Ardee Tennis Club | New Members Always Welcome

29th June 2009 - Commencement of 2009 Junior Summer Camp

The 2009 Junior Summer Camp will run for 7 weeks from Monday June 29th to Friday August 14th. It will be held every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Children aged 6 and over are welcome to attend. Classes will be as follows; 10-11am juniors aged 6-9, 11-12pm juniors aged 9-12 and 2-3.30pm juniors aged over 12. Classes will be supervised by Theresa Taaffe and Aimee Taaffe and several assistants aged over 16. Every child is required to be a member of the tennis club. Junior membership costs €40 and family membership (includes 2 adults and all children aged under 18) costs €160. Cost per day per child is €2. Forms need to be filled out on the first day.

19th May 2008 - Start of Brophy-McDonnell Cup

The Brophy-McDonnell Cup honours two of our founding members, Gareth Brophy and Derek McDonnell. The format of the Cup is mixed doubles with seeded partner assignement to ensure balanced and fair teams. The Cup is a knock-out tournament. There is no entry fee and the only rule is that everyone enjoys themselves. The draw for teams will take place on Thursday (evening) 15th May 2008. Late entrants are welcome upto the time of the draw. The competition will start Monday 19th May 2008. The club hopes all of its members will enter and have a great time. See you all on the courts.

16th May 2008 - Start of Regional Inter-Club Competition

Ardee Tennis Club has agreed to enter the upcoming regional inter-club tournament involving the following tennis clubs; Ardee, Dundalk, Stackallan, Bettystown and Kells. Each club will enter at least one A and B team. Each team will consist of 3 men and 3 women. Ties will consist of one men's doubles, one women's doubles and one mixed doubles. The tournament will be played over 6 weeks and the entry fee per player is €15. Mary Gaynor is organising both Ardee teams A and B. The schedule of matches for Ardee teams A and B are as follows.

Note - The schedule of matches has been cancelled due to last minutes changes to the list of participating clubs. Mary Gaynor and Allison Gough will be contacting players on a weekly basis to inform them of match times and locations.

6th May 2008 - Main Outcomes of AGM

1. Members have approved the following committee for 2008/09

Chairman : James Giggins
Vice-Chairman : Sean O'Shea
Treasurer : Martin Bannon
Secretary : Debbie Fay
Disciplinary Officer : Marion Halpenny
Mens Captain : Adrian Blakemore
Ladies Captain : Lynne Woods
Other Members : Jan Svarc, Marie Aylward, Marie Dowdall, Mary Hocine, Noel Gaynor, Shaun McCormack

2. Agreement to Enter Up-Coming Regional Inter-Club Tournament

Ardee Tennis Club has agreed to enter the upcoming regional inter-club tournament involving the following tennis clubs; Ardee, Dundalk, Stackallan, Bettystown and Kells. Each club will enter at least one A and B team. Each team will consist of 3 men and 3 women. Ties will consist of one men's doubles, one women's doubles and one mixed doubles. The tournament will be played over 6 weeks and the entry fee per player is €15. Mary Gaynor is organising both Ardee teams A and B.

3. Brophy-McDonnell Cup due to start on Monday 19th May 2008. Texts will be sent to members to invite entrants.

4. One-day tournament for Junior members over 8 will be held on Saturday 10th May 2008 from 11am to 1pm.

5. Clarification of Junior and Senior member playing entitlements.

The AGM thought it would be useful to clarify the playing entitlements of Junior and Student Members. Junior members (children in primary school) can play up to 6pm weekdays and anytime over the weekend. Student members (under 16) can 1. play up to 7pm weekdays (a court booking is required from 6pm to 7pm) 2. play anytime over the weekend and 3. enter the club championship competition. Student members (ages 16+) have identical playing rights as adult members and can enter all club competitions.

6. A new committee role of Disciplinary Officer has been created. Marion Halpenny was elected to carry out the responsibilities of this role.

The role of the Disciplinary Officer is to facilitate members to settle disputes with other members in a process that is non-confrontational, objective and fair.

