Annual Report 2020/21
Chris Vigrass, Chairman of The Tennis Committee
A
s commented already by the Chairman, this season has been one of frustration and intermittency from the narrow view of a sporting lens.
My last report recorded that all competitions stopped on 20th March 2020 due to the Covid lockdown but there was still then a hope that we could have a full programme of Tennis for the 2020/21 season. That hope was unfortunately dashed and at the time of writing we still await the government decision on the 19th July as to the extent of future restrictions, if any. I am extremely grateful to CEO, Chris Davies, and the other members of the Project Restart Team (Owen Saunders, Chris Lintott and Ronald Paterson) for all their help in producing the Playsafe Guidelines and updating them at each development of the restrictions. I repeat the hope that we can return to a full season’s competitions for 2021/22 when the first competition is intended to be the British Juniors at Queen’s in August.
where Jack Josephs is proving very popular. One slightly unexpected feature of the lockdown was the need to consider the effect upon the dormancy adjustment in RTO, i.e. if you do not play and enter a game score for 12 months your handicap is automatically increased. This was the subject of much discussion led by Chris Lintott and Owen Saunders. It became a classic illustration of where logic has to recognise and accommodate emotion. In the end the decision was to suspend the usual dormancy adjustment in RTO with effect from 23 March 2020 until the restrictions are removed.
The Tennis Committee has continued to meet virtually through Zoom. During the season David Sloan retired from the Committee and his 10 years or more of contribution will be greatly missed. I am pleased to say This hiatus has given us opportunity that Vix Harvey of Cambridge has to progress other issues although it is The proposals to update and put herself forward and is on the not always easy to balance this when Committee. modernise the Real Tennis the prime focus of the Committee Online handicap and booking The Tennis Committee has on the games is prevented by the lockdown and relaxing that has the and finance system has been discussed and is very supportive of foremost attention. the improvements of the website quietly progressing through development and the marketing The proposals to update and the excellent efforts of Chris strategy and rebrand which are modernise the Real Tennis Online by the CEO more fully in Lintott and Owen Saunders discussed handicap and booking and finance this Annual Report. system has been quietly progressing as ‘project managers’ with through the excellent efforts of To end on a positive note, it was the Chris Davies CEO as Chris Lintott and Owen Saunders good notwithstanding the previous ‘customer’. as ‘project managers’ with the Chris truncated season to award the Davies CEO as ‘customer’. It is hoped Baerlein Cup for the best amateur that this will be in place in time for the new season after performance to Tara Lumley, the Greenwood Trophy which further improvements and facilities will be added if for the most improved player to William Flynn and the possible and appropriate as requested by the membership Warburg Plate for the best professional performance to and clubs. I am very grateful for Chris and Owen’s work on Ben Taylor-Matthews. The awards could not be presented this and for their liaison with all the necessary people. as usual at the Annual Dinner, so were made virtually. All are to be congratulated for their achievements. As detailed by the Chairman, the Investing in Professionals Programme has also progressed very well. It has been I earnestly hope that both life generally and particularly in facilitated most ably by John Whiting, along with many our game will proceed to some sense of normality for the others, whose efforts and input are greatly appreciated. forthcoming season. As always, I express my appreciation Due to the lockdown it has not launched as quickly as of the work done by the many volunteers who keep our we would have hoped but nonetheless there has been game going. a very successful start of the programme at Middlesex
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