THE past season has been a superb one for Winscombe Tennis Club with best-ever results in the North Somerset summer league, more club tennis being played, highly-successful coaching sessions and a balance sheet showing a good profit, members were told at the annual meeting.

THE past season has been a superb one for Winscombe Tennis Club with best-ever results in the North Somerset summer league, more club tennis being played, highly-successful coaching sessions and a balance sheet showing a good profit, members were told at the annual meeting.

Chairman Peter Hucker said a huge investment had also been made with the installation of new floodlights costing almost �17,000.

He was delighted with the amount of play by members of all ages on the six courts during the day and in the evenings, and with popular professional coaching sessions both at the club and now being organised at Winscombe and Banwell primary schools involving more than 60 youngsters.

Mr Hucker also praised the committee and members who had helped to halve the bill for maintenance by joining working parties under the leadership of Kevin and Hazel Thorpe, during which the outside of the clubhouse was redecorated, the old floodlighting system dismantled and sold for scrap and repairs carried out to the courts.

Treasurer Roy Cheater reported that reserves had been raided to pay for the new lights and he warned that these funds would have to be built up again over the next few years to deal with major future expenditure, although income was able to more than cover day-to-day costs.

Part of the reason for this year’s �4,800 surplus, apart from the maintenance work carried out by the volunteers, was down to the club’s decision to end affiliation to the Lawn Tennis Association, which had become highly expensive for little benefit.

The meeting, attended by almost 30 members who defied freezing conditions, heard that during the summer five of their league teams had gained promotion – an ‘absolutely fabulous achievement’ commented ladies’ captain Ruth Angelinetta.

President Clive Wheller thanked Mr Hucker, who he said over many years had proved a great champion for the club both on and off the court. He also presented the trophy for the member making the greatest contribution during the year to secretary Jeanette Stuchbery.

Committee elected – chairman, Peter Hucker; vice-chairman, Patricia Burgess; secretary, Jeanette Stuchbery; treasurer, Roy Cheater; men’s captain, Chris Greenwood; ladies’ captain, Ruth Angelinetta; membership secretary, Suzie Stockwell; committee, Ean Tucker, Ian Tabrett, Kevin Thorpe, Mike Osmant.

The next social event, open to members and visitors, is a morning of tennis, mulled cider and mince pies on Boxing Day.