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Harrow Lawn Tennis Club

Almost certainly founded in 1880, three years after the first championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, our club has today three hundred members, many of whom are social members and many more of whom are regular players. To satisfy our players needs, we enter teams into the Middlesex League every year and have done so since 1970. Then, we entered only two teams; now we enter ten.

Although we have other teams as well in floodlit, ladies' and mixed leagues, we consider ourselves more than just a tennis club. We enjoy ourselves off- as well as on-court and make our social diary as active as we can. We have open days and barbecues, and quiz evenings and Pimm's parties, and more besides.

Browse this site to learn more or, better still, come along for a game. We reside in the beautiful grounds of Harrow School. You can reach us via Garlands Lane, Harrow-on-the-Hill. (See map.) Before play commences
Finals Day '07

Harrow School has redeveloped its sports facilities. The School leases its courts and a small pavilion to us. And in September 2004, we celebrated the inauguration of twelve acrylic courts with an exhibition match by Club coaches. The moustachioed gentlemen players with their wooden rackets, the ball girls and the umpire all wore traditional Victorian dress to echo our early years. Six of the courts are performance-standard porous.

Wendy Driver
Harrow LTC President

Juniors

We aim to develop players in the long-term and encourage all our juniors to take professional instruction. Like the Lawn Tennis Association we maintain that correct technique and sound understanding of the game require competent coaching. With this in mind, we are pleased that on Saturday mornings Elaina Forland (tel. 07789 961142) is coaching our juniors. (See Saturday morning coaching times.) Read more.

Coaching

We welcome members and non-members alike to adult beginner/improver coaching with Elaina Forland (tel. 077899 61142). You will learn techniques and tactics in fun-packed sessions that include drills and competitive yet friendly matches. Read more.

Pete Rutland, a respected coach and county player, coaches our teams and runs a group-coaching session for adults (Saturdays 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.). Pete also offers personal tuition (tel. 07940 888909). Read more.

Middlesex League (2012)

We have five ladies' and five glentlemen's teams in the Slazenger Middlesex North-West League. Fixtures and results are available on-line.

Saturday July 14, 2012 is Finals Day

The summer tournament is a knockout competition with every finalist playing for the honour of being a champion. Events include ladies' and gentlemen's singles, ladies' and gentlemen's doubles and mixed doubles. Entry is free. The draws, courtesy of Alex Ngui, are made available on Google Docs (competitors require a username and password to sign in). The results are available to members only.

Players are seeded by Tournament Committee officials Referee Pete Rutland, Assistant Referee Anne White and Tournament Coordinator Wendy Driver. Players will be given a two-week period at least in which to complete each round. First-round matches will commence in late April or early May. Members wishing to enter the doubles events must make every effort to find their own partners. The Committee intends to run a plate event for first-round losers in all categories.

Spectators, who are encouraged to give their full support to the players, usually bring picnics, but drinks can be bought from a cash bar. A barbeque and a presentation of the trophies to the winners will follow the matches.

Ladies' tennis captain steps down

Harrow Lawn Tennis Club Ladies Captain Vivien Mrowiec has stepped down after five years at the helm.

Mrowiec has passed the leadership on to Philippa Davies.

Mrowiec, who took over the position in 2006, will not be able to complete all the rounds in next year's summer season due to work commitments.

www.harrowtimes.co.uk, Wed October 12, 2011

Harrow LTC appoints new coach Slawomir Szeremeta (June 2011)

We have been fortunate enough to discover a talented young man who is available to coach us on midweek mornings (from June 14, 2011) and evenings. His name is Slawomir Szeremeta. His tennis achievements are exceptional: champion of Poland Under 12s, he has represented Poland in Europe and the United States and has competed in ATP Tournaments.

Slawomir (or Slava) has taken on midweek group sessions and individual coaching to help us meet the increasing demand faced by our other coaches, Peter Rutland and Elaina Forland. Slava also coaches at Headstone Tennis Club and Harrow School and offers personal tuition (tel. 07910 972381).

Harrow LTC has held its annual junior tournament

In the Under-18's there were six players in a round robin format playing best of three championship tie break sets. It was a very close call with three players finishing on four wins and one loss. A tie break was played between them all with Barney Close eventually winning and Christina Pucas runner up.

Coach Pete Rutland said: "Due to the rain we played one championship tie break set for the final. Barney went 3-0 down and then played great tennis to come back and win."

In the U-8's section there were six entrants which was played as a round robin format. Adam Amrami was the winner of the red ball competition with Desmond Tighe second. Amrami was 9-4 down but reeled off seven points in a row to claim the win.

In the orange section (U-9's) Harrow had three players with Amil Dodds finishing first ahead of Ronit Ghandi.

