Author: Gillian Sanderson

Success for some of our teams during the winter season 2023/2024. In the Leigh & Westcliff leagues, our Ladies 2 and Ladies 3 teams both won their respective divisions! And numerous teams took the runners up spot in their divisions including Ladies 4, Mens 1, Mens 5, Mixed 2, Mixed 4 and Mixed 6. All teams maintained their league status so congratulations to the players involved and thanks to our team captains for their hard work. In addition, our Mens 1 team in the Essex Winter Open Doubles League finished the season in second place in Division 2, gaining promotion to Division 1 for next winter. Very well done!

Some great tennis for the spectators at our Winter Handicap Tournament Finals Day! Two long, hard fought matches (with the handicap spot on as usual!) saw Karen Clark & Wendy Hackett beat Julie Rackham & Kelly Thomas to take the Ladies Doubles trophy, whilst Adam Moore & Alan Knightley won the Mens Doubles title beating Duncan Taylor & Ken Poole. Sadly, part way through the first set of the Mixed Doubles final, Wendy Hackett who was partnering Martin Powell had to retire injured, making Bez Berry & Suzy Bassett the Mixed Doubles champions. Very well done to all players involved!

Very well done to our Ladies Seniors team for reaching the final of the Essex Knock Out Cup Competition this winter, beating Frinton and Thorpe Bay along the way. Unfortunately, the team lost by two rubbers to one in the final to a strong Grove (Chelmsford) team who won the Harry Brickwood Cup for the second year running. Congratulations to Sarah Ball & Sarah Jolly who won their rubber on finals day. The team for the final also included Cally Flinders, Gill Sanderson, Diana Carradus and team captain Sarah O’Sullivan.

The Charity Canasta morning and lunch at the club was a great success! Very well done to Heather for organising the event which raised a massive £515 for The Brain Tumour Charity thanks to everyone’s generosity. Heather wants to thank all those who came along to support the event, with special thanks to Jane, Jac, Sheila & Linda for helping to organise both the play and the fabulous food. Also thanks to Celia, Cathy, Angela, Sarah Colman & Chris for the delicious cakes, to Gill, Jac & Deb for the patés and to Chris for her sterling work in the kitchen all morning with added help from Richard. Raffle prizes were also donated by many, whilst others helped quietly on the day sorting through the cards, selling raffle tickets & folding them, clearing up at the end, etc. All in all, a fantastic team effort! A final mention and thank you to Jane, who spent time teaching quite a number of the attendees to play canasta over the past few weeks!

Thanks to all members and guests who supported our charity quiz night. There were 51 people competing in seven teams battling to come out on top in Bez’s challenging multi media quiz, which ended with a very close finish, just one more question answered correctly in the final round deciding first and second place! Congratulations to the winners, Laura & Simon Ravinet, Dave & Lynn Seymour, Gary Watling & Julia, and guests Trevor & Janet. Very pleased to report that we raised £388 which has been donated to the Marillac Neurological Care Centre in Brentwood in memory of Lloyd Burton. Many thanks to Bez for all his hard work preparing the quiz and acting as quizmaster on the night, to Carol for keeping the scores, and Angela, Karen, Jane & Gill for looking after the bar

Congratulations to our Southend & District Winter Tournament winners! Tim & Gill retained their Mixed Senior Doubles title, Paul won the Mens Senior Doubles with Rayleigh’s Jon Lee, whilst Suzy won the Ladies Plate Singles against fellow club member Alison. Well done everyone and thanks to Steve for organising the tournaments once again.

Success for Westcliff Lawn teams in the Essex Seniors Doubles League 2023. Our Ladies 1 team had a great season finishing as champions of Division 1, winning six matches and drawing two. Congratulations to the players involved – Sarah Jolley, Cally Flinders, Sarah Ball, Marg Rimmer, Sarah O’Sullivan, Gill Sanderson and Chrissie Christou. In addition, our Ladies 2 and Mens 2 teams came top in their respective Division 2 leagues, with Ladies 3 securing runners up spot in Division 3. Very well done to all our players!

Christmas events came fast and furious in December, with something for everyone, including Monday morning social tennis sessions with refreshments, festive choir nights, a Tuesday evening tennis and chilli supper, a festive foliage craft session when wreaths and table decorations were made, the coaches’ parent and junior Christmas party, and finally a Saturday fun ‘n’ games tennis session with lunch afterwards.  Thanks to all who joined in and especially to those involved in organising events and providing refreshments.