t have enough volunteers to supervise our Juniors. Please email Marc Stacey at [email protected] if you are able to help.
The very popular tuck shop, with hotdogs, pizza, sweets and homemade cakes will be run by Katie Wake, one of our Junior Members who is raising money for her expedition to Costa Rica in the summer of 2026 via her school, Roundwood Park. She will be doing some trekking, kayaking and camping as well as taking part in community initiatives such as beach clean-ups and turtle conservation.
And of course, the bar will also be open for parents, which adds to the relaxed atmosphere for everyone to enjoy.
NEW JUNIOR TABLE TENNIS LEAGUE
An exciting new table tennis league for juniors is about to begin at STAGS school starting on Friday 21st February (7pm ~ 8.45pm) and then every third Friday of the month from then. The league is open to all standards of players and will be handicapped to allow improvers to have a good chance against experienced players whilst also challenging the latter. The cost is £7 per night with no need to pre-book, just turn up and play basis. Please email Tony Ward via [email protected] if you would like any further details.
LOST PROPERTY BOX
Please look through the lost property boxes (clothing, racquets, water bottles) in the clubhouse as the boxes will be emptied at the end of next week. We will donate the contents to a local charity.
CHARITY EVENT
On Sunday the 9th of February, one of our talented members, Tim Sutton, is holding a jazz evening to raise funds for Gaddesden Place, Riding for the Disabled, a charity that supports disabled children at their equestrian centre. Details as follows – Where: The Bear Club, Luton LU12NR. Time: 7pm to 11pm.
Price: Entry is £18pp including canapes. To sign up, head to: https://tinyurl.com/2c3vusex
JOB ROLE AVAILABLE
Harpenden based coaching and training company is seeking part-time Executive Admin Assistant. £15ph (approx. £30k pro-rata). If interested, please contact: [email protected] for full job description and details on how to apply. Applications close on the 7th of February at 12pm.
Kind Regards
Elliswick LTC Committee
PS, Don’t forget to keep up to date with events at our website http://www.elliswickltc.co.uk and follow our Facebook page as well.