First a VERY important reminder to ALL Albany members – if you want to be in the club’s public ballot for Wimbledon tickets next year you have to have a British Tennis Membership number and OPT IN on the LTA website before 11 December this year.

If you don’t have a BTM number but wish to be in the ballot then register on lta.org.uk/British Tennis membership and follow the links. It is free and there are various other benefits.

Despite the appalling weather during the past week some matches have been completed in the Albany/Auxesia Junior Open tournament. With no play last Saturday the indoor court plus our new quick draining outdoor courts, referee Ian Watson managed to get the event underway on Sunday. It will have been a busy week catching up so that the finals can be held tomorrow (Saturday).

Prizes will be presented by club chairman and sponsor Stuart Colligon. One pleasing aspect is the increase in girls playing tennis and wishing to compete. So much so that Ian has been able to run a girls under 12 singles as well as the usual mixed U12s. The U8 mixed has an exceptional entry of 24 and will be run as a beginners and main event. These children are the product of the club’s thriving junior programme. Well done to Ian, Martin Feely and Sarah Breed for their encouragement to all juniors. Saturday from 12noon to 4pm is where the action is. However due to this awful weather tomorrows coaching session will have to give way to the tournament matches.

Albany Auxesia Junior Open results so far:U12 mixed singles r/r Jack Christian bt Kitty Thomas 4/0 4/0, Jayden Go bt Aailish Kelly 4/0 4/0, Sam Skelcher Maxwell bt Charlotte Clarke 4/0 4/2, Jack bt Jayden 4/1 4/0,Sam by Roch Mirski 4/2 2/4 (11-9).

U12 Girls singles Kitty Thomas bt Aailish Kelly 4/1 4/0, Charlotte Clarke bt Aailish 4/2 4/1, Charlotte bt Kitty 4/2, 4/0 Boys U18 Jay Skelcher-Maxwell bt Roch Mirski 6/ 6/0, Sasha Thomas bt Jack Christian 6/2 6/1