Tennis - Newsletter 1

I am sure you have been thinking what is happening about TENNIS in the Nat West Island Games 2001.

Well I can tell you a lot is happening and in the Isle of Man we are looking forward very much to welcoming you to our part of the Games programme.

I have delayed my first communication with you until I was sure that all the promised developments at the TENNIS venues were going ahead - this I can now confirm.

Items so far decided:

1) There will be two venues Albany Lawn Tennis Club, Ballaughton Meadows, DOUGLAS will be the venue for the Men's events.

The club has 3 outdoor courts which are being upgraded to Plexipave this month. Two courts have floodlights. There is also one indoor court with a Plexicushion surface also being re-surfaced this month. A new Clubhouse is being built - work started a month ago and completion date is expected sometime in October.

The Clubhouse which is 2 story, will have changing rooms, toilets, showers, club room upstairs with viewing gallery into the indoor court, kitchen & office. The Club's Ladies Committee are planning to put all-day snacks & lights meals. A stringing service will be based at the Club with a pick-up and delivery service to the other venue.

The Club is on the official bus route and 5 mins. from the Games Headquarters at the National Sports Centre in Groves Road. (See map) and a 10 mi walk from MacDonald's.

There will be plenty of spectator seating and at Kensington Road Sports Ground courts in Douglas will be the venue for the Ladies events.

This venue has 3 artifIcial grass courts -2 with floodlights.

There is a re-furbished clubhouse which is having showers fitted.

There will be a 4th hardcourt on which spectator seating will be placed on part of the court but the net will be left up for players to have a warm-up hit.

This venue is also on the official bus route and is a 15 min walk from the other venue.

2) The Referee for the event will be Mr Keith Dewick, an LTA qualified referee, whom I'm sure many will remember as the Referee in Gibraltar. Keith's wife, Ann, who is also a qualified referee will be working as his assistant at the Kensington Road venue.

3) We are planning to use Dunlop FORT tennis balls.

4) The TENNIS results service will be in the very capable hands of Mr Colin Brown.

Cohn is a former Island champion, many times in singles and doubles and a very experienced sports journalist, so he will know what tennis players expect from a results service,

5) It is intended that ALL FINALS will be played at the Albany venue and arrangements will be made for the ladies finalists to practice there, weather permitting (or in the indoor court) The Mixed event may well be played at either venue again weather permitting or an alternative venue near to Douglas.

Practice courts will be available all day on Saturday 7 July. A time schedule will be produced, probably in early April, and all island team managers are requested to book a time.

I would be pleased to know if any island team is bringing members who are willing to take a line or umpire for the finals and possibly semi-finals if we have enough volunteers.

As the clubhouse at the Albany club will be new, I have been asked if each Island competing in the tennis could bring a small plaque (no bigger than 5" x 5") which they would like to fix as a form of mosaic on one of the walls in the entrance hall to commemorate your visit.

I trust this newsletter will make up for lost time and I promise to keep you updated on a more regular basis.

Yours sincerely

Bryan Sharp

TENNIS Co-ordinator
Nat West island Games 2001