The Lack Cup was established in 2001 by Alastair Lack (a former president of the club). This year there were four entries playing a round robin format in the best of three championship tie breaks. Kashmin Popat prevailed ahead of Samuel Marchant.

www.harrowtimes.co.uk, Mon June 20, 2011

The Club has received best-practice accreditation from the LTA on March 3, 2011

Accreditation, called Tennis Clubmark, guarantees that Harrow LTC adheres to best-practice policies, safeguards all its members and delivers a comprehensive tennis programme for all ages and abilities.

Tennis Clubmark is the LTA's version of Clubmark based on the national guidelines for best practice. Clubmark was introduced by Sport England in 2002 and is currently being implemented across thirty-four sports.

An Olympic triple jumper has joined Harrow Lawn Tennis Club

Yamile Aldama, who has competed in the Atlanta, Sydney, Athens and Beijing games has started going to the adult beginners' class that Elaina Forland coaches.

Aldama, who hopes to compete in London next year, said: "I wanted to stay fit, be outdoors and learn a new sport. I'd always loved watching tennis, but had never played. I'm really enjoying it and I'm keen to improve."

Forland said: "She's very fast around the court, has excellent hand-eye coordination and powerful shots."

Simon Mail
www.harrowtimes.co.uk, Tues February 8, 2011

Harrow Tennis Club tops the midweek league

Harrow Lawn Tennis Club's Ladies team topped the Esporta Northwood Charity Autumn Ladies Mid-Week league this month winning the trophy in League 3. This means they will be promoted in next year's tournament. Meanwhile, intra-club tournaments are in full swing with teams, doubles and singles being played out on all the courts.

The club has also entered one men's, three mixed and two ladies teams in the Kenton Winter Floodlit League, and there are teams in the Middlesex Cup, the Vets League, Middlesex Floodlit League and Northwood Floodlit League. Club President Wendy Driver said: "The winter tournaments are an excellent way to keep players on form with match practice and to try out new combinations in preparation for the next summer season."

The Juniors are also busy with coaching, practice and play. Each weekend the club dedicates courts to the junior players. Elaina Forland runs weekly group sessions as well as camps and individual coaching. She has coached from a beginner the current Junior County Champion Aimee Shaw. Forland said: "There are some very promising players in the squad at the moment. Learning to play can give kids not just coordination but confidence as well. It is lovely to see them blossom over the weeks."

Apart from looking after the younger players, Forland runs a beginner's session for adults each Saturday. Non-members are welcome to join these sessions as well as new members. More advanced players can join the adult group coaching at 10 a.m. each Saturday with Peter Rutland.

Simon Mail
www.harrowtimes.co.uk, Tues November 16, 2010

Harrow LTC versus Harrow School (Sat Jun 19, 2010)

The Club played Harrow School again after the success of last year's event (June 6), when the School organised the match and everyone had a good time.

The tennis was again excellent; Harrow LTC versus Harrow School is now a permanent calendar fixture.

TC Blau-Weiß Kassel e.V. at Harrow, 2009

See Ralph Watson's photographs of TC Blau-Weiß's visit to Harrow. They TC Blau-Weiß and Harrow LTC
TC Blau-Weiß and Harrow LTC, '09 include photos of the drinks party in the Old Speech Room Gallery; the Challenge Cup match; the guided walk through central London and along the South Bank; the dinner at Pinner Hill Golf Club, where the guests treated their host families to an excellent dinner, and the final-night party at Quainton School.

Harrow end the long wait for Cup triumph

Harrow Lawn Tennis Club gentlemen's team has won the prestigious Middlesex Cup for the first time in over thirty years.

After winning through four rounds in this fiercely fought knockout competition, Harrow triumphed Colin Stone, James Kavanagh, Alex Bolotov, Yura Bolotov & Mark Wass
Colin Stone, James Kavanagh, Alex Bolotov, Yura Bolotov & Mark Wass by beating favourites Hatch End in a thrilling final, winning by five rubbers to four.

The win was particularly sweet as Harrow gentlemen's first team play in Division Three of the Slazenger Middlesex League; Hatch End's first team play in Division One.

Harrow had already caused a shock in the semi-finals by beating Harrow Weald, who play in Division Two.

The triumphant Harrow team was Colin Stone, James Kavanagh, Alex Bolotov, Yura Bolotov, Mark Wass, Stephen Bloom and Mathew Everatt.

Georgie Housley
Harrow Observer, Thurs July 26, 2007

The Beckwith Courts

In 2002 a multi-million-pound redevelopment of the Harrow School playing fields began on both sides of the Hill.

