Home   News   Article

Subscribe Now

Woolton Hill Sports Club celebrates 75th anniversary




Around 75 people attended a village tennis club’s 75th anniversary celebrations last weekend.

Woolton Hill Sports Club invited members and newcomers alike to an afternoon packed with tennis, tea and activities that took place on Sunday.

The day, which was also part of a Lawn Tennis Association initiative to encourage more people to take up the sport, featured free tennis and coaching for those present.

Mike Gordon (coach) with Grace Gibby (10), Josie Foulkes (10), and Sophia Krasteva (10)
Mike Gordon (coach) with Grace Gibby (10), Josie Foulkes (10), and Sophia Krasteva (10)

Chairman Carl Gorman said: “We were fortunate with the weather and we had a good turnout with a lot of youngsters getting some coaching sessions and playing some fun tennis.

“We had a few curious new people coming along that day which was great. We introduced them to the club, welcomed them, and showed them the facilities.”

In his welcoming speech Mr Gorman thanked one sports club member in particular, Kendall Gordon, for overseeing the recent renovation to the club’s drainage system.

Freya Lee-Bowen (7)
Freya Lee-Bowen (7)
Cody Hall (5)
Cody Hall (5)

He also thanked Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council for providing the grant money to carry out the project and for its continued support of the club.

Both of the club’s LTA accredited tennis coaches, Mike Gordon and Patrick Craggs, were coaching players of all ages and abilities all afternoon.

For children, the club organised some fun off-court activities in the club’s car park which was purposefully kept empty to allow children to safely run around and play.

Hilary Hainge, Carl Gorman (Chairman), Alison Whitehall, Kendall Gordon and Rhian Begg (Club Secretary)
Hilary Hainge, Carl Gorman (Chairman), Alison Whitehall, Kendall Gordon and Rhian Begg (Club Secretary)

The table tennis arm of the sports club was also present, and they set up a table tennis ball launcher which Mr Gorman described as “fantastic”.

The afternoon concluded with a fun doubles tournament which around 20 people took part in.

The sports club celebrated its 75th anniversary on the weekend
The sports club celebrated its 75th anniversary on the weekend

One of the event’s organisers Hilary Hainge said: “The whole idea of the day was to make it fun. For us members, it was to have a really great social day and celebrate our birthday, but it was also to introduce people to tennis who haven’t thought of playing it before.”

Woolton Hill Sports Club currently has a membership of more than 260 people and its A team are the current champions of men’s division 1 of the Newbury & District Lawn Tennis Association league.



Comments | 0
This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies - Learn More