6th May 2008 - AGM in Ardee Community School at 8pm

Ardee Tennis Club will hold its AGM on Tuesday 6^th May 2008 in Ardee Community School at 8pm. The format of the event will be a welcome from the Chairman, a summary of activities over the past year, votes on several issues for the forthcoming tennis year and any other matters that members wish to discuss.

This is the most important club meeting of the year and all members are encouraged to attend. The club needs feedback and opinions from members so that we can improve and strengthen our activities, both on and off the court. See you all there.

24th April 2008 - Publication of Spring 2008 Newsletter

Ardee Tennis Club is proud to publish its Spring 2008 newsletter. Its discusses items old and new including our forthcoming AGM, the completed Spring League, the forthcoming Brophy-McDonnell Cup, Friday Night Tennis, 2008/09 membership fees, new court usage rules during peak hours, Summer School 2008 information and news on our forthcoming June church gate fundraising event. Click here to the Newsletters section to view the Spring 2008 newsletter.

4th April 2008 - Friendly Challenge against Dundalk Tennis Club

Dundalk Tennis Club has kindly issued a friendly challenge to our club. This challenge will be played on 4th April 2008 in Dundalk Tennis Club. Adult members who are of an advanced or intermediate standard are welcome to play. Our club wishes to extend its apologies to beginners on this occasion and we understand that future challenges will involve beginners. If you are interested in entering please text your name to the club mobile on 085-1507484 by 20th March 2008. Update - the matches will commence at 7pm sharp and any player who cannot play or has transport difficulties should communicate this to Sean O'Shea immediately.

19th March 2008 - Finals of Spring League

48 players entered the 2008 Spring League. The club wishes to thank everyone who entered. After 5 weeks of enjoyable matches the competition is entering the final stages. Semi-finals and final will be played on Wednesday 19th March 2008 where Team 4 and Team 5 play at 7pm, Team 2 and Team 6 play at 8pm and the winners of both semi-finals play in the final at 9pm. Good luck to all semi-finalists and all spectators are welcome.

14th December 2007 - Christmas Social Night Out

To mark the festive season and the end of tennis for 2007 the club is holding a social night out on Friday 14th December. Members, partners and friends are welcome to attend. We will be going to Wau's oriental restaurant (beside the library) for a meal at 8.30pm. If you are interested in going please confirm your numbers to Sean O'Shea on 085-1507484 before Tuesday 11th December as we will be booking a table. Afterwards we will be going for a few drinks to the Railway Bar (on main street). If you can't make it to the meal we look forward to seeing you at the Railway Bar.

7th December 2007 - Friday Night Tennis Turkey Shoot-Out

The final Friday Night Tennis event of 2007 was held on 7th December. Our club would like to thank all members who supported the Friday Night Tennis event throughout the year. To express our thanks the club held a raffle where participants won three €15 turkey vouchers from O'Callaghans butchers. The voucher winners were Jan Svarc, Bernadette Smyth and Lynne Woods. Enjoy your turkey !!!

16th November 2007 - Pub Quiz to be hold on Thursday 22nd November

The annual pub quiz will be hold in Ardee Golf Club on Thursday 22nd November 2007 at 8.30pm. All club members, friends of members and the general public are welcome to attend. You are welcome to assemble your own crack team of quiz buffs. You do not need to be in a team to participate as we will be arranging teams on the night. Entry prices are €30 per team. There will be two top prizes and many spot prizes to be won. This is an important fund raising event for the club and we hope it gets the full support of our members. Most importantly it is great fun and a very enjoyable night out. We look forward to seeing you there.

24th October 2007 - Light Cards Replaced with Light Coins

Ardee Tennis Club has replaced the old light meters with new machines. The new light meters will be operated by Coins. These Coins will cost €3 each and will allow play for 1 hour. The Coins can be purchased from existing retailers Vivo and Nearest Buy. All members can return their old light cards and receive a full refund from committee members or the club Treasurer, Martin Bannon.

