Summer Season Review 2023-24
SUMMER SEASON REVIEW/FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS/FINALS WEEKEND
1) Summer season
The Club entered 11 teams in the North Kent/Kent leagues. The club has enjoyed multiple promotions in recent years and as a result across the different categories of teams, most of our teams are at what I at least consider “their level”. Consequently only one promotion was achieved and two relegations suffered.
Pride of place goes to our Men’s Over 60s team who followed up promotion to the top Division (of six) in Kent last winter by winning all 10 matches to secure promotion to the top Division(of three) in North Kent. An unheard of double over Sundridge Park, only 2 rubbers lost out of 40 played, 71/80 sets won, unbeaten at home in 3 years. I could go on!!
Our three Vets teams, mainly due to their continuing excellent home form (1 defeat out of 13) performed well in their respective Divisions. Vets 1 finished third of six in Division E, Vets 2 finished third of five in Division G and Vets 3 finished second behind runaway leaders Kemsing in Division H.
Our Mixed Vets performed very well and finished second (of five) behind runaway winners Catford Wanderers 2 in Division D. Our Midweek Mixed Vets team finished fourth (of seven) in Division C, which included debuting Wendover and Blackheath sides clearly destined for higher Divisions.
Only three wins across three Divisions meant relegation for Men’s 1 from both North Kent Division B and Kent Division 2. It was a successful season of consolidation for Men’s 2, who, following promotion finished third (of five) in Division F. A second place finish last summer, meant promotion to Division H for our Men’s 3. After a few concerns, a strong finish ensured a credible consolidating fourth place (of six) finish.
2) Winter season
The season commences in September and we are fielding 10 teams. This includes for the first time an Over 60s Men’s 2 team, who I am sure will do very well in what is now a six Division League. Similarly for the first time our Midweek Mixed Vets team will be debuting in the winter league after two successful campaigns in the summer league.
3) Facility Improvements
Members have enjoyed our beautifully painted and resurfaced courts 3&4 and Floodlight facilities this year. You will also have noticed that two wonderful new benches now reside on courts 1&2 too.
The plan is to resurface courts 1&2 and paint them in the same “Wimbledon purple” colour as 3&4 in August/September next year. In order to achieve this, we will need to match our membership figures this year, so please stay loyal to the club come renewal time next year and help us to further improve the playing facilities for everyone.
Please encourage friends and family to join the club and continue to support fundraising evenings/ventures that we put on throughout the calendar year.
4) Club Finals Weekend – 2/3September
Finally things are coming together nicely for our club finals weekend on 2/3 September. More details will be on our WhatsApp groups next week, but on paper there are some very close competitive finals to be played, so well worth watching if you can spare the time.
All the very best and I hope to see as many of you as possible next weekend.
1) Summer season
The Club entered 11 teams in the North Kent/Kent leagues. The club has enjoyed multiple promotions in recent years and as a result across the different categories of teams, most of our teams are at what I at least consider “their level”. Consequently only one promotion was achieved and two relegations suffered.
Pride of place goes to our Men’s Over 60s team who followed up promotion to the top Division (of six) in Kent last winter by winning all 10 matches to secure promotion to the top Division(of three) in North Kent. An unheard of double over Sundridge Park, only 2 rubbers lost out of 40 played, 71/80 sets won, unbeaten at home in 3 years. I could go on!!
Our three Vets teams, mainly due to their continuing excellent home form (1 defeat out of 13) performed well in their respective Divisions. Vets 1 finished third of six in Division E, Vets 2 finished third of five in Division G and Vets 3 finished second behind runaway leaders Kemsing in Division H.
Our Mixed Vets performed very well and finished second (of five) behind runaway winners Catford Wanderers 2 in Division D. Our Midweek Mixed Vets team finished fourth (of seven) in Division C, which included debuting Wendover and Blackheath sides clearly destined for higher Divisions.
Only three wins across three Divisions meant relegation for Men’s 1 from both North Kent Division B and Kent Division 2. It was a successful season of consolidation for Men’s 2, who, following promotion finished third (of five) in Division F. A second place finish last summer, meant promotion to Division H for our Men’s 3. After a few concerns, a strong finish ensured a credible consolidating fourth place (of six) finish.
2) Winter season
The season commences in September and we are fielding 10 teams. This includes for the first time an Over 60s Men’s 2 team, who I am sure will do very well in what is now a six Division League. Similarly for the first time our Midweek Mixed Vets team will be debuting in the winter league after two successful campaigns in the summer league.
3) Facility Improvements
Members have enjoyed our beautifully painted and resurfaced courts 3&4 and Floodlight facilities this year. You will also have noticed that two wonderful new benches now reside on courts 1&2 too.
The plan is to resurface courts 1&2 and paint them in the same “Wimbledon purple” colour as 3&4 in August/September next year. In order to achieve this, we will need to match our membership figures this year, so please stay loyal to the club come renewal time next year and help us to further improve the playing facilities for everyone.
Please encourage friends and family to join the club and continue to support fundraising evenings/ventures that we put on throughout the calendar year.
4) Club Finals Weekend – 2/3September
Finally things are coming together nicely for our club finals weekend on 2/3 September. More details will be on our WhatsApp groups next week, but on paper there are some very close competitive finals to be played, so well worth watching if you can spare the time.
All the very best and I hope to see as many of you as possible next weekend.