May 2015 President Des Shaw [email protected] IC / Tennis NZ Davis Cup Function Christchurch Hon Treasurer Paul Thomson [email protected] Report on AGM & Dinner Hon Sec. Pam Sowter [email protected] IC of France Invitation to Cocktail Function Editor Cecilie McIntyre [email protected] Subs Reminder News of Members Link to IC Council website www.ictennis.net Older Players Drop Shots Function in Christchurch for all ICNZ Members. It has been agreed with Tennis NZ that there will be a combined ICNZ / Tennis NZ function to be held at the forthcoming Davis Cup Tie against India being played in Christchurch on the 17th – 19th July. Tennis New Zealand has indicated it would work in well with Tennis NZ Board members coming to the tie plus invited guests from both groups, and representatives from the Indian Association. It has been decided that a light luncheon on Saturday 18th July prior to the doubles match would be the best time for the function. Jim Martin will be co-ordinating this and all IC Members from Christchurch and around the country will be invited free of charge with any partners paying a nominal cost still to be decided. Those attending will pay their own travel and accommodation costs. As a matter of interest the All Blacks will be playing Ar- gentina in Christchurch on the Friday night . The start time for the Friday opening ceremony and 2 singles has not been confirmed yet, but this will be taken into consideration. If you are interested please take note of the dates and indicate your interest as follows to either: Des Shaw who will be attending and can be contacted on [email protected] or Phone 09 575 5390 or Jim Martin [email protected] or 021 434655 We would like an indication of numbers by 31st May, with final numbers to be confirmed by 6th July. 1 AGM ICNZ April, 2015. This year our AGM was held in the beautiful new club rooms of the Carlton Cornwall Bowling Club which is situated next to St Cuthbert's College in Epsom. We were very fortunate to be able to use these new facilities and we have had nothing but favourable com- ments from members regarding the rooms and the caterer who supplied us with a delicious dinner. We think that it will be a great place to use again in 2016. To be able to use the club rooms, we had to agree to play bowls first. This was a great success and thoroughly enjoyed by the 20 members who made the most of the opportunity to participate in a new sport. We were lucky enough to have the services of Ken and Cec McIntyre and Nick, a member of the Bowling Club, who were there to help novices learn some of the finer points of Bowls. At the AGM we made a presentation to our wonderful secre- tary, Pam Sowter, who has retired after 8 years in the job. Her place has been taken by Angela Hart who succeeded Pam as Secretary of Tennis Auckland. Pam & Paul Angela will be overseas (watching at Roland Garros & Wimbledon) Luigi, Betty , Nick and Claudine Karl and Sir Colin Maiden It was great to welcome Doug and Marion Law and Pat Guiney from Wellington and we did appreciate the effort they made in joining us for the evening. This year we had two very interesting speakers. Firstly Peter Becroft who relayed to us stories about some well known players whom he had always admired and secondly Karl Budge, the Tournament Director of Tennis Auckland. Karl told us about his achievements in the world of tennis over a long period and how he managed the recruitment of players for the two International Tournaments in January. He answered some interesting questions and we appreciated his input. The evening ended with a chance for members to catch up with one another in the usual friendly manner which has always been part of our Club. Jill Bignell was the co-ordinator of the hiring and meal arrangements . Thanks Jill and for this report. 2 More about the Davis Cup : Christchurch has been confirmed as the venue for the important New Zealand versus India Davis Cup tie in July. The Asia/Oceania Group One final has a reward for the winner of taking part in the World Group playoffs against potential opponents such as the United States, Switzerland or Germany later in the year. The tie against India will be held indoors at The Z Energy Wilding Park Tennis Centre, Christchurch 17-19 July and is the same venue where the home team beat Chinese Taipei in October Tennis NZ CEO Steve Johns believes it’s an ideal opportunity for tennis and the city of Christchurch to show- case itself. “The importance of this Davis Cup tie is huge. Over 120 countries in a 115 year old competition take part in Davis Cup and TNZ are pleased to bring this tie to Christchurch again on what is going to be a busy week- end. TNZ is keen to work in with fans who also want to attend the rugby test in the city as well. They can see two high quality sporting events in the one city in the one weekend.” Tickets for the tie will go on sale midway through next month. New Zealand’s top players have been putting in good performances since their victory over China in March with a number of Challenger doubles titles and top performances in ATP and Futures events. Artem Sitak has a ranking of 49 in the world in doubles while Michael Venus is 59 followed by Marcus Daniell at 85. In singles Rubin Statham is ranked 391 and was recently a finalist and then a winner at Futures tournaments in Australia, on each occasion beating higher ranked players to make the finals. Michael Venus is ranked 509 in singles. “It will be great to play in Christchurch again. We had a good win over Chinese Taipei in the same venue last year and the court is really great to play on with the crowd so close to the action. India are strong especially with Leander Paes who is a tennis legend, but all of the Kiwi team have been playing well and taking part in ATP events with success. It’s going to be a great contest against them,” says Sitak whose thoughts are echoed by New Zealand team captain Alistair Hunt. “This tie is huge for New Zealand and India. Fighting for World Group playoffs is something big for the Kiwi guys who are all playing well and perhaps it’s not rec- Marcus & Artem on ognised by the New Zealand public just how much breakfast TV prior to they have improved over the past couple of years and the Tie against China. have really made an impact on the world scene. All the team members and Captain Alistair Hunt are ICNZ Members. So …… IC Members around the country …. Why not make an effort to head to Christchurch to support the NZ team, and also catch up with other IC Members at the lunch mentioned on Page 1. It is a while since we had an IC get together in the South Island. 3 Dear friends, Behalf of the IC of France, I am pleased to invite all your If any members are planning to be watching at IC members to our IC Cocktail at Roland-Garros on Tuesday, May Roland Garros this day please contact Cecilie 26th at 6 pm. [email protected] as soon as possible. Be kind enough to give your members the information. The offer includes a ground pass to watch tennis You will find all the details in the attached document. this day as well. Best regards Angela Hart and her husband Clive will be there Patrice BEUST and Quentin Maisey is also hoping to go. Honorary secretary IC Members need their tie or badge and will International Tennis Club de France need to confirm their attendance. Subscription notice 2015. Overseas and Touring members are not required to pay the annual subscription and members who were invited to join late last year have already paid for the 2015 season. I noticed recently that the subscription notice in 2010 was also for $50 so it has not increased, but as we pay levies to the IC Council and for the brochure membership booklet which all members received we need to have all NZ members paying .. The notice was sent out after the AGM, thanks to those who have paid already and to remind the others the notice is attached with this newsletter. NEWS OF MEMBERS Judy and Bill Tinnock recently celebrated their 60th Wedding Anniversary. Judy is one of a few NZ players who are members of the prestigious Last 8 Club at Wimbledon, an honour given to all players who have reached the quarter –finals of singles, and semi-final of doubles events. Congratulations from all your IC friends. Judy is 2nd from right in the photo in the photo taken at the 2013 morning tea during the ASB Classic. Others are Betty Kay, (Bryant) Dawn Rocca (Taylor ) Bill , Ruia Morrison-Davy, Pat Guiney (Nettleton) and Elaine Stephan (Becroft). Having younger members who are now active in the administration of various aspects of Tennis in NZ and the Pacific region is very good for our Club. From Kevin Woolcott recently, with news of several of our new younger IC Members, Lan, Marcel and Gilles. “Thanks for a great night at the dinner.