Note from the Secretary

As you all know, annual subscription fees have all been sent out. The GMC would appreciate payment by due dates where possible. Please contact me for alternative arrangements if necessary. If your address has changed in the last 6 months, please remember to pass on your new contact details to me.

The feedback we’re receiving from members about the new ‘classic clay’ courts has been positive, and the committee would like encourage you all to have a hit on them if you haven’t already done so. The Banyule City Council and the State Member for Ivanhoe have organised an official launch for the new courts on 26 October at 6:00pm. Refreshments will be provided and all members are encouraged to attend.

Note: now that the warmer weather is here, please remember to observe the watering signs on the courts.

Gordon Smith

Competition Update

Pennant

The club entered two Ladies’ teams and three Men’s teams in 2010. Well done to the Men’s Grade 7 team who were runners­‐up in their Section.

A special mention to club members Ashlea Andrews and Ben Marlborough who won the "Player of the Grade" Award for 2010 in grades 2 and 7 respectively.

HDTA Saturday Mixed

At the HDTA Annual General Meeting, the committee noted the continuing reduction of teams in this competition. However, the club continues to support this mixed format and will again have three teams entered in the Summer 2010­‐2011 season. The Winter and Summer formats vary slightly, however, each team requires two men and two ladies to play. Matches start at 1.00pm and are usually completed by 4.30pm.

Eastern Region Singles/Doubles

We regularly enter teams in this Sunday afernoon competition. It is an open format for men and women. Four players are required for the match and each person plays singles and doubles. Three teams have been entered for the Summer 2010­‐2011 season.

Night Tennis

Night tennis remains popular and the Club has entered 3 Men’s teams, 2 Women’s teams and 1 Mixed team in the Spring 2010 competition. The Men’s competition is played on Tuesday nights, the Women on Wednesday nights and the Mixed on Thursday nights. All matches commence at 7.00pm.

Midweek Ladies

We have four teams entered in the HDTA Ladies’ Tuesday competition. This is the most popular midweek competition at the moment. The format requires 5 players for a match and everyone plays a set with all other members of the team. Matches start at 9.30am and are usually completed by 1.30pm. The current season is almost over with finals to be played in November.

There is currently one team playing in the Ladies’ Thursday competition. This format requires four players for a match with two pairs playing rubbers. The new season commences 7 October. We also field a team in the Bayside competition on Thursday.

Further information about these competitions please call Sandra Parsons on 9499 2964.

Club Championships

This year we held the Club Championships in February and March. Unfortunately we did not have enough entries in some of the categories, especially Ladies and Girls, to fill all sections. However, we had a very pleasing increase in Junior numbers nominating for the championships.

Thanks to Rob Edgley and Shane Scrutton for their support in encouraging the Juniors’ participation. Congratulations to all participants especially Shane Scrutton who is again our Men’s Champion, to Sam Benetti who is the Under 14 Boys’ Champion and to Alex Gregory who is the Under 18 Boys’ Champion.

It was agreed that the February /March dates worked well and will be continued in 2011. The timing, early in the year, provides a good opportunity for members to not only join in the fun but also to prepare for the Pennant Season which starts in April. Information about the various categories, including Men’s and Ladies’ Singles and Doubles and Junior Boys’ and Girls’ competitions will be on the board in February and members will be contacted via email.

Sandra Parsons

Selection and Tournament Committee

Junior Tennis Report

The Autumn 2010 Junior season ended with twelve of sixteen teams playing finals and five teams going on to make the grand final. Of these five teams we were successful in winning four Pennants which was a wonderful result.

The Spring 2010 season is now at the half way point and with our team numbers increasing to 18 teams and almost 100 children participating we are enjoying another very good season. It has been wonderful to see the improvement shown by all the kids as they move up into higher sections, for the first time in many years Eaglemont has a Girls section 1 team which is a credit to the girls for reaching the pinnacle of the competition.

This season we have laid down a challenge to many of the children moving them up in grade considerably and it is fantastic to see them all rising to the challenge. At the end of Round 8 we have nine of eighteen teams in the top four of their respective sections.

The club also has a number of juniors selected to represent the NEJTA in pennant competition, which is currently under way on Sunday mornings.

Between now and the end of the year the junior committee plans to run an end of season tennis night and BBQ for all juniors in late November where we will once again have Club Coach, Shane Scru3on speak to the younger players about tennis etiquette as well as match rules and strategies.

We are also planning on supporting an initiative from one of our junior members who as part of a Tennis Victoria leadership course will run a fundraising Chocolate sale during October. The profits will contribute to purchasing training sweatshirts for all Eaglemont Juniors.

Teams for the 2011 Autumn season which starts in February next year must be submi3ed by December 1st therefore applications to play must be filled out by the last match of the current season on November 20th.

Robert Edgley
junior convenor

Yarra Tennis Coaching

Term 4 will be a busy term for junior coaching with the welcoming of daylight savings and warmer weather.

We will be holding an information session on Saturday 7th November from 11am­‐12 noon at the club for any juniors (either in coaching or not) in interested in playing junior competition for the club. At present there are 18 junior teams participating in Saturday morning junior tennis in standard ranging from section 1 to section 31. Any prospective juniors or parents are very welcome to attend this meeting but if you are not sure of the standard required please contact me prior to this date.

At present junior coaching is organised into 45 minute, 1 hour and 90 minute squad classes during the week, depending on age and standard from Monday to Friday afer school and Sunday morning. The "Little Tacker" tennis program is also run as a starter program for children 3-5 on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday mornings. Assessment classes are organised during the term for new participants so that they can be placed into the most appropriate coaching groups for their age and ability level.

Womens "TennisFit" classes are also run on Wednesday and Friday mornings as 90 minute sessions with a focus on intensive singles and doubles drills and an emphasis on developing overall cardiovascular fitness. There are a variety of standards catered for during these mornings, and anyone interested in attending should contact me to come along and have a tryout session.

The coaching program also offers tennis balls, restrings, racquets (including the new Little Tacker 23" junior model) and if you have any coaching-­related questions please contact me on 0414 373 586 or drop by the courts.

Shane Scrutton
club coach
yarratennis.com.au