Thanks go to everyone who came along to make our special Centenary Ball a truly memorable event, and also to the dedicated friends who made the whole thing possible.

We have a selection of images from the night available online. Feel free to send us your own and will will include them.

On Saturday 26^th September the Avenue Tennis Club celebrated its hundredth year with a special Centenary Ball held on No 2 tennis court under a large marquee.  The ball was attended by around 205 members, ex members, old and new friends of the club and was a huge success. 

Special guest speaker John Feaver (ex British Davis Cup player and great nephew of one of the founder members) reminded the attendees of the club’s origins and congratulated the current committee on its current stewardship and strategy to involve more families and encourage tennis throughout the local community.  Ex Davis Cup Squad  and Wimbledon player Lee Childs, a former Somerset and Avenue Tournament player, was also in attendance with, to name but a few, Somerset LTA President, Basil Mann and Somerset LTA Chairman Ken Johnson, together with a number of past presidents, chairmen and captains of the club.

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The Xmas period was finished off at the Avenue Tennis Club on Boxing Day when 16 brave members made it to the courts to run off their Xmas Dinners.  The tournament was run with the lady/junior partners swapping after each player had served once, meaning that each player played 4 games with one partner and then another 4 with another, making it very sociable but also keeping quite a competitive spirit to the event.

The ladies winner was Sue Parson and mens winner was Head Coach Vinny Duddy.  After the tournament the players retired to the bar where Vice President Peter Alexander had volunteered to open up. The tournament and the afternoon was a complete success and Head Coach, Vinny Duddy said that he intended to organise the event next year and hoped to get even more players involved in the tournament as it was obvious that it was something that everyone who played had enjoyed.

Coaching at the Avenue will recommence in the New Year with Saturday Pay and Play from 9:00 in the morning, through the various ages groups until 2:30 in the afternoon.  Junior Academy and Squad Group Coaching will start on Monday 11^th January.  Adults intermediate and beginner classes will restart on Thursday 14^th Jan and Friday 15^th respectively. New Year is normally a time for sporting resolutions; so why not come the Tennis Club and give tennis a go; for those of you like a good work out but don’t particularly want to play a lot of tennis why not come down on a Thursday evening to the Cardio Sessions which will have you doing lots of Cardio training intermingled with hitting lots of tennis balls from 6:00 till 7:00pm.

The first social event of the New Year 2010 will be a Rabbie Burns night which will be held at the Tennis Club on Saturday 30^th January.  For those that do not like Haggis there will be a lovely Scottish Stew.  The three course Scottish meal will cost adults £7.50 and children £3.50; bookings can be made on the listing in the clubhouse foyer notice board.

Details of these events and tennis coaching courses held at the Avenue Tennis Club can be obtained from the office (01278 782758) or from the club website (www.avenuetennis.com).

The Avenue Tennis Club had a very busy Xmas weekend with the Xmas Junior Disco on Friday evening and Chairmans Mince Pies on Sunday.  The club also had two private events on Saturday and Sunday with the National Autistic Society holding it’s Xmas Party and Mr and Mrs Pete Nicholson celebrating their daughter, Emma Nicholson’s 13^th birthday party – if you wish to hire the club for such events then please contact Julie Cameron (07846 023015). 

The Junior Xmas disco was attended by over 50 children of various ages from 3 to 14 and head coach, Vinny Duddy wanted to thank Annette Duddy and Julie Cameron for their help in the kitchen preparing food for the kids.  He also wanted to thank coaches Craig Phillips, Nick Arnold and Barry Ramsden for giving their time up to help with the disco.

Chairman’s Xmas Mince Pie Day was very well attended with a lot of members bringing their families and friends with them.  Chairman, Gordon Hunter wanted to thank his wife, Pat for the mince pies and all her hard work in the kitchen together with Julie Cameron and Christine Renniso, Peter Alexander for organising the sausage rolls and Len Cameron for running the bar.

On Boxing Day the club will be holding a social tennis tournament which everyone is invited to attend, running from around 11:00 in the morning – come on down and run off the Xmas Turkey; the bar should be open from around 12:00.

The first social event of the New Year 2010 will be a Rabbie Burns night which will be held at the Tennis Club on Saturday 30^th January.  For those that do not like Haggis there will be a lovely Scottish Stew.  The three course Scottish meal will cost adults £7.50 and children £3.50; bookings can be made on the listing in the clubhouse foyer notice board.

