FESTIVE SEASON

Over the last few weeks, I've been attempting to get to know the promising youth of the Club.  This is proving to be no easy job:  not counting the babes already wielding racquets & trooping joyfully in Wednesdays & Saturdays, the number of boys & girls from age 9 upwards hitting the ball with confidence & accuracy is impressive! Parents & older members watch these children training & already competing in matches against other clubs of the region, with justified astonishment. Apart from the satisfaction provided for parents & for all those concerned, this tennis proficiency of our young people is tremendous news for the Club as a whole! Let me start the photos with a service of Louis Gioanni & an enthusiastic attacking advance by Hugo Luna:  you can make a good guess at their ages from their sizes; but hardly from their confidence & proficiency........

All you other young players looking at these photos, don't worry, you'll all be photographed - just give me time.......

Let me jump up the age categories now to players of 'academy' level. Here are photos of Damon Roberts, 16 years old, practising serving. He is of Australian parentage, has played also for Hungary & is already classed 1/6 : 

      

In the adult categories, the results of team matches have recently been quite amazing;  on two consecutive Sundays, all visiting teams were defeated, each of those teams winning no individual match! Here is a photo of Luc Robert & partner Richard Garcia winning their doubles team match:

A special word of congratulation must be reserved for Didier Eysseric for his excellent wins in singles matches:  in 7 matches he lost only 11 games. Bravo, & a tennis with service-volleying technique, a pleasure to watch. Here he is, in position for the inevitable volley:

It seems, then that our Vignal Club has been en fête this year: this week this has continued by various group events in the restaurant, culminating with today's repas de Noël.  First Virginie's elegantly set tables:

Then Gilles Bélanger apparently dreaming about the recent success of his wife, Nicole's paintings in her Paris exhibition.

Sue Filer, who wanted to be seen in my blog at long last........

Philippe James, who caught my eye, & may have wanted to make the other ladies envious.........

Charles Bond & Peter Koch who seemed to be discussing the merits of various beverages.....

I hope this post gives some idea of the friendly & convivial nature of the Vignal Tennis Club to new readers, & more details of our success in coaching & in competition to all of you. In a subsequent post, I will attempt to pay tribute to the teachers who are doing so much to help players & members achieve excellence in our great game.

Bonnes fêtes, et surtout bon tennis.