The draws have been made for the 2009-10 Winter Doubles Tournaments, (follow links above for each event) so you can start arranging matches now.  

There are 2 groups in the Ladies event, and 4 groups in both Mens and Mixed events.  Each pair must play every other pair in their group within the allotted timescale, with the top 2 in each group progressing to the knockout stage. 

In the group stages, matches consist of 2 standard sets (tie-break at 6-6, to 7 points), and if the match stands at 1 set all it will be decided by a Championship tie-break ( to 10 points).  This is principally due to the fact that there are a lot of matches to play over the winter period when the weather may not be kind.  However, if BOTH PAIRS agree prior to the commencement of their match, then they may play a full 3rd set, and again should agree beforehand whether to play a tiebreak at 6-6 or continue until 1 pair has a 2 game lead.  Note that in the event of deciding group positions, a 3rd set will be scored as 1-0 regardless of whether a full set or tiebreak is played.

IMPORTANT :  Having entered the tournament all competitors are expected to play all of their matches.  It is winter, and it won't surprise anyone to know that the weather won't always be favourable, so plan accordingly.  Failure to play matches and expectation that deadlines will be extended is unfair to other competitors and the tournament committee. The tournament committee at their absolute discretion will determine the outcome of any unplayed matches to ensue fairness prevails.

Please note and take the following into consideration:

Monday evenings – from 7pm on Monday evenings, all 6 Courts are regularly used for Men’s teams practice, this activity is organised by me (Jon) and therefore Courts are not available to be booked without prior agreement from myself.   However, I am prepared to make courts available for use for Men’s Tournament matches to replace normal practice on a first come first served basis, and tournament matches will be given priority on Courts 4-6.  I need to know bookings a week in advance please in order that I can plan remaining practice around tournament bookings.  

In exceptional circumstances I am prepared to consider ladies or mixed matches on Mondays, but only if all other options have genuinely been exhausted, or if a ‘swap’ arrangement can be made with a Ladies 4 from a Tuesday or a Mixed 4 from a Thursday.  Men’s tournament matches will always have priority for choice of Courts on Mondays.

Tuesday evenings – from 7pm on Tuesdays, 4 Courts are regularly used for Ladies’ teams practice, and 1 Court is set aside for coaching.  This means that 1 Court is available for booking in the clubhouse diary for any tournament match.  Liz Burch organise the ladies’ night and operates a rota system.  If Ladies wish to arrange a tournament match on a Tuesday night, please discuss and pre-book with Liz a week in advance, ensuring that if you are in the rota for that week, you agree appropriate arrangements with her so as to ensure that remaining ladies’ practice is unaffected.   This could mean for example, that Ladies practice is reduced 2 Courts, Ladies tournament matches 2 Courts, another match 1 Court and coaching 1 Court.   Ladies Tournament matches will be given priority on Courts 4-6 ahead of practice and coaching activities.

Wednesday evenings – from 7 pm on Wednesdays, all Courts are reserved for Adult social.  No tournament matches can be pre-booked at this time.  However, in the event that not all Courts are being used by 7.30 pm, it is permissible for members to  use any remaining courts for tournament matches without interruption.

Thursday evenings - from 7pm on Thursdays, 4 Courts are regularly used for Mixed team practice, and 1 Court is set aside for coaching.  This means that 1 Court is available for booking in the clubhouse diary for any tournament match.  Pete Worby organises the mixed night.  If Mixed pairs wish to arrange a tournament match on a Thursday night, please pre-book with Pete a week in advance enabling him to pre-plan the remaining mixed practice.  

This could mean for example, that Mixed practice is reduced 2 Courts, Mixed tournament matches 2 Courts, another match 1 Court and coaching 1 Court.   Mixed Tournament matches will be given priority on Courts 4-6 ahead of practice and coaching activities.  

Friday evenings – from 7pm on Fridays, 3 Courts are regularly used for Associate members’ social organised by Colin Hewett.  The remaining courts are available for booking.  Tournament matches will be given priority on Courts 4-6.  Note that in the event of new coaching courses commencing in Jan 10 court availability may be further limited.

Saturday mornings – from 10 am to noon, all Courts are reserved for Adult social.   Members looking to play early Saturday morning may do so, but should start very latest 8.30 am to ensure that any overrun into adult social time is limited.  I know from personal experience that if a match goes the full distance – 2 tie break sets and a championship tiebreak – this can take well over 2 hours.  With this in mind, it is important that you do confirm by email to me if you arrange games at this time.  Only 2 matches maximum will be allowed to overrun past 10am, thus ensuring that a minimum of 4 courts are available for social play from 10 am.  The first 2 games to be confirmed to me will have priority provided they start by 8.30.  If 3 games are overrunning, the 3rd will have to stop at 10am and resume later.  Self policing and commonsense should hopefully prevail and everyone will be grown up about this, but it is important that we preserve and support social tennis.  

Sunday mornings – from 10.30 am to 11.30 am, 2 courts are reserved for pay and play coaching.   As social sessions on Sunday mornings have not been well attended, 2 Courts minimum are reserved for social play from 10am until noon.  This means that 2 Courts are available for booking in the clubhouse diary, however coaching will have priority on courts 5 & 6 from 10.30 to 11.30.

Other Bookings – please check the clubhouse diary for other events such as Inter club Junior and Veteran matches, and Junior events which will have priority over Winter Tournament matches.  Please note that some of these events may be marked as using Courts 1-3, this was done before the club became aware we would be restricted to temporary lines for the winter.  These events have priority and may be moved to Courts 4-6 ahead of winter  tournament matches. 

f you do play under floodlights, the tournament entry fee does not cover this additional cost and this must be paid through normal channels.  

So, get organising, and should you have any queries, please contact Jon Taffel in the first instance.  As a matter of course, please email Jon with details of both agreed dates to play matches as soon as you make firm arrangements, as well as results when played.  On the draw pages, the name highlighted in bold I have nominated to be responsible for organising matches on behalf of that pair, and to communicate details of fixtures, results and any issues.  All participants have an immediate duty to communicate any holiday dates or other restrictions to their opponents to assist in match planning.

Draws and tournament contact details are posted on the club noticeboard. 

A big thank you to Liz Burch who has stepped down from the tournament committee, her help in recent years much appreciated.

Enjoy!