Details of these events and tennis coaching courses held at the Avenue Tennis Club can be obtained from the office (01278 782758) or from the club website (www.avenuetennis.com).

Keith Pursglove wishes everyone a Merry Xmas and Happy New Year

Keith Pursglove wishes everyone a Merry Xmas and Happy New Year from the Avenue Tennis Club at the Avenue’s Xmas lunch on Sunday 29^th November.

The Avenue’s annual Xmas lunch was attended by around 80 members and non members who were treated to a fantastic Xmas lunch provided by the some of the ladies at the tennis club.  The lunch marked the last Centenary Event of the year and was a fantastic success.  Poo Jenkins, organizer (pictured below) thanked Ladies Captain, Lynn O’Dell and Julie Cameron for their hard work in the kitchen during the day and all the other members who helped to get all the food together.  The Centenary Prize Draw was made on the day and was won by Carol Davies who very kindly donated her cash prize back to the club.  Tennis Club Chairman, Gordon Hunter thanked Poo for all her hard work during the year in organizing several of the Centenary events and presented her with a large bouquet of flowers.  He also reminded everyone that Sunday the 20^th Dec was Chairman’s Mince Pie Day and invited them to come along for a drink and mince pie.

Poo Jenkins with helpers Georgina Cameron and Heather Duddy Nov 09

The next event at the club will be the junior member’s Xmas Disco which has been organized for Friday 18^th Dec from 18:00 till 21:00 with fun games and prizes available.  Chairman’s Mince Pie will be served on Sunday 20^th Dec from around 12:00.

On Boxing Day the club will be holding a social tennis tournament which everyone is invited to attend, running from around 11:00 in the morning – come on down and run off the Xmas Turkey.

Details of these events and tennis coaching courses held at the Avenue Tennis Club can be obtained from the office (01278 782758) or from the club website (www.avenuetennis.com).

On Saturday 26^th September the Avenue Tennis Club celebrated its hundredth year with a special Centenary Ball held on No 2 tennis court under a large marquee.  The ball was attended by around 205 members, ex members, old and new friends of the club and was a huge success.  Special guest speaker John Feaver (ex British Davis Cup player and great nephew of one of the founder members) reminded the attendees of the club’s origins and congratulated the current committee on its current stewardship and strategy to involve more families and encourage tennis throughout the local community.  Ex Davis Cup Squad  and Wimbledon player Lee Childs, a former Somerset and Avenue Tournament player, was also in attendance with, to name but a few, Somerset LTA President, Basil Mann and Somerset LTA Chairman Ken Johnson, together with a number of past presidents, chairman and captains of the club.

Poo Jenkins, pictured above, the current club President, masterminded the entire event and would like to thank fellow centenary committee members Lenny Cameron (Bar manager), Lynn O’Dell (Ladies Captain), Carol Davies, Jane Sanders, Julie Cameron, Sally Christison, Maz Hadley and Head Coach Vinny Duddy for their help and assistance with the planning, running and management of this and other centenary events throughout the year.  Poo said she would also like to thank all the other people who helped organise and run this very special event.

Geoff Thorne and Vinny Duddy receive prizes from Eric Davis of Highbridge Caravans

Avenue Tennis Club Centenary Tournament 20^th September 09

Eric Davis (Highbridge Caravans) presents prizes to the winning pair of the Avenue Tennis Club Centenary Tournament

On Sunday 20^th Sep the Avenue Tennis Club Centenary Tournament followed the successful Centenary Open Day.  As with the previous day, the weather was fantastic making for a good turnout of tennis players.  Juniors (Sam and Alex Stead, Jessica Griffiths and Heather Duddy) from the Avenue Academy joined in and played with and against the adults making up 5 courts of doubles.  The players played to 7 games four times and then added up their scores to set up final play offs to determine the winners.  The final played by Colin Stead and Lynn O’Dell (Ladies Captain) against Geoff Thorne and Head Coach, Vinny Duddy was won by Thorne and Duddy (pictured far right above).  Eric Davis from Highbridge Caravans presented Thorne and Duddy with some new balls for their efforts.  Duddy said afterwards that the best thing about the day, other than winning, was the participation by the Avenue Juniors who all played very well.

The finale of the Centenary Celebrations is the Centenary Ball, a black tie event, on Saturday 26^th September, which will have dancing to a DJ and local band Riverbrew in a Marquee set up at the tennis club.

The next major event at the tennis club will be the Junior Tennis Camp which will run throughout the next school holidays in the last week of October; if you wish to book a place then please contact the office or visit the website (www.avenuetennis.com) for details and to download the application form.

