Newsletter - Our 'Van Volume 1, Issue 1 December 2004

An occasional newsletter for tennis club members

ABOUT THIS ISSUE
This is the Christmas issue of Our 'Van and we wish all our readers a Happy Christmas and best wishes for the New Year It is mainly results based, having the results of both the Club Championships and the Morris's Winter League Feel free to comment to Our 'Van.

It is hoped to publish future issues but that will happen only if the members feel it is worthwhile. Please provide any stories, scandals etc. to the editor, who will gleefully publish them! The author has been inundated with material-NOT! If you've had a disagreement or problem with rules, ask The Oracle If you want a coaching tip on any aspect of the game Willie Guiry will have the answer Write to St Anne's Waterford Tennis Club, John's Hill, Waterford E-mail to info@stannestennis.com

Contact the author.
For safety reasons he prefers to remain anonymous but his identity has been discovered

Club Championships
The Club Championships were played at the end of September. The entry was about the same as last year. However, there were very few "A" players which meant that only Gent's, Ladies' and Mixed Doubles were played. The entry in "B" and "C" were large and only 1 "D" event was run. The prizes were fairly evenly divided between the "old faithfuls" and those who had not won before. It's good to see newcomers win as it maintains the vitality of the club.

The results were as follows:

A Mens Doubles
Andrew Mullally/ Colm Dunne (Winners)
Brian Conroy/Mark Rowe (Runners Up)

Ladies Doubles
Niamh Kennedy/ Pat Tilson (Winners)
Patty Briggs/Mary Cuddihy (Runners Up)

Mixed Doubles
Colm Dunne/Niamh Kennedy (Winners)
Andrew Mullally/ Mary Cuddihy (Runners Up)

B Mens Singles
Brian Kirwan (Winners)
Eoin Kissane (Runners Up)

Ladies Singles
Sabrina Fleming (Winners)
Geraldine Kennedy (Runners Up)

Mens Doubles
Eoin Kissane/ Martin Stockdale (Winners)
John Griffith/Frank Roche (Runners Up)

Ladies Doubles
Geraldine Kennedy/Maire Henry (Winners)
Eileen O' Shea/Maria Roche (Runners Up)

Mixed Doubles
Barry and Geraldine Kennedy (Winners)
Frank Roche/Eileen O' Shea (Runners Up)

C Mens Singles
Graham Farrell (Winners)
Edward Crossan (Runners Up)

Ladies Singles
Valerie Farrell (Winners)
Brid Flynn (Runners Up)

Mens Doubles
Gerry Walsh/Denis O' Shea (Winners)
Tony Gunning/Eddie Nugent

Ladies Doubles
G. Kiersey/Eliz. Cunningham (Winners)
Audrey Hennebry/Orla Fitzgerald (Runners Up)

Mixed Doubles
Tom Falconer/Paula Conroy (Winners)
Robert Boyle/Brid Flynn (Runners Up)

D Mens Singles
Tom Rafter (Winners)
John Stratton (Runners Up)

Some Tennis Rules
Last issue, we said we would return to discovery of errors. This involves the wrong person serving, the wrong person receiving, or the server serving to the wrong side. If the order of service is changed. If the mistake is discovered during the game points scored count and the correct server serves out the game. If the mistake is discovered after the game the order of service remains as altered.

During a game if the order of receiving is changed by the receivers it shall remain as altered until the end of the game in which the mistake is discovered, and the original order resumes after that.

Morris's Winter League

CUP
GARDENING
Stan Leslie and Eileen O' Shea (Winners)
Billy McCormack and Michelle Kirby (Runners Up)

DECORATING
Denis O' Shea and Wendy Coffey (Winners)
Ml. Flaherty and Claire Cotter Sheane (Runners Up)

DIY
Kevin Whelan and Brid Flynn (Winners)
Dick Tilson and Triona O' Callaghan (Runners Up)

BUILDING
Neil Kelly and Mary O' Connor (Winners)
Michael Staff and Margaret Gallagher (Runners Up)

FITTINGS
Colum Power and Bernie Murray (Winners)
Aidan Hennebry and Jane Desmond (Runners Up)

TIMBER
Frank McDonald and Louise Hannon (Winners)
Julie Walsh and Deirdre Staff (Runners Up)

PLATE
GARDENING
Paddy Power and Lillian Hackett (Winners)
Brian Kirwan and Anne McKay (Runners Up)

DECORATING
Tony Hackett and Valerie Farrell (Winners)
Yuri Soikans and Phyllis Furlong (Runners Up)

DIY
Owen Tubbritt and Cecily (Winners)
Johnston Robert Leslie and Maureen Ward (Runners Up)

BUILDING
Milo O' Rathaille and Mgt. Fortune (Winners)
David Lineen and Susan Jacob (Runners Up)

FITTINGS
Eimear Flanagan and Vincent Rafter (Winners)
Colin Molloy and Ruth Gallen (Runners Up)

TIMBER
Louise Brophy and Mairead Meagher (Winners)
John Maher and Miriam Molloy (Runners Up)

The Winter League sponsored By Morris's Builder's Providers was held during the month of November. It had the largest entry ever. This and the bad weather during the first week meant that courts were at a premium and teams were under pressure to get their games played. By common consent it was a great tournament with lots of good tennis and close encounters. The Club appreciates the sponsorship, but even more so the efforts that Morris's (Edward and Eleanor McBride) make to make finals night so much fun.

Willie's Coaching Tips - The Warm-up Coaching tips provided by Tennis Coach Willie Guiry

An important area of the game, often ignored is the warm-up. It can be divided into three areas;
1. Physical,
2. Social
3. Game related.

Physical:
The physical side of the warm-up means getting the body ready for battle, getting the blood flowing faster so the muscles are more supple for the stretching and contracting movements coming up in the game. First you should do a little 3-5 min. jog around the court, or around the car park or club-house while you are waiting, or around the garden at home. Then stretch the muscles you are going to use-shoulder, hip and legs Now you are ready to take the court.

Social:
On court you are warming up your shots, grooving them before the competition. This means that you must hit to your opponent, allowing them to warm up also. One does not try to win the warm-up. The Pros are allowed 10 mins.

They usually spend 4 min. on ground strokes, 2 minutes each on volleys/smashes and 2 mins. on serves. We are allowed 5 minutes in competition.

Game related:
You are drawn to play Pat(ricia) Bloggs in the next round. You ask other players about this player and, from the information, try to come up with a game plan.

So, when you take the court you know the player is a rightie and likes to stay back. In the warm-up you try to see what kind of shot they like to play-topspin, flat, sliced. Do they take the ball low, medium or high. Do they like a ball with pace, or are they "pushers" waiting for you to make the mistake. The deeper into a game you go the easier it should be to predict what your opponent will do on a big point...and when they do it, be ready with your answer.

After the match you should also go for a short jog to warm down the muscles and to get rid of the lactic acid produced during exercise. Some static or holding stretches should be done to maintain suppleness in your muscles.