Free Tennis Coaching For Ladies At Margate Lawn Tennis Club

Margate Lawn Tennis Club, in conjunction with Thanet District Council Sport Development,  is announcing a brand new, entirely free, scheme for ladies who have either played tennis before, but not for some time or have never played but want to, to get involved and regularly take up the sport with the Club.

Starting on July 17 at 6.30pm, and running for six consecutive weeks, the Club is offering free one hour tennis coaching to ladies who fancied playing but never had the opportunity or have simply lost touch. Tennis is a fitness and fun activity and the scheme is designed to help ladies take up the sport and then join in with tennis club activities.

The intention is to provide a quality coaching programme for those taking part and therefore any ladies wishing to take up the offer, should contact Adult Coach Gavin Webb as soon as possible as places will be limited. Gavin can be contacted on 07792 575 050, email gavinwebb91@hotmail.com. Alternatively, you can book your place via Head Coach Gavid Vickers on 07976 057 454, email gavidvickers@hotmail.com        

Margate Tennis Club Introduces Coaching Based Membership For New Adult Players

Margate Lawn Tennis Club is announcing the introduction of a new membership category, designed to encourage new adult members to the club, build playing confidence and to develop their tennis skills and participation. The new scheme for Intermediates is specifically designed to bring those new, reasonably new and even rusty former players up to full club participation and playing ability within two years. Tennis is an enjoyable sport that also keeps you fit!

This exceptional value, confidence building new scheme involves Intermediate adult membership and incorporates a one hour, inclusive group coaching session per week on Friday evening, plus allocated social sessions also on Friday evenings, as well as Saturday afternoons and Sunday mornings. There is also the added benefit of being able to join in with Club social tennis on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Additional Tuesday evening coaching, on a pay per play basis, will also be available during the Summer.

Total all inclusive Intermediate adult membership fees are £225pa, including the weekly coaching session, with continual reviews by the Head Coach and coaching team, all with the view to move up to Full membership and all its benefits within two years.

If you would like to take part in Intermediate membership or want more information on how you could benefit from a very easy start and good grounding in tennis, contact Head Coach Gavid Vickers on 07976-057 454, email gavidvickers@hotmail.com. Application forms can be downloaded from the club website at http://margatelawntennisclub.co.uk/.

Margate Veterans Defeat Canterbury & England Star

Margate Lawn Tennis Club’s Veterans managed to beat a very strong Canterbury team that is captained by Steve Woodley, an England over 75 player. Monday December 16 saw the Margate over 70s team defeat Canterbury by three rubbers to one in a match that saw the games  played out on two different surfaces due to the changeable weather,

John Hills and Dennis Stock, Margate’s first pairing, lost 6-3, 6-3 to Canterbury’s firsts but then in a well contested battle against Canterbury’s second pairing, the Margate duo came out on top pipping them to a 7-6, 6-3 victory.

Margate’s second pairing of George Buckmaster and Chris Whittingham had an emphatic victory over the Canterbury first pair winning 6-4, 6-4. The in-form Buckmaster and Whittingham then went on to win 6-2, 6-2 against Canterbury’s seconds.

This victory was particularly sweet for the Margate Veterans team as in the reverse fixture six weeks prior to this match, they lost 3-1 to the same Canterbury side.

“This match was a very strange one,” explained John Hills, “as the first rubber was played outside on artificial clay. Then the rain came, resulting in us having to play on Canterbury’s indoor courts for the second rubber!”

Trophies Galore at Margate Tennis Club

Going off with more than a bang, the presentation night at Margate Lawn Tennis Club celebrated the winners of the clubs many prestigious tournaments with a well-attended bonfire and fireworks party.

Gavid Vickers was presented with the Men’s Open Tournament trophy, beating Gavin Webb in the process over three tense but spectacular sets. The Ladies Open Tournament final was also a tense affair: Charlotte Tonkiss, aged just 17, battled Lynn Giles, a regular finalist in this annual event, culminating in a match that lasted well over two hours.

The Men’s Open Doubles event was won by the ever-present Brian Mileham and Stevie Mayer who beat Gavin Webb and Jon Smith. Lynn Giles and Joc Cox defeated up and coming sisters Amie and Charlotte Tonkiss in Ladies Open Doubles. The Open Mixed Doubles trophy was snapped up by Gavid Vickers and Lynn Giles who beat Steve Mayer and Wendy Munday.