24th October 2007 - New Light Meters Installed

Ardee Tennis Club has replaced its existing light meters with newer machines. These new light meters are bigger than before and only two will fit into an ESB metering box. The club has had to install a second ESB metering box to accomodate the four new light meters. The new light meters for Courts 1 and 2 will be in one ESB metering box and the new light meters for Courts 3 and 4 will be in the second ESB metering box.

17th October 2007 - Start of Winter League

The 2007 Winter League commenced on 17th October 2007. All teams should now have played their first match. Click here to go to the 2007 Winter League web-page to examine the teams, results and photos.

9th October 2007 - Appointment of Lynne Woods as new Ladies Captain

Lynne Woods has been appointed Ladies Captain. The club wishes Lynne every success in her new role and hopes she can encourage more sweat and tears from the female members. Lynne succeeds Berny Carroll in this role. The club wishes to thank Berny Carroll for all her work as Ladies Captain.

9th October 2007 - Winter One-Day Competition for Junior Members

Following the successful Summer School and Junior Club Championship the club is looking to increase activity levels for Junior members. The club has decided to run three one day competition events throughout the year - hopefully in Winter, Spring and early Summer. Every competition needs a catchy name and this will be called the Four Seasons competition. The provisional date for the Winter event is the long weekend of 27th-29th October. Juvenile members will play their round-robin competition on Saturday and Student members will play their round-robin competition on Sunday. A text to all members will be sent out soon with more finalised details and times.

9th October 2007 - Winter League Entries Close Friday 12th October

By popular request the Winter League is starting soon. Entries close on Friday 12th October. The draw will be made over the weekend and the competition will commence on Wednesday 17th October. The format of the league will be mixed doubles (as far as possible) and will be played over six weeks (including semi-finals and finals). Positive feedback from the 2007 club championship encouraged the committee to decide on a mixed doubles format. Depending on entry numbers and player standard the draw may include an A and B section. Your partner will be selected by the club, and will be permanent for the league, so make peace with your partner quickly. The entry fee will be €12 and it can be paid on the first night of play. Matches will be played every Wednesday at 7pm, 8pm and 9pm. If you cannot play at your assigned time it is your responsibility to find a replacement. Please do not let you partner down.

A text will be sent to all members and prospective members advertising the Winter League. Text back if you are interested in entering (include your name and surname in the text please). No forms need to be completed.

9th October 2007 - Court Number 4 Light Meter Fixed

The light meter for court number 4 was not working due to a stuck light card. The offending light card has now been removed and the light meter should be operational again. Members once again have the choice of four courts outside daylight hours.

2nd October 2007 - Light Card Meters Replacement

The light meters have been due an overhaul for some time. Lighting on court number four doesn't work as a card is stuck in the meter. Some time ago ESB prices underwent a substantial price increase. The existing light meters lacked the flexibility to deal with the new prices. Higher priced card of €4 were introduced but they came with a playing duration of two hours. This arrangement has proved to be problematic as players can only play for one hour during periods of congestion.

This situation can not continue now that darker nights are upon us. The committee has ordered new light meters. These new meters will be operated by a type of coin and will have the flexibility to allow play for one hour. However it will be up to four weeks before the new meters arrive and are installed.

In the meantime we ask for member's understanding. Lighting on court number four cannot be activated using the existing light cards. To avoid this court remaining unlighted the committee will install an over-ride switch in the light meter box. However it will be key activated and the chairman will be in sole possession of this over-ride key. He is contactable and will hand over the key at the current €2 hourly rate for play but expects the key to be promptly returned. The committee does understand that this procedure may prove too troublesome for members and that court number four may remain unlighted for four weeks. Again the committee apologies for this situation and asks for understanding until the new light meters are installed.

28th August 2007 - Women to enter Mens Singles Ladder

The committee has agreed to allow women enter the Mens Singles Ladder competition. This decision reflects the lack of a womens singles event. Over time as more women participate in this event a seperate Womens Singles Ladder can be established. Congratulations to Caroline Filgate who is the first woman to join the event. Click here to go to the Mens Singles Ladder page.