Junior
Co-Ordinator’s Report 2005/06
Blackwood Tennis Club Juniors have
again had a most successful 2005/06 year.
We started the winter season with an
increase in teams having 8 boys teams and 3 girls teams. The Division 2 boys
team was successful in going Premiers, Division 7 Blue ended the minor round on
top and finished 3rd in the finals along with the Division 1 and
Division 9 boys. Division 6 finished 4th and all others in 7th
position. The girls unfortunately
struggled due to player shortages and having to play at levels a little too
high for their ability. We also had a player in the boys Division 7 Blue team
who finished the season with a 100% singles record.
I would like to sincerely thank Paul
Nicholas for his valuable work in organizing and co-ordinating the winter
tennis at Blackwood Tennis Club.
We started the summer season with 60
girls playing in 12 teams and approx 70 boys in 16 teams. Fortunately we had
extra boys come to the club during the season which has finally taken our
numbers close to 80 boys allowing us to run with 5 boys in nearly every team
and so making covering injury and unavailability easier. Placing the players in
the teams this year was made rather difficult by the poor weather we
experienced during our pre season practice days, however by the results we have
achieved at the end of the season by having 13 of the 16 boys teams and 8 of
the 12 girls teams compete in the first week of finals we must have got
something right. We still have 3 girls
teams competing this week for a place in the Grand Final and 9 boys teams with
our Div 4’s and Div 8’s playing each other so ensuring we will at least have
two teams in the Grand Final. I wish
all the teams the best of luck this week and then hope that we can again have
some success in the Grand Final.
We have several players who are
again leaving us at the end of the season due to being too old for Juniors and
these players have been recognized by the Club with a certificate for their
contribution over the years and also several players who have had a 100% record
in singles this year have also been presented with a certificate in
recognisition of their efforts.
I would like to sincerely thank Eric
Lundborg and Robert Hayes for the many hours spent getting these teams onto the
court each week. I don’t think many people have any idea just how much time
they do spend on tennis each week, they must have very understanding employers.
Thank you also to Paul Nicholas who helps in many areas when needed and also
attends SDTA Inc Junior meetings during the winter season. Ian Furness who is
now attending SDTA Inc Junior meetings as he has taken on the position of Head
of the Permit Committee which is also very ‘valuable’ for our club to have
someone in this position.
We ran a very successful Junior Club
Tournament again this year and I would like to thank all the sponsors
associated with the Tournament for
their continued support enabling us to present to the players fantastic
trophies for their efforts and to all the winners and runners-up,
congratulations and well done. To everyone who entered whether you where a
winner or not just to be a part of such a successful tournament makes you a
winner. Special mention must also go to
John Collett our reliable BBQ cooker who we can always rely on to cook up a
pretty good Barbie not only for our tournament but on the occasional Saturday
morning as well. Also rumour tells me
that Eric tried to compete a few times on Friday night.
Thank you once again to Peter
Broughton who puts in many hours coaching our Juniors and is always around the
club to help and support in whatever ways he can. Thank you to Justin who became our second coach to replace Mal
Cameron, unfortunately Justin has also now had to leave the club and the new
club coach position should be announced very soon ensuring that we will have
two coaches available for our players again into the coming winter season and
again for Summer 2006/07. As well as our club group coaching which we hope to
make a focus next summer with the implementation of teams having coaching,
however that is something still to be decided on and more information on when
summer 2006/07 commences.
To Garry and the committee thank you
also for the wonderful support that is given to the Juniors at Blackwood and
thank you to all the parents and carers of our Juniors who get them to the club
each week and make themselves available to take their turn as Supervisors and
for the first time this year also on the canteen roster. Without the parent support in this way we
would not be able to run with such a large number of Junior teams. Finally the
players well done on another successful year and we hope that you have enjoyed
your time at the Club and look forward to seeing you all back again whether it
be during the coming winter season or next Summer 2006/07. If you have left the
Junior ranks then I hope you continue on to play Senior tennis at the Blackwood
Club like some of our Juniors from last season have done and I think would tell
you have had a pretty good time playing Senior tennis. I know that Eric would also like me to
mention and thank the 4 girls that came to us from other clubs, 2 being from
the Hills to play in our Premier girls team each Friday night making us a far
more competitive team than we may have been.
Finally if there is anyone else who
I have not mentioned that has helped in any way with the successful running of
our Junior Competition then you will know who you are and to you also my
sincere thanks.
Kaye Lewis
Junior Co-Ordinator