Albany Lawn Tennis Club
We are a friendly tennis club with over 300 members aged from 4 to 85. Albany is a unique tennis club on the Isle of Man proudly boasting privately-owned floodlit courts and facilities, as well as an indoor court ensuring play is possible in all weathers and seasons. We offer opportunities for social play, a great coaching team, men’s, ladies’ and mixed League tennis, and a tournament programme for all. New members are always warmly welcomed. Come along and visit us any time, meet our friendly club members and see our excellent facilities. We operate a ‘try before you buy’ policy so you may visit three times with a member before having to commit to join the club. Click buttons below for LEAGUE INFORMATION and UPCOMING EVENTS
Messages from our Social Facebook Group
MINIS & JUNIORS
Our sponsor, Auxesia, is taking photos at the club this Saturday (22nd)
1pm. Do come along to be in it 👍🏻
I opted-in to the Wibledon ticket ballot today; have you? We should receive more tickets in the ballot if more members with a BTM number do opt in. Getting a BTM number is simple; just go to www.lta.org.uk and click on the Brtish Tennis Membership box [and it's free].
The Official Home Of British Tennis
lta.org.uk
The governing body of tennis in Great Britain, the LTA website contains the latest info on national & international tennis players, events, competitions & more.School Summer Holidays are over...…..
Albany's junior club programme restarts!
All coaching groups commence with Red ball / mini tennis starting tomorrow at 12 noon.
Hope to see you on court this week!
Thanks see u.
Is Tuesday at 4.15pm back on from tomorrow?
Hi, my son Evan (6) is interested in playing tennis, am I ok to bring him along at 12 on Sunday please- is that the correct group? What does he need to bring. Thank you.
Hi Vanessa, yes that’s the correct time. He just needs appropriate clothing and non marking footwear. Rackets are provides. We look forward to seeing Evan.
Hi Vanessa, sorry I've just noticed on your post you mentioned Sunday, it is in fact Saturday not Sunday at 12, sorry!
oh yes I meant Saturday, perfect, see you then.
**COURIER NEWS - 30th August**
by Pat Sharp
First some re-arranged dates – the annual President’s Day – Senior/ Junior tournament will be played on Sunday 7 October starting at 2.30pm (sign in by 2.15pm). This is a yellow ball event. There will be a draw for partners and each senior will play with a junior. Seniors only have a 1st serve, juniors who have played regular league tennis will play as “seniors”. The first stage will be played as round robin stages and champions tie-breaks. Knock out and place play-offs between 4pm and 5pm
Prize presentation 5.30pm followed by FOOD.
Entry forms will be in the clubhouse or enter by e-mail ballabreck@manx.net Entry fee – Seniors £3 and juniors £2.
The club Closed Championships will be held over two weekends – seniors 15 and 16 September and juniors 22 and 23 September. Forms available shortly or enter by e-mail ianwatsonpts@manx.net.
The re-arranged Equiom Junior Open is now from 13 October to 20 October. More detail later.
Some of our players had success in the Ramsey Town Cup last week with Charlotte Clarke winning Women’s singles and Sarah Long runner-up and as partners they won the Women’s Doubles. Sean Drewry won the men’s singles with Nerius Gricevicius runner-up. Nerius was also runner-up in the men’s and mixed doubles
Junior club coaching will re-commence on Saturday 8 September with Red ball at 12noon and 1pm, then other squads from Monday 10 September, including Orange ball Tuesdays from 5.30pm and Wednesdays from 4.30pm. If you wish to take part or are not sure of the time you should attend please contact the club coach by e-mail ianwatsonpts@manx.net.
I think this is a wonderful explanation of why parents invest in their children’s sport......
"One of my friends asked "Why do you pay so much money for your kids to do all their sports”? Well I have a confession to make; I don't pay for my kids to to do sports. Personally, I couldn't care less about what sport they do.
So, if I am not paying for sports what am I paying for?
- I pay for those moments when my kids become so tired they want to quit but don't.
- I pay for those days when my kids come home from school and are "too tired" to go to their training but they go anyway.
- I pay for my kids to learn to be disciplined, focused and dedicated.
- I pay for my kids to learn to take care of their body and equipment.
- I pay for my kids to learn to work with others and to be good team mates, gracious in defeat and humble in success.
- I pay for my kids to learn to deal with disappointment, when they don't get that placing or title they'd hoped for, but still they go back week after week giving it their best shot.
- I pay for my kids to learn to make and accomplish goals.
