submitted by Robert Matheson
The Kemptville Community Tennis Club is gearing up for another busy season on the courts at Riverside Park. Thanks to the nice weather, local tennis enthusiasts have been able to hit the courts a bit earlier than usual.
The Municipality recently pressure washed the four courts to make them cleaner and safer for players. Some of the posts and nets were also replaced. The courts are open to the public, but members of the tennis club have dedicated courts and times during the week.
The Club’s tennis coaches, Steve Hibberd, Jim Neu- bauer, and Robert Matheson, have been running a popular children’s camp every summer for the past decade. The camps will run July 10-14 and July 24-28 this year. The camps run for an hour each day and are typically divided by age group and experience.
A few years ago, the Club also started an adult boot camp for beginners to learn the basics of the sport. It will run this year in the evenings of July 10-14. Hibberd also runs a weekly Stroke of the Week clinic for players to work on their skills. To register for camps or to get more information, contact the Club at [email protected].
Interested community members can also drop by the courts on May 27th or June 3rd to register or sign up for camps. May’s registration day will run from 10-noon. The June 3rd session will run from 9:30-1 to coincide with the start of ParticipACTION’s Community Better Challenge. Members of the Tennis Club logged their minutes on the court the past two years to help the Municipality win prizes in the national challenge.
The Club has an active group of competitive men. They play regularly on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturday mornings. The Club runs a singles ladder and is planning a team tennis league. Club members also have interclub competitions with members of the Perth Tennis Club. This year, the Club is also planning to host some Friday night social evenings for members with time on the court followed by socializing at a local establishment.
There are opportunities for women’s doubles and mixed doubles during the week as well. Dedicated court times for members are most mornings from 8-11 and evenings from 5-8 p.m. on two courts. All four courts are reserved for members on Tuesday evenings and Saturday mornings. If Club members are not using the courts during these times, they are still available for public use.
