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Cove tennis club still in full swing

The Deep Cove Tennis Club celebrated its 20th anniversary during an awards dinner at Seymour Golf & Country Club in October. The club was founded in 1997 to provide a framework for adult-orientated community tennis in the Deep Cove area.

The Deep Cove Tennis Club celebrated its 20th anniversary during an awards dinner at Seymour Golf & Country Club in October.

The club was founded in 1997 to provide a framework for adult-orientated community tennis in the Deep Cove area.

The inaugural meeting on March 11, 1997 at The Raven Neighbourhood Pub attracted 17 interested people in addition to the organizers, Bruce Coney of the Crier, Helmut Schuster from the Cove Butcher Shop and local resident, Cecilia McLaren.

Bruce arranged with the North Van rec commission for the tennis club to use the courts at Little Cates Park twice a week from April to the end of October, a new venture for them.

Modest fees were charged to cover the cost of balls and insurance and the club was run by volunteers headed by its first committee with Bruce Coney, Zain Lalani, Helmut Schuster, Art Tinker and new president Cecilia McLaren.

Anyone over the age of 16 was welcome to join and by the end of the first season there were 27 members. Bryan McLaren designed a club logo and sweatshirts were ordered for founding members. Today a variety of shirts, sweaters and hats are available for purchase each year.

In 2007, play was moved to Myrtle Park as it was less busy and it continues to be held there today.

Current times of play are Tuesdays from 5 p.m. to dusk and Saturday mornings from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on courts one and two. Courts three and four can also be used if other members of the public are not using them.

Play continues to be organized by volunteers who ensure everyone has fun and newcomers are welcomed warmly. On the first Tuesday of the month players and family members gather at Northlands following play for a social night. 

In-house tournaments include a fun mixed doubles day in June and ladies’ and men’s separate doubles days in September.

Players vie for the coveted round robin, mixed doubles Deep Cove Crier Trophy over the summer.

Trophies for most sportsmanlike and most improved player are awarded at the annual wrap-up dinner in October, along with other hardware.

An annual general meeting and barbecue takes place on the first Sunday in June at a member’s home. There have been four presidents in the Deep Cove Tennis Club’s history: Cecilia McLaren, Zain Lalani, Brent Wisheart and the current president Judi Sommer.

Membership fluctuates between 35 and 40 players and currently stands at 39, including five of the original 27 founding members.

Bruce moved away about 10 years ago but is happy to know we are still going strong.

The club can be found on Facebook and interested players can show up at the Myrtle Park courts at the scheduled times above to check out the club in action. ■