Is it really August already? How scary is that – happily I’m not going to tell you how many shopping days there are until Christmas. I’m tempted having walked into Old Hemel earlier this week and come face to face with a Christmas Tree (bit of a shock frankly).

It may not be Christmas but the Committee and many members of the Club have however been delighted to hear news of a new baby. Edward, son of Steve (Head of Tennis Activities) and Kate arrived safely on Saturday 16th July. Many of you posted lovely messages on the Bovingdon Social WhatsApp Group. Steve and Kate have asked me to pass on their sincere thanks for such lovely comments. Here’s a photo of Edward getting to grips with his first racquet. Steve says Edward looks just as confused as he does when looking at one.

Coaching Update

Following Jill’s announcement regarding the forthcoming change to coaching provision at the club we would like to reassure members that we are well advanced in finalising the details of the new coaching for the club. We will transition to the new approach in September and more details will follow very shortly. Please be assured that Saturday morning Juniors’ sessions and drills will restart at the beginning of the new term in September.

AGM: Hold The Date: Tuesday 18th October at Bovingdon Football Club

We are planning to hold the club AGM on the 18th October, further details to follow in the Autumn

Tennis Fixtures and Results

Club Champs: 2nd Round Deadline 7th August

Matches are well under way and we are rapidly approaching the deadline for completion of the second round. Winners have just over a month to complete their Quarter Finals matches with the deadline being 4th September. Full details of results so far and matches to come are available on the website click HERE

For anyone who hasn’t thought of competing in this I would say give it a go. I was a spectator for a recent match and it was played in a really good spirit – competitive but social. It felt like local club tennis at its best (I’m not saying that just because my other half lost – sorry Richard). Here are Helen, Richard, Maria and Brian post-match.

My enjoyment may have been more than a little enhanced by the amazing cakes that Laura (Helen’s daughter) brought along. It’s worth making sure that you are involved with matches with Laura and Helen.

Club Champs Plate Competition: Details plus a request for help

As in previous years there will be a Plate competition run alongside the Club Champs. Any member is welcome to enter provided they can make one of the Monday evening sessions below plus the Semi Finals session and Finals Day. Priority will be given to members who have been knocked out of the Club Champs but there will be room for additional players. There will be a link to enter The Plate on the Club Champs page of the website shortly and a WhatsApp will go out on BFTC Newsflash when this is live. Competitors will be spread across 4 sessions (see below) and will be notified directly of which group they are in. Any unavailability will be managed on a case-by-case basis.

Sessions will be held on Monday evenings from 7-9pm as follows:

Mon 15th Aug: Group A

Mon 22nd Aug: Group B

Mon 29th Aug: Group C

Mon 5th Sep: Group D

 

Sun 11th Sept: Semi-finals from 11.15 – 1.15pm

Sun 18th Sept: Finals Day: schedule to be confirmed

 

Please message Steve directly (HERE) if you can help organise this. As you can imagine he has his hands full at the moment!

 

Club League Matches:

Watford and District Tennis League

Bovingdon Teams are competing in in the WDTL Summer 2022 League, for the first time since the start of the pandemic. Here’s how they are doing:

Men’s A:       Finished in 3rd place behind Radlett Men’s B and West Herts Men’s C and will remain in Division 4.  Well played Team.

Men’s B       Currently in 5th Position in Division 6, with one more game to play (Tuesday 2nd August) against Redbourne, it’s looking likely that the team will remain in 5th and will therefore remain in Division 6.

 Women’s A:  With one match to play the team are currently in 2nd place in Division 4 and should gain promotion to Division 3.  Well played Team.

 Women B     Currently in 3rd place in Division 5 with two matches left to play, in theory two wins could put us into second place with promotion to Division 4, come on team you can do it! 

 Mixed A:       Currently in 3rd place in Division 4 with one game left to play, a win could see the team gain promotion to Division 3. 

 Mixed B        Currently in 3rd place in Division 6 with one match left to play, unfortunately a win will not mean promotion this time – well played team.

 

Hot Rackets Hertfordshire

 We currently have two Women’s Hot Rackets Teams and one Men’s Team – with matches still to play the current standing is:

 Men              have won 2 with 3 yet to play, currently in 5th place

 Women’s 1   have won 2, lost 1 and have two yet to play, currently in 3rd place

 Women’s 2   have won 4 and lost 2 and are currently in 2nd place – well done team

 

Aylesbury & District Winter League

 Team entries will be the same as last season 2 Men (weekend matches) , 2 Women (weekend matches), 3 Mix (weekday evening matches)

 Should anyone not currently playing in a team wish to get involved please contact Club Captain Ali Lyons who will put you in contact with the relevant Team Captain

 

Club Friendly Matches

Rebecca Rose, a member of the club, has had the idea of organising local friendly matches for our non-team players. She has approached the contacts she has through her role as Joint Divisional Secretary of became Aylesbury District Tennis League and there are currently 10 local clubs involved.

So far, Bovingdon has had five friendly matches involving 16 different players. Depending on how many players are fielded from the opposition (four or six), these have followed either the ADTL format, or the Watford District format. They have been a great success with everyone really enjoying the experience, including the after-match tea which always includes cake! The aim is to continue these throughout the winter: if any other non- team players, not already on the “Friendly matches” WhatsApp Group is interested in playing please contact Rebecca by clicking  (HERE)

The matches have all been very close; results as follows:

Chorleywood vs Bovingdon - Chorleywood win

Wendover vs Bovingdon - Bovingdon win

Bovingdon vs Tring - Tring win

Berkhamsted vs Bovingdon - Draw

Bovingdon vs Wendover - Wendover win

Wendover vs Bovingdon, Enjoying afternoon tea 

Berkhamsted vs Bovingdon on a lovely July Evening

Club Social Events:

Tennis Pilates Workshop: Saturday 20th August 12 noon at the clubhouse

If you are wondering what to expect here are a couple of photos of club members Helen,Vince, Steve and Jax trying out the first workshop which happened on Weds 27th July

 

Saturday 24th September: Escape Room & Cocktails St. Albans 6pm

From £18 pp.

For those who haven’t done an escape room before, think Crystal Maze meets Money Heist. They’re great fun!

St. Albans has a new venue with 3 escape rooms which can host 18 people at once and more than one shift. Click (HERE )for more information.

The Slug & Lettuce opposite do 2 for 1 cocktails all evening.

We would be looking to put on a minibus for those interested. Maximum 36 people.

Please fill out the attached form to register your interest: Click (HERE)

Please contact the Social Events team for more information: Tim, Kev, Ian, Jax & Rebecca.

And Finally

How many Tennis Club members does it take to change a lightbulb – depends if they can agree if the replacement bulb is in or out!

Seriously – many thanks to the teamwork of members Ann, Helen, Martin and Margaret for flagging up and sorting a lightbulb problem in the ladies’ loo.