Inaugural Poker Evening

I'm extremely happy to report back that our first ever venture in to a new Social Committee Activity at the club was a great success.

We had some expert tuition on the finer side of Texas Hold'Em poker at the start of the night from Toni Silva.

Thank you Toni.

Then we all tucked in to some freshly prepared (delivery!!!) pizza and nibbles before commencing our mini tournament. Structure was simple- once you had 'spent' your chips you were out and the last 3 remaining contestants were given a cash prize each. Some played a more daring and aggressive game/ wanted to get back for X Factor and others didn't actually place any noticeable bets but just slowly lost chips through folding half way through a challenge (these gentleman will remain nameless but you know that we know who you are!!).

We aree organising another Poker evening on Saturday February 18th and very much hope more of you will come along and have some fun.

Steve Gardner, 19th November 2011

Dance the Night away at Wimbledon!!

Tennis First, the charity dedicated to helping young players reach their potential, is hosting a  'Robin Bibi Rock Experience' night at the All England Club, Wimbledon on Saturday March 10th, 2012.

A repeat of the hugely-successful live music night first held last year, the talented Robin Bibi and his guests will entertain you with a whole host of dance-floor filling rock and pop songs!

Held once again at the world's most famous tennis venue, Wimbledon, this is a fabulous chance for a great night of music, dancing and a delicious dinner, with all proceeds going towards Tennis First.

Tickets cost £45 (or get one free ticket when you reserve a table of ten!).  Please refer to our website - http://www.tennisfirst.org.uk/events.php – for more information or email us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to reserve your tickets. 

Sheen LT&SC at the ATP World Tour

Watch out for Linnea Bengtsson, one of Sheen’s brightest young juniors, at the ATP World tour Finals, 20th to 27th November. She will not be taking on Andrew Murray just yet, but she will be one of a team of 30  ballkids selected to keep the play running smoothly at this year’s O2 event.

Her selection follows a nationwide competition where 2500
children, aged  12 – 16 were tested to their limits in 14 regional trials, culminating in a National trial overseen by Boris Becker and
Mark Petchey.” It’s a great honour to have been picked, she says,
“and I am so looking forward to being a ballkid to the top eight
players in the world”. After a tough weekend training camp in
Coventry followed by a week’s training in Southampton she told us,
“It’s been tremendous fun, but very gruelling. Now I can’t wait for the
event itself.”
Linnea’s participation as a ballkid has not been limited to her on- court activities, as she was asked to do a publicity photoshoot and will feature  on the Barclay’s ballkid advert for the 2012 team. Watch out for the poster in the clubhouse soon. The Evening Standard also ran an article last week about them- Linnea is on the right looking uncharacteristically serious! And the team have been on Newsround and BBC News South.
She also wrote a blog for the Barclays Ballkid webpage which will soon replace last years feature.

If you are interested and fancy your chances as a ballkid next year check out the Barclays ballkids page, where there are links to the blog and to Barclays ballkids on facebook.

Alex Rooney
Club Manager

6 minute Tennis warm up

How many of us walk onto court and begin hitting straight off in the boxes without any warm up…? As the weather gets colder, we should look after our muscles and joints a little more and prepare them for the rigours of tennis.

Try this quick mini warm up to minimize your risk of injury in the winter months.  It is suitable for all players (unless you are suffering from an existing injury or condition in which case I am happy to prepare a modified version for you):

1. Begin by rolling your arms slowly backwards 10 times and forwards 10 times.

2. Skip lightly for a minute (if you find this too hard, jog on spot lightly for a minute).

3. Do 10 walking lunges (on the spot) lunge forwards onto one leg and return your feet together then lunge on the other leg and repeat. Don't step too far- this is a warm up.

4. Do 10 body squats. Feet shoulder width apart. Keeping your back straight, stretch your arms out in front as you go down and at your sides as you rise up. Try to imagine you are sitting down onto a park bench keeping your lower back straight, not rounded.

5. Side step across the width of the court and back twice, squatting to touch each outside tramline.

6. Starting on baseline jog lightly twice with high knees to the net and run backwards on your toes. Then do the same again but instead of high knees, try and kick your bum with your heels.

7. Stand with feet shoulder width apart and rotate your upper spine. Swing from left to right gently keeping your hips as straight as you can.

Then enjoy your game. Don't forget to stretch afterwards....

I'm happy to demonstrate any of these exercises if you are unsure. I'm usually at the club on a Monday and Thursday morning.

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Tennis Progress Awards - AGM 2011