Dust off your racket for Play Tennis Day (From Penarth Times)

Dust off your racket for Play Tennis Day

TO mark this start of the summer season this weekend, Windsor LTC is holding a tennis extravaganza to give players of all ages and abilities the chance to pick up their racket.

Saturday morning starts with Play Tennis Day 2006, part of the LTA's drive to give more people the opportunity to try tennis for free (see www.playtennis.org.uk for more information).

All juniors and their families and anyone who would like to try tennis are invited to the club for coaching, fun and games and prizes.

The on-court activities will start at 10am for all ages and will be run by club coach Imed Hamrouni and his teaching assistants. After the tennis, hot dogs and refreshments will be on sale in the clubhouse at noon. All current club members are encouraged to come along and bring their friends.

The main afternoon event will be a social American doubles tournament for all adult members, older juniors and non-members who have played before but may have to dust a few cobwebs from their racket.

The tennis will begin at 2pm, and will be followed by scrumptious tea and cakes in the clubhouse.

l The season has started early for Windsor men's' first team, who opened their National Club League Season at home on the weekend.

With many senior players beginning their pre-season training, the Windsor line-up had a particularly youthful make-up with Rob Wedlake joined by Tom Sidford (17), Dan Sidaway (16) and Luke Sidaway (15).

The call-up was just rewards for Dan, following his victory in the Under-16 South Wales Champion-ships in the winter season, and his brother Luke looks to be hot on his toes.

The team were defeated 4-1 by Dinas Powys, with three of the rubbers being decided by champions' tie-breaks at one set-all. All-in-all, the boys will be happy with their opening performance.

With the Tennis Wales Summer Doubles League just around the corner, Men's Night and Ladies Night have started and the courts are already bustling with activity.

Men's Night runs on a Wednesday from 5.45pm and Ladies night runs at the same time on a Thursday.

All adult members and older juniors accustomed to adult tennis are invited to come and mix in and the team captains will be in attendance to plan their line-ups for the upcoming matches.

The Windsor Girls' U18 team were due to face Swansea on Sunday morning, but the Swansea team conceded the fixture by walkover.

The girls will be looking to re-arrange the fixture however as they look to gain match practice.

Windsor has a particularly strong squad this year, boasting the South Wales Under-18 champion and runner-up among its ranks in Bethan Pilcher and Elin Rowlands.

They are joined by promising juniors Sarah Halpin, Elin Burgess and Steph Rees, playing up an age-group from the U16 event.

Both Boys' U16 teams were in action on Sunday as well. The A Team of Dan Sidaway, Luke Sidaway and Dan Hughes travelled to Cowbridge and won 4-0 despite some testing conditions.

The B Team of Matthew Homes, Alex Brown and Rhodri Davies found it hard going against Esporta Cardiff A and lost 4-0.

There was further success for the Boys Under-12 B team as they bounced back from a midweek defeat at Abergavenny to beat Stow Park A 3-1. This was yet another impressive performance from Tom Howells, Morgan Williams and Tom Bellingham, who are playing opponents two years older then them.