REPORT OF THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE TO THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
OF RYDE MEAD LAWN TENNIS CLUB TO BE HELD ON MONDAY, 10th MARCH 2008
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The Club has enjoyed another successful year, the highlight of which was undoubtedly our Centenary Celebrations during May. The weekend of 19th/20th May was indeed a great success and we enjoyed perfect weather. It seems a long time ago now, but those of you who joined in the fun will certainly agree that it was an extremely joyful occasion.  To celebrate 100 years is such an amazing achievement. It was good to see so many visitors, some of whom were members many years ago. Derek’s wonderful display of Ryde Mead memorabilia dating back as far as 1907 proved very popular and after releasing 100 balloons across the Solent I received responses from as far away as Norfolk and Cambridge.  Colin Hoath organised a superb Open mixed doubles and a veterans doubles tournament, which attracted players from other clubs and was a resounding success.  Winners of the doubles tournament were Joe Pullinger and Kirsty Bennett and winners of the Veterans were Keith Johnson and Jill Beeney.

This event, like all events, requires a lot of hard work and organising and would not take place without a dedicated team of helpers. We would like to see more of you taking an interest in the affairs of the club.  Everything should not be left to the ‘mythical’ few.  Throughout the year the Management Committee and its sub-committees have worked keenly to ensure that the club remains efficient, well-organized and successful.  My grateful thanks to all of them for their support.

Apart from our Centenary Celebrations the past year has been a fairly quiet one, but indeed, a successful one.  On the competitive side all teams in the Portsmouth, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Leagues, and that consisted of 8 teams representing the club, did extremely well and achieved great success.  Congratulations go to the Ladies who swept the board winning all their Portsmouth matches and will now be promoted.  The squad was: Kirsty Bennett, Sue Orchard, Alison Hall, Fiona Turnbull, Helena Sundstrom, Anne Hoath and yours truly.  The Island Mixed Doubles League again was thoroughly well supported.  Well done to all the Captains and everyone who took part and for your continued support to Ryde Mead.

Our Open junior tournament held in August was again a tremendous success.  Our grateful thanks go to Livewire Electric our sponsors and to Colin Hoath who organised this enormous task with help from Nick, and to all volunteers, especially Anne Hoath and the ladies, who helped out in the kitchen. 
A successful Open Day was held in July immediately after Wimbledon.
The annual Mead (closed) Tournament took place in July and after days of rain and interrupted matches we had a splendid Finals day enjoyed by spectators and players in brilliant sunshine with some outstanding tennis.  Thanks to Jack Giles and his sub-committee for their organisation and dealing with so many problems.  

I am pleased to report that social tennis has taken off big time!  During the latter part of the year Wednesday evenings have become a great success along with Wednesday afternoons. The Sunday mix-in sessions now take place on Sunday afternoons from 2pm; this has proved more popular than Sunday mornings.  In June, in order to create more interest and get everyone to mix in together, Alison Hall came up with the clever suggestion to hold an American Fun Tournament on the first Sunday of each month. This also has been extremely well supported and will remain a permanent fixture in the club calendar.  A Men’s singles ladder, arranged for them by Kirsty Bennett (it had to take a lady to organise the men!) takes place on Tuesday evenings and this is well supported, especially with our younger members who are very keen to take part.

In September I organised a Ladies Doubles fun tournament with all proceeds going to the Breast Cancer Campaign.  Tennis clubs throughout the country are invited to hold a fund raising event in order to continue research and I thought it a good idea to get ourselves involved and raise money for this worthy cause.  Ladies from all Island Tennis Clubs joined us. The event was a tremendous success and with support from so many local businesses we raised £310.

Also in September we resurrected the Jubilee Cup Tournament with Ryde Lawn Tennis Club.  Although the Mead lost, all who took part had a good time and it was encouraging to see both clubs playing in such a friendly spirit.  This will now become an annual fixture at alternate clubs.

Top coach, Nick Searles continues to run a busy coaching programme with both juniors and adults and we are delighted to welcome on board Lee Matthews who has a vast experience and will bring many new ideas with him.  Lee will be working alongside Nick with the coaching programme
Nick is always available for any level of coaching, from beginner to advanced player, groups or individuals.  Martyn Lloyd is also helping Nick with the coaching programme and he is presently undergoing his Level 1 coaching course.  We wish him good luck and every success.

Subscriptions
The Management Committee is recommending the following subscriptions for the coming year:

Diary Dates

Fixtures for all matches will be available from the 1st April.

Wimbledon Tickets
We have been allocated 6 pairs, 3 for Centre Court and 3 for Court 1.    Those who would like to enter the club ballot, if you have not already put your name on the list in the clubhouse, please give it to me at the AGM.

Newsletters/Website

During the year newsletters are sent out and hopefully everyone reads these as they are aimed at spreading news and views relating to all events at the club, and together with our website you can find out lots more information and thereby keep up to date with what is happening. It would be beneficial to me if more of you gave me email addresses; I am sure you have all got one.   Watch the notice board also where you will see details of any future events/tournaments. Our website address, just in case you don’t know, is: www.rydemeadtennisclub.co.uk 

My grateful thanks to all who do jobs in and around the club.  We will especially miss Mick our Gardner who sadly passed away in December after a long battle with cancer.   In the Spring we intend to plant a Rose bush, one of his favourites, in the gardens to commemorate him.

Finally, thanks to all of you for your continued commitment and support to Ryde Mead over the last year which I very much hope will continue so that we can move forward and the Mead can enjoy a bright and successful future.

I look forward to seeing you at the AGM on MONDAY 10th MARCH at 7.30pm.
  

Sue Cross
Secretary

We are looking for a new Secretary, as I shall be retiring this year.  If anyone is interested please contact me.