By 2005 much of the work was done. A Tartan® athletics track had replaced the School's cinder oval and a showcase rugby/soccer pitch called Sunley Field had been laid at the centre of the new track. The School drill square and five tennis courts used to be where Sunley Field now is, but by 2005 the square had moved to the foot of Garlands Lane, and the courts moved also. Twelve new acrylic courts had replaced the School's old all-weather ones and the new courts named the Beckwith Courts after brothers Peter Beckwith OBE (Elmfield 1958) and Sir John Beckwith CBE (Druries 1960), who jointly funded them.

Calendar

Our committee organises many tournaments and social events.

The Club Calendar is kindly maintained by Club Secretary Enid Silverstone.

  • Sun 2 Sep 2012 Social Tennis 2.30 p.m. start & Captains Tea 4.30 p.m.
  • Sun 23 Sep 2012 President's Pimm's 12.00 p.m. - 2.00 p.m.
  • Sun 9 Dec 2012 Chrismas Drinks 6.30 p.m. - 8.30 p.m.
  • Sat 26 Jan 2013 Annual Supper Quiz

A social tennis tournament is held on the last Sunday of every month (except Aug and Dec) from 10 a.m. prompt till noon. The entry fee is £1.

Committee

Committee members are elected at Harrow LTC's AGM. Except for the President, whose term is five years, all hold office for three years.

In September of 2009, the Club Committee appointed Wendy Driver to the position of President. Ratification was by unanimous vote. The outgoing president was Roger Frais, who gave to the Club ten years of outstanding service.

Also to resign office in 2009 was Patti Axten. Patti had been Honorary Secretary for several terms of office. We thank Patti for her hard work and for her grace and charm. Our new secretary is Enid Silverstone.

Membership

To join the club, come along to the courts on a weekend morning, when you can play a game or two and talk to a member of our committee. Membership forms are available to download below. Club fees, payment methods and address to send applications are on the forms.

Download a membership form (MS Word).

Playing Times

During term, members share the courts with the Harrow schoolboys and may play in the mornings and evenings. The School reserves the courts in the late afternoons.

Harrow School Term-time Playing Times
 a.m.tillp.m.from
British Summer Time (BST) starts on the last Sunday in March and ends on the last Sunday in October at 1 a.m. Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). In 2013 BST begins Mar 31 and ends Oct 27, and in 2014 BST begins Mar 30 and ends Oct 26.
Monday (BST)16:0018:30
Monday (GMT)14:0016:30
Tuesday14.0018:30
Wednesday (BST)16:0018:30
Wednesday (GMT)14:0016:30
Thursday14.0018:30
Friday (BST)16:0018:30
Friday (GMT)14:0016:30
Saturday14:0018:30
Sunday14:0017:00

Check Harrow School term dates (half terms and exeats incl.).

Download Playing Times (MS Word) for a comprehensive listing of term time and holiday playing times:

Singles Box (Sep–Mar every year)

The tournament director and administrator is Ritu Popat. Visit Google Docs for the rules and the standings.

Doubles Ladder (Jan–Mar every year)

Matches are two tiebreak sets and when necessary a third-set championship decider. Play is restricted to evenings and weekends (9 a.m. - 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. - 2 p.m.) unless courts are empty.

Visit Google Docs, download an application form (MS Word), and register with Carole Bellringer at any time:

Winter Intra-club Tournament

The Winter Tournament has priority on weekends on Nos. 1, 2 and 3 Courts. See John Walker, the tournament director, for details. Visit Google Docs for the rules, a schedule and details of the teams.

History

A history of the club is available for download (Portable Document Format). If you have anything to add, we would love to hear from you:

TC Blau-Weiß Kassel e.V.

Harrow LTC has a special bond with TC Blau-Weiß Kassel e.V.. Our two clubs enjoy each other's competition and friendship. We alternate visits. In '09 TC Blau-Weiß visited us (Thurs 16 July - Sun 19 July); in '11 we visited them (Fri 29 Jul - Mon 1 Aug). In 2013 TC Blau-Weiß will again visit us from Fri 19 July to Mon 22 July.

Press Releases

Vicky de Lacy has kindly supplied the press with several releases (Portable Document Format):

Members' Login

Members will require a username ("hltc.anon") and password (see a committee member) to access the Members' Login if and when the area is used again. All documents, including the HLTC Constitution, have been removed. Hard copies can instead be found in the Boyer Web Pavilion.

Photograph Albums

To date, eleven photograph albums have been made available in an online gallery. The Open Day of July 22, 2012 (photos, C. Bellringer) is the latest addition.

Stringing

Alex Bolotov (tel. 07584 080733) does much of the Club's stringing. Selection of strings. Precise tension. Convenient location. Fast service.

Clothing

Harrow LTC-branded clothing is in stock. Sharp dressers should see Corinne Cooke for tennis clothing bearing our proud logo.