IC SA Newsletter December 2018 MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN have regular communication and meetings for our members. It is hoped It has been an exciting first nine months that during 2019 and further down the in the chair and a sharp learning curve, line, our Newsletter will be sent out at especially trying to fill the very big least three times during the year. boots left by Leonie after her incredibly successful tenure in the chair. 2020 sees us celebrate out 70th birthday. Leonie is working on a special There was very little time to work event to not only mark that occasion slowly through the gears and treat but to honour our tennis Legends. More every turn as a gentle curve but more details will follow in Newsletters, but it like a sprint to overdrive and is anticipated that there will be possibly negotiating some bumps along the way. three major functions held during 2020. June and I attended the Annual General I thank my committee for their meeting in London during Wimbledon dedicated work during the year and and we came away with invites for also to our Honorary President, Lorna tours to the Czech Republic and Krog for the work she tirelessly does for Hungary for 2019 and Austria with the the club in the Western Cape. Also to chance of a Four Nations event there in Leonie for her continued sterling work 2021. I felt that to combine more than in driving of the Development Project at one country at a time gave our Kenton on Sea. members greater value for money especially seeing where the Rand is It remains for me to wish all our against other currencies. There has members and their families a Blessed been strong interest in next year’s tour and peaceful Christmas and a which is very pleasing to see that this is prosperous and tennis filled 2019. the sort of activity our members like. Mike Dunk Turning to local functions, and I would like to see one local IC event in each province annually to bring members together on a regular basis. This may be in the form of a social tennis day; a dinner; golf day or just a cocktail party held during a Veterans tournament in that province, but we must endeavor to “Hands across the net, friendship across the ocean” 1 IC SA Newsletter December 2018 from these countries that had already DATES TO REMEMBER FOR 2019. played junior Davis or Fed cup. Some the boys were “giants” and added to the 1. The Annual General meeting of the different court surface (similar to clay) our club will be held during the SA team knew they were out of their comfort Veterans Nationals in Bloemfontein zone. We only managed to win one match on Saturday 2 March followed by a but the exposure that the team had to the dinner. culture of Japan was a hugely beneficial exposure. Not only did they have to wear 2. The IC week will take place in Le kimonos at times but attended a formal Tourquet, France in September. This dinner with the Princess of Japan in will be for the Windmill Trophy and attendance; learnt to write in calligraphy; the Mercelis Cup. Details have been went to a tea drinking ceremony and had the sent out to all members. Entries opportunity to take part in a clinic for must be in by 31 January 2019. children with disabilities. 3. We have a tour to Czech Republic to The exposure to a different culture was a take part in the Four Nations event valuable lesson to them all. followed by a match against They also attended two sessions of the ATP Hungary in June. There are still 500 series event and then three of them places available should any went on to take part in the junior members wish to visit these tournament ranked the equivalent of a countries. Grand Slam level event where the two boys both won a round in singles and the doubles. 4. The Potter Cup for members 45+ for men and 40+ for ladies will be held Two of the players, Robbie Arends and in Barcelona from 30 May to 2 June. Ntokozo Zungu wrote about their Event limited to 8 countries only. experiences of the tour. JUNIORS REPRESENT AFRICA IN TOKYO. Robbie said “I was very fortunate to be selected for the IC SA team to compete in Having won the African qualifying event last the IC world finals in Japan. August the South African under 16 team headed for Tokyo to take part in the It was an amazing that we got to the Compass World Wide Junior challenge. The opportunity to watch the ATP Rakuten 500 team was Joubert Klopper, Robbie open. It was the first ATP event I’ve been to Arendse, Linge Steenkamp and Ntokozo and it was such an amazing experience to Zungu. Terrey Schweitzer accompanied the watch the professionals play. The whole team as coach/manageress. event was just so well organized, the cultural events were amazing, it was a Representatives from the other five really good level of tennis and it was so nice continents were Uruguay, United Sates of to meet new people and make new friends. America, Italy, India and Japan as hosts. The It was also really nice that you could have quality of tennis we would come up against was emphasized by the number of juniors “Hands across the net, friendship across the ocean” 2 IC SA Newsletter December 2018 your team and coach on the court with you experiences also allowed us to get out of to give you motivation and tactics. the competition atmosphere and get into the field of learning more. We got to meet one of the Japanese Princesses, visit the temple, wear a Thank you again for this amazing Japanese kimono, experience a tea opportunity and if I were to do it again, I’d do ceremony and had the chance to do it over and over again! And yes, I did get into Japanese calligraphy. One of my favorite the IC spirit of hands across the net, friends things was when we got to help the children across the ocean.” with disabilities play tennis and try different ball skills. Linge Steenkamp was awarded the Sportsmanship award for girls at the end of It was just such an unforgettable tour and the challenge and they were all excellent such an amazing experience, thank you to ambassadors for both the IC movement and everyone who made it possible.” South African. Ntokozo Zungu wrote; Team at airport before leaving) from L to R) Robbie Arendse, Joubert Klopper, Terrey “I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the Schweitzer (coach/manageress), Linge Steenkamp and Ntokozo Zungu. International Club of South Africa for the opportunity given to me to be part of the International Club Junior Challenge in Japan and to represent my country. It was an honour and privilege to be part of the South African team and to have an inspiring and supportive team manager, Terrey Schweitzer. I’d like to thank the IC committee for the tremendous hard work they have put into making this tournament a success. Team at the official dinner in Tokyo. I’ve learnt that tennis is a universal language, it unites people from different cultures and backgrounds. I enjoyed the cultural experience because it enabled me to get a better understanding of Japan from wearing the kimono to having a tea ceremony and calligraphy session. The charity event with the children with disabilities overwhelmed me with joy to see the children smiling while we had the clinic with them and to know that I am the reason I put a smile on someone’s face. I could not have asked for more. The cultural “Hands across the net, friendship across the ocean” 3 IC SA Newsletter December 2018 The girls learning the art of calligraphy in Robbie Arendse in action Tokyo. Robbie Arendse helping at the clinic for handicapped children Let play begin in the girls’ doubles Joubert Klopper in action Hands across the net as the boys win their doubles against Japan. “Hands across the net, friendship across the ocean” 4 IC SA Newsletter December 2018 All dressed up in the kimono for a function in Learning to eat with chopsticks! But some Tokyo. "cheated" and were using a fork! ===================================== ===================================== Social day - 24th September CT and PE Players. On extreme RHS is Braai Master Dassie Biggs. 2018 PE and Friends set the courts alight!! The Rugby Test in Port Elizabeth provided the perfect opportunity to finish off a successful weekend with a very social morning’s tennis at Westview Tennis Club! Together with Brian Pincus and his friends from Cape Town, some hard-fought sets took place and apparently there WAS a “winning team” but no one can remember which it was…… Everyone enjoying the day! Not content with organising only tennis, Mike and Pri Bladen went the extra mile and the morning was finished off by a delicious sirloin braai. During lunch, the 2 newest members of the IC were presented with their IC ties. You guys are such a welcome addition to our membership. Apparently, there are talks about a re-match in Cape Town next year … let’s watch this space. “Hands across the net, friendship across the ocean” 5 IC SA Newsletter December 2018 Some light refreshments for the teams Newest members Mike Bladen and Tony van Zyl show off their ties. ===================================== ============================= It’s off to Cradock we go!! our delight! But what was gained in life experience can Our Junior Tennis Programme now be put into practice – in Kenton-on-Sea reached a protocols, courtesies, rules, milestone when 4 girls training the mind to focus for participated in their first an entire match and so much official tournament in the more.