An excellent quiz was run by Mike Armstrong on Saturday 19th April, with no sign of near-impossible "Wacky Races" questions this year. The winning team was the "email to plumb" team, which consisted of Mark, Jill, Paul, Sarah, Mike and Shirley; part of the team can be seen hard at work bottom right in the picture. A big thank you to Jill's mum for arranging the catering and to Nerys and Hilary for hosting the bar on its first night open after being licensed.
Staffordshire LTA has awarded Key Club status to Basford for 2008 and will be giving the club extra funding to develop its performance and grass roots programme, with the focus being on competition.
Several Basford juniors were in action over Easter at the Grade 3 Wirral Open. Ben Stannard and Amy Ellis reached the semi finals in a successful tournament for Basford players. Stannard, seeded 8th, made an impressive start beating Kieran Cronin (8.1) 6-3, 6-1 and Pascal Nicholls (8.2) 6-0, 6-2 to race into the quarterfinals. In his quarter final match he faced a tough counter puncher in Sean Sivewright (7.2) but came through 6-2, 6-4. He eventually lost to the number 3 seed 6-4, 6-4. Amy Ellis had an equally impressive run. After a hard fought 6-4, 2-6, 10-8 victory over fellow Staffs player Grace Baker, she won 6-2, 7-5 in her last 16 match and followed it up with a 6-4, 7-5 victory in the quarterfinals using some impressive serve volley tactics. In the semis she faced the number 1 seed and battled hard before losing 7-6, 6-1. She also reached the last 16 of the 16 and under draw along with fellow Basford player Hannah Parker. Jack Eagles played but lost 6-4, 6-3 in the first round.
Basford Tennis club had victories in the National Junior Club league in both the 14 and under and 16 and under age group. Basford's 14 and under team beat Albert 4-2 in a rain affected match with victories from Jack Eagles, Ryan Maughan and John Thornhill. Eagles and Maughan combined in the doubles to wrap up the victory. In the 16 and under event, Basford beat Burton 6-0. Josh Eardley produced an impressive display to beat a fellow 7.1 6-3, 6-3. Harry Smith, Omar Sahawon and James Bellfield all had comfortable 6-0, 6-1 victories to secure the win.
Shropshire and Staffordshire LTA Super Grand Prix Mini Tennis Red competitions will be held at Basford on Sunday 8th June and Sunday 13th July at 2pm. A Mini Tennis Orange competition will be held on Sunday 20th July at 2pm. The entry fee for for each event is £4. For full details, contact Mike Armstrong on 07908 221420.
Basford Boys 14 & Under lost out 4-2 in the first match of the National Junior Club League after a battling display. Jack Eagles, put up a good performance, but in the end lost 6-4, 6-4 to a player 2 ratings above him. Ryan Maughan had a similar tough task, playing a player ranked 138 in his age group - he eventually lost 6-2, 6-4. Chris Riley and John Thornhill lost an up and down doubles match 6-1, 0-6, 10-3 to leave Basford 3-0 down at the half way point. John Thornhill made it 3-1 with a tidy 6-3, 6-1 win at number 4 and Chris Riley battled back from a set down to win 3-6, 6-3, 10-7, but Eagles and Maughan lost out 6-3, 6-1 in the doubles. All in all it was a good display, especially given the size of the Stourbridge club (16 courts and 1000 members). The boys next travel to Albert Lawn Tennis Club, Wolverhampton on the 8th of March, while the Boys 16 & Under team kick off their campaign on the 16th of March at Basford.
The clubhouse lounge redecoration is now complete. PLEASE NOTE: In order to maintain the lounge in a neat, tidy and welcoming state, tennis bags will no longer be allowed in the lounge. If you need to bring a kit bag, please leave it in a changing room.
The club is going to try to get Tennis Clubmark accredited. Tennis Clubmark is the LTA's quality club award. There is more information on Tennis Clubmark on the LTA web site.
The Bye-Laws have been updated for 2008. Please familiarise yourself with the new Bye-Laws.
The new club web site has been released. If you spot any problems, please email the webmaster.
An exciting series of themed social tournaments is being planned for Sundays through the spring and summer. Further details will follow when they are available.
The clubhouse is in the process of being redecorated.
The windows in the clubhouse have been replaced with double glazed units, which not only look better, but should keep the room warmer as well.
The junior open that has been held at Basford for the last two years has moved to Draycott this year. However, there is some possibility of staging a junior open at Basford in 2009.
You can apply for 2008 Wimbledon tickets from the Tennis Staffordshire allocation. See the letter from Brian Smith for full details.
The Basford Mixed Open will be held on Sunday, 29th June 2008. Perfect for a day off watching Wimbledon. Click here for entry details.
You can also read several newspaper articles about the club.
