Now is the time of year when New Year’s resolutions often fall by the wayside. I have a friend who has resolved to lose weight. I think she will succeed. Why do I think that? Firstly, before Christmas she lost over 2 stones. Secondly, she swims regularly and eats healthily. When I was out recently with her she had a jacket potato whilst her husband had a full English breakfast. My friend has a good track record and the determination to reach her targets.
Our club coaches have made a New Year’s resolution which is to make our club even better. I think we will succeed. Firstly, we have the track record. Currently we boast three County champions in Olivia Fletcher (girls’ U13), Timmy Cooper (Boys’ U13) and Oscar Dalrymple (Boys’ U11). We can also boast the Men’s Doubles runners-up in Deepak Chandrababu and Chris Mulligan and the County Girls’ U15 finalist in Olivia.
We can add to that by pointing to two Warwickshire Schools’ Champions in Lee Dorning (Boys’ U13) and Jack Green (Boys’ U11).
I hope you have read on this web-site about Deepak’s success in India and Tom Harris’s trophy at Center Parcs.
Before Christmas our J team (Keith Knott and Tony Williams) won the A division, our K side of Andrew McIlvaney and Aung and Chris Soe won the B division, our M team (Tom and Olivia Fletcher and Sam Weaving) won the C division and our O team (James Foster, Joe Hunt and Jay Virdi) were runners-up. Our P team of Tom Harris, Kit Turner and Josh Wyatt-Smith were runners-up in Division D.
It is not only about winning trophies. So many of our youngsters are improving beyond all expectations, beating opponents they previously lost to.
Will we maintain this progress? Yesterday I saw our P team beat a side 4-1 that they had lost to before Christmas. We currently hold positions 1 and 2 in Division 4, 1 and 2 in Division A, 1 and 2 in Division B, top in Division C and 1 and 2 in both Division D and E. We also have the third spots in Divisions 2 and 3.
Have we the determination to succeed? Your coaching team certainly has and our aim is to build on our success by offering each of you a coaching programme in the Summer tailored to YOUR needs. We are compiling a data base which will identify the targets for improvement for every one of you so that we can do this.
Have you the determination to succeed? Judging by the numbers who now regularly enter our club tournaments the answer has to be a resounding yes. The performances of many of you have been outstanding in these events and I am not just talking about the considerable number who have won trophies.
ALL the players who have entered the League in September have come on in leaps and bounds and are recording their first wins and first pairs of wins in a match.
Many of you are grasping the coaching opportunities we are providing and it is showing in your performances.
Whilst it is essential that our club offers you the opportunity to be as good as you can be in terms of standards it is more than that. We aim to make it a supportive family. I have received so many testimonies as to the friendliness of the club. The atmosphere you help to create MUST have a positive impact on the way you approach the sport and that is why I feel that when a member wins a trophy or has a great win we have all played a part in making that happen. I want you all to be proud of whatever we achieve.
I cannot stress enough the impact that another two groups are having. We enjoy a wonderful set of parents who run teams, get players to venues, put up tables and watch the matches (often there are more spectators than players –great!). The other group is our young adults who selflessly give up their time to help younger members. They are wonderful role models and we hope some of them will go on to be our coaches of the future.
Yes, I am convinced that our club will go from strength to strength this year and that the rewards will be apparent to every member.
Phil