- I pay for my kids to respect, not only themselves, but other riders, officials and coaches.
- I pay for my kids to learn that it takes hours and hours, years and years of hard work and practice to create a champion and that success does not happen overnight.
- I pay for my kids to be proud of small achievements, and to work towards long term goals.
- I pay for the opportunity my kids have and will have to make life-long friendships, create lifelong memories, to be as proud of their achievements as I am.
- I pay so that my kids can be out on the track instead of in front of a screen...
...I could go on but, to be short, I don't pay for sports; I pay for the opportunities that sports provides my kids with to develop attributes that will serve them well throughout their lives and give them the opportunity to bless the lives of others. From what I have seen so far I think it is a great investment!"
The IOMLTA PokerStars Tennis Mixed Doubles League 2018
RESULTS:
Div 1:
Crowe Clark Whitehill Castletown A beat Albany A 5-1.
Craig Blackwell/Kirree Ronan beat Tim Davies/Jane Reynolds 6-1 6-4. Rob Mason/Méjeaan Brümmer drew with David Bufton/Kirsten Hall 4-6 6-2. Blackwell/Ronan beat Bufton/Hall 6-1. Mason/Brümmer beat Davies/Reynolds 6-1.
Albany A lost to Douglas A 2-4.
Jayden Go/Charlotte Clarke lost to Stewart Swann/Karen Faragher 3-6 3-6. David Bufton/Alison Parker beat Victor Pacaco/Tania Thomas 7-6 6-2. Go/Clarke lost to Pacaco/Thomas 5-7. Bufton/Parker lost to Swann/Faragher 0-6.
Castletown A drew with Albany A 3-3.
Match played tonight - scores to follow next time.
**Douglas A v Albany A – Monday 27 August 2018 at 6.30pm at Douglas**
Well done A Team – Good Luck with your forthcoming matches.
Div 3:
Ramsey B lost to Albany B 2-4.
Adam Davies/Helen Brooks lost to Nerijus Gricevicius/Lisa Horsfall 0-6 1-6. Kevin Drewry/Ellen Barker drew with Ben Cunningham/Aailish Kelly 5-7 6-4. Davies/Brooks beat Cunningham/Kelly 6-0. Drewry/Barker lost to Gricevicius/Horsfall 3-6.
Castletown D v Albany B – cancelled due to rain. Rescheduled for Monday 3 September 2018.
**Douglas C v Albany B – Thursday 23 August 2018 at 6.30pm at Douglas**
Team - Nerijus Gricevicius/Aailish Kelly and Ben Cunningham/Jackie Russell
Well done B Team – Good Luck with your forthcoming matches.
Road to Wimbledon update:
Finals Day
Charlotte Clarke - Road to Wimbledon Champion 2018.
Today Charlotte Clarke played against Jemma Cave from Cheshire for the title of Road to Wimbledon girls 14 & under National Championships.
She started well breaking in the first game and played solidly for the next few games.
Both girls were clearly and understandably nervous which made the game a bit erratic at times -especially when serving.
The set became a closely fought match but Charlotte held her nerve and broke serve to win the first set 6-4.
In the 2nd set she quickly took a 2-0 lead and seemed to be gaining momentum but a bad service game allowed her opponent back into the game and suddenly Charlotte was 3-2 down and looking fragile. Then she appeared to compose herself and her focus and despite close games she took the next 4 games to take the set 6-3 as well as the match and title of RTW champion.
The presentations were made at the conclusion of all the finals. Paul Hutchins made the speech in his final year as organiser in front of Tim Henman and Wimbledon champion Angela Mortimer.
Charlotte had a tv interview and made an excellent speech summing up what it meant for tennis on the Isle of Man that both Roch and herself had done so well and the difficulties they faced trying to flourish travelling across to play competitions. She then became emotional when asked what winning the event meant to her personally!
For me watching as both Roch and Charlotte’s coach it was a roller coaster week of ups and downs but mostly ups! I am very proud of both their efforts
It was also great to see two more of my players - Jayden Go and Sarah Long join us on finals day for their well earned coaching day which they enjoyed.
It may be their turn next year?
Brilliant. Well done Ian
Heartiest congratulations to Charlotte. Not forgetting Roch's achievements either. Brilliant!
Well done Charlotte!!👍👍
Fantastic news! Congratulations to Charlotte and her Coach!!
Well done Charlotte and Ian and to all involved!
Well done Charlotte great achievement!!