A great turn out for the Centenary Comp on 20th Sep

Richard Ballinger - "Probably the best magician at the Avenue!"

Avenue Tennis Club Centenary Open Day 19^th Sep 2009

Avenue Tennis Club Centenary Open Day was held on Saturday 19^th September.  The day was resounding success with lots of families attending and having tennis coaching, enjoying the magic shows with Richard Ballinger, singing with Sarah Coles Music with Mummy, playing on the bouncy castle, looking at the sportswear and equipment on view from Tony Pryce Sports and Prince Rackets.

Vinny Duddy, Head coach at the Avenue said he was really delighted with the turnout and hoped that the efforts made by the coaches would encourage children and adults to come back to the club and take up one the many tennis coaching courses held at the club.  Vinny said – he would like to thank the ladies from the club (Jane Sanders, Lyn O’Dell – Ladies captain, Poo Jenkins and Carol Davies) for their efforts to keep everyone supplied with hot and cold food and to Sally Christison for keeping the bouncy castle manned and managed throughout the day.  He also said that the support from club members Phil Hoyland, Randy Salway and Simon Peto to the club coaches was invaluable. A big thanks to Lenny Cameron (Bar Manager) who kept the bar open for all.  He also said that the non sporting events went down really well with Sarah Coles from Music from Mummy keeping the younger children entertained and Richard Ballinger keeping everyone’s attention with his Magic Shows.

The finale of the Centenary Celebrations is the Centenary Ball, a black tie event, on Saturday 26^th September, which will have dancing to a DJ and local band Riverbrew in a Marquee set up at the tennis club.

The next major event at the tennis club will be the Junior Tennis Camp which will run throughout the next school holidays in the last week of October; if you wish to book a place then please contact the office or visit the website (www.avenuetennis.com) for details and to download the application form.

 Avenue Tennis Club Centenary Open Day 19^th Sep 2009 

Avenue Tennis Club Centenary Open Day will be held on Saturday 19^th September and will start from 11:00 am.  As with other Open Days the focus will be on FREE tennis coaching for all the family but head coach Vinny Duddy said this is our Centenary Open Day and we have therefore organised some other non sporting activities.

Sarah Coles, from Music with Mummy will be inviting all the children to come along to Teddy Bear Picnics, to have some fun with musical instruments and to play the Parachute Game.

Richard Ballinger, a member of the club, will be performing magic tricks and shows on the day.   There will also be an inflatable bouncy castle for the children to have fun on.

Tony Pryce Sports and Prince Tennis Rackets will attend on the day providing demonstration rackets to try out, advice on what to look for when buying rackets together with some sports clothing for sale.  Lucozade Sports Science team will be providing some sports energy drinks and other energy bar supplement tasters together with some advice.

Vinny said – There will be hot and cold food supplied on the day and our well stocked bar will be open to all, although I would recommend the cream scones which were absolutely fantastic at the last Open Day in June.

On Sunday the 20^th Sep there will be a junior and adult tennis competition; anyone interested in playing please contact the office (01278 782758) – details can also be obtained from the Avenue’s website about events and coaching going on at the club – www.avenuetennis.com.

The following week is the Centenary Ball; the black tie event will have dancing to a DJ and local band Riverbrew in a Marquee set up at the tennis club and is now all sold out but if you have any queries about the event please contact Poo Jenkins from the Avenue Tennis Club.

Music with Mummy – Teddy Bears Picnic

Sarah Coles will be at the Avenue with all the teddies for a very special Teddy Bear’s Picnic. The music with mummy sessions are held at various local clubs and are designed for children under 5 years but all are welcome, with singing, musical movement and play with percussion instruments.

Tony Pryce Sports

Tony Pryce Sports sell sports equipment throughout the South West (nearest shop in Taunton). They will be on site with tennis clothing and demonstration rackets.

Prince Tennis Rackets Demonstrator

Peter Clarke of Solo Sports UK will be presenting and demonstrating all the newest tennis rackets from Prince.

Lucozade Sports Support Team

Konrad Breeze will be presenting and providing sports drinks and food designed to assist with rehydration and energising after and before playing sport.

Avenue Tennis Club

The ladies from the club will be providing hot and cold food & drinks throughout the day. The bar will also be open for those adults who would prefer an alcoholic beverage.

Other Attractions

At the time of writing other attractions being organised are a DJ for music, a large inflatable and attendance from other Tennis racket manufacturers

No need to book, simply turn up on the day.