In the Open Tournament Plate, Gabriel Awonusi narrowly missed out to Paul West who claimed the Plate for the second successive year.

Jamie Frye prevented Gavid Vickers from collecting a clean sweep of trophies by taking the Handicap Tournament trophy in a gruelling final. Lesley Wright was jubilant in the Ladies Handicap tournament, beating Yvonne Nunn in an entertaining match. Club veterans George Buckmaster and Chris Whittingham proved they still have what it takes by beating the younger Andrew Wright and Roy Valentine in the Men’s Handicap Doubles. In the Ladies Handicap Doubles, Charlotte and Amie Tonkiss beat Lesley Wright and Zoe Montellano, and in the Handicap Mixed Doubles, Paul West and Linda Jermain were triumphant over Lesley and Andrew Wright.

The Juniors too at Margate Lawn Tennis Club provided fierce competition and entertaining tennis in their tournaments. Jake Munday pipped Aiden Nunn to the Boy’s Open Singles title.

The Girl’s Open Singles final was a battle of sisters, with Charlotte losing out to younger sister Amie Tonkiss. The Boys Open Doubles title was claimed by Arthur Lawlor and James Wright in a magnificently contested final against Ayo Owodobore and Kallum Marlow. Charlotte and Amie Tonkiss collected the Girls’ Doubles trophy, defeating Catherine Banks and Zoe Motellano. The Junior Mixed Doubles trophy went Kane Rowland and Charlotte Tonkiss, with James Wright and Amy Tonkiss runners-up.

“This well attended club presentation night was not only fun for all who attended,” says Club Chairman John Taylor, “but also excellent recognition of the talent that has always been part and parcel, and indeed continues to grow, at our tennis club. It is good to see a mixture of familiar faces and also up and coming talent that will certainly prove good for the future of our club.”

MLTC Snaps Up Trophy Brace At Thanet Sports Awards

Margate Lawn Tennis Club has landed a pair of Winners trophies in the highly prestigious Thanet Sports Awards 2012. Head Coach David Houseman won the Coach of the Year Award, sponsored by the KM Group and George Buckmaster picked up the TDC Sport Matters Inspire Pride Achievement Award.

The Awards were made at a special presentation ceremony at Margate’s Winter Gardens on November 21, compared by Academy FM’s Johnny Lewis and featuring guest speaker Team GB Olympic Taekwondo Gold Medallist Jade Jones.

 Highly qualified Level 4 LTA Coach David Houseman snapped up the award from stiff competition for transforming the coaching and competition programme for juniors at Margate Lawn Tennis Club where he achieved a 150% increase in junior membership. He also introduced new adult tennis opportunities for new intermediate players whilst also heading up a targeted outreach programme for local schools.

George Buckmaster, who won an Inspire Pride Achievement Award, is an extremely active ‘senior’ at Margate Lawn Tennis Club. Not only is George prominent in club and competition tennis, he also encourages junior and adult beginners. He is also the Club’s Mr Fixit, the ultimate handyman, tirelessly carrying out repairs and essential jobs for love of the club. Moreover George has single handedly transformed a virtually derelict ‘middle hut’ building into a very usable place for Club juniors.

“David and George thoroughly deserve these awards,” comments Margate Lawn Tennis Club Chairman John Taylor. “Their selfless effort and resultant success for the Club’s benefit are immense and testament to just what can be achieved, adding strength to the club: David by building on club membership and George by ensuring that there indeed continues to be a club to come to. The entire Club thanks them for their individual effort and congratulates them, on their awards.”  

The Thanet Sports Initiative, now ranked as one of the biggest celebrated awards in the district, is designed to promote the work and effort put into Thanet sports activities. According to Martyn Cassell, Chairman of the Thanet Sport Network, this year’s awards has seen an incredibly diverse range of candidates. “The quality was phenomenal,” he says. The judging panel comprised Thanet Sport Network members and sponsors.

Margate Lawn Tennis Club brings a high level of tennis to the community at both social and competition levels covering East Kent and Kent Leagues with individual members even playing at national team and event levels. With its six all-weather hard courts, it offers all year round play, encouraging juniors of all levels to play. With various coaching schemes in place for juniors and adults, the club welcomes prospective new members.