Wow thats awesome. Many congratulations Charlotte & Ian. All ur hard work has paid off 😍😎x well done to mum & dad too...u guys must be super proud x
Well done Charlotte Xxxx
Charlotte Clarke. Road to Wimbledon CHAMPION 2018.
Congratulations Charlotte. Your hard work and dedication deserves this incredible success.
Congratulations Charlotte. A wonderful achievement.
Fantastic news an amazing achievement Proud parents and coach.
Congratulations Charlotte a proud moment for Albany and the Isle of Man. Well done!
Well done Charlotte amazing you have inspired me to work even harder with my tennis love Ava xx
Road to Wimbledon update:
Semi-Finals day.
Roch Mirski and Charlotte Clarke competed for a place in the Finals today at Wimbledon.
Roch was first on court playing Joseph Logan from the West of Scotland.
He started well breaking his opponents serve in the first game. However his opponent recovered and proved to be too powerful for Roch taking the first set 6-3. Roch rallied and battled hard as we have come to expect from him but couldn’t stem the tide losing the second set 6-2.
He was extremely disappointed but should be proud of his performance all week!
Charlotte was next on court playing Maialen Idiakez from Leicestershire and despite being nervous got off to a fantastic start. Despite not serving to her best ability only missed one shot in the first set and took it 6-1.
Having taken the first set her confidence grew and she dominated her opponent to win the 2nd set 6-0.
The final is scheduled for 11am tomorrow.
Good luck Charlotte!
Confirmed for 7th October at 2:15pm. All yellow ball players are encouraged to take part in the excellent, fun event. There will be a draw for partners and each senior will play with a junior. Seniors only have a 1st serve, juniors who have played regular league tennis will play as “seniors”. The first stage will be played as round robin matches using champions tie-breaks (first to 10 points). Knock out and place play-offs between 4pm and 5pm
Entry forms will be in the clubhouse or enter by e-mail ballabreck@manx.net
Entry fee – Seniors £3 and juniors £2.
Congratulations to all the players who entered this year's Road to Wimbledon event. On the 15th July, 8 boys and 8 girls competed in the Isle of Man County section of this competition. The winners, Rich Mirski and Charlotte Clarke, qualified to play at Wimbledon against the other county champions. The runners up, Jayden Go and Sarah Long, also got to go to Wimbledon for some special coaching sessions.
During the week of 13th August, the County champions played in round robin and knock-out matches at Wimbledon. An Isle of Man player has never progressed from the group stage before, but this year both Roch and Charlotte did and both got all the way to the semi-finals!! Charlotte even went on to win the girls' tournament altogether. This is an extraordinary achievement by both players, whose hard work and dedication should be commended, together with that of their parents and of their coach, Ian Watson. Congratulations to all of you!
Photos from Road to Wimbledon 2018
Charlotte's Tournament winning point!
Outdoor Courts
The planned repainting of the outdoor courts, that was due to commence on 13th August, has been postponed. Given the need for good weather coupled with the availability of the contractors, this is now likely to take place in early summer/late spring in 2019. In the meantime, we thank you for your help in keeping the courts clear of leaves and pine needles as much as possible. It is the degradation of these things that is primarily responsible for the levels of algae we experience on the courts. Following cleaning this year, all courts are currently in good shape; the planned painting is a cosmetic improvement more than a necessity at the moment.
A Glimpse at Our History
Here are the videos shown on the night of the '50 Years at Ballaughton' Celebration Dinner held in September 2016, which shows the timeline of Albany's development over the past 50 years.
All these sessions are a great way to play some tennis and meet friends, and are open to senior members and nominated juniors. Join in our fun and friendly social sessions held each week on:
OPEN TO ALL
- Sundays 10:00am to 12:00pm
- Tuesdays 7:00pm to 9:30pm
- Wednesdays 10:30am to 12:30pm
The club's Annual General Meeting was held at the club on Wednesday 29 November at 6.30pm.
The meeting adopted the 2016/7 statutory accounts, and agreed to leave the current membership fees unchanged for 2018/9. The new committee was voted in, and is the same as last year with the exception of Kirsten Hall, who decided to step down from her role after several years of excellent service. We thank Kirsten for all her hard work for the club. The positions of Social Organiser and Tournament Secretary remain unfilled - if you might be interested in either role, or just in helping out on the Committee, please let Stuart Colligon (info@albanyltc.co.uk) or Pat Sharp (albanytennispr@manx.net) know as soon as possible.
