WINTER ACTIVITIES

We have reached the end of year 2016 : not only are all courts functioning, but we are enjoying bright sun, and a beautiful, cloudless sky.  Time to forget recent cold mornings with several clay courts out of action because of freezing - even then our two indoor clay courts were still available for play. Illustrating clearly this kind of weather is this photo of the shadow of one of the numerous high ash trees showing up on the roof of one of the covered courts.

shadow of ash tree on roof of covered court

Recent loyal Club members after a hard-fought doubles match on number two court, submitted to a photo recording the event.

Observant readers will have noticed the lack of a fourth player - the son Xavier recently back from his work near the North pole............here he is ........

Incidentally, Xavier's absence from tennis for months at a time, did not prevent at least one of his smashes ending up in the car park !

Some time ago I watched a lively match on one of the hard courts - they too were so proud of their game, they immediately asked for a photo. Here it is and I will close this blog with these four happy faces.

A Happy New Year 2017 to all the Vignal!

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

Important new developments continue to show the Club as a centre of sporting activity. First teams performed particularly well during the year,  the young ladies dominating regional contests and the men rising to grade 3 at National level.  The high level of ability in this region of France was certainly evident during our Vignal Tournament in July; about 800 players of all ages competed in the various categories, with younger players well represented.  The Men's Open was won by Jonathan Eysseric with Thomas Unia (from Cagnes) giving him a tough fight in the Final.

Play on several Sundays has been enlivened by miniature tournaments between youth of the surrounding départements. Organised by Didier Eysseric, these have been successful in bringing new parents into the Club, and in showing us the remarkably high level of tennis of youth in the area. Here is a photo showing a typically keen Sunday group.........

Coming back to developments in the Club, the Swimming Pool appears more in evidence, and gradually in more use.  Here is a view through an attractive row of Nerium oleander ........

The two new wooden buildings are the first to attract questions from members and newcomers. They are attractive, and of course, intriguing as to what are their functions. Looking from centre court,  they fit well into the surroundings, as well-conceived by the architect.......

And in actuality..............

The bigger one contains a Sauna (for 4 people), an imposing Musculation machine, and two Pedal exercisers (one elliptical, the other with variable seating) ........... The smaller building to accommodate Academy members when studying.

This should give some idea of how the Club is developing - use of the two new Padel courts next to the carpark has not yet attracted sufficient interest.  Something to look forward to..........

In the mean time, keep fit, enjoy your restaurant and your healthy, friendly society!

HOISTING OF THE FLAGS

The title implies important news; not only that our proud international status can be seen from afar, but a series of essential preparatory procedures have been effected with success. Here are the flags:

Now for some of the earlier works; an enormous crane was needed to fix the lighting supports for the illumination of courts 2 and 3. Our intrepid workers, Hervé and Fred look at it with amazement........

Moved around the Club Parking space it slowly exhibited something of its capacities.......

Very sturdy concrete bases were ready to receive each of the four new lighting supports, coming in apparently by air! (Four original supported lighting systems can be seen in the background used to illuminate the hard courts.) The eventual claycourt lighting is shown below............

                                                                                                                              photo by Kaffo

So what was needed next?

Remember that irregular parking surface for your precious vehicles, that you've been putting up with all these years? (and without complaining too much........)  Well, see the difference now! and here's the conversion in progress..........

As for the increased Tournament activities, many of you answered the entreaties of our charming Secretary, Nancy to come and support our girls LadiesI team in today's Regional Semi-Final against Menton. We saw passionate play with the doubles match won 6/1 6/0 by Mirabelle and Miranda being particularly spectacular. Our congratulations then to these players and their trainers; we watch your progress with great interest.

Here they are exchanging quiet words just before and after the match...........

Hoping for a similarly exciting and brilliant match next Sunday!  Our team having won this encounter, is ready for another such performance in the Regional Final in 7 days time.

Greetings to all Members, Players, Visitors that are making the Vignal a much more active place for all ages and levels of play and for a friendly meeting place for all nationalities!  

Congratulations to the Owners and President-Managers who are making all this possible!

PATHWAY PRECAUTIONS

Enjoying so many beautiful sunny days we tend to forget that the year 2014 was a record year for rain (1 238 mm in Cannes)  and that in October of year 2015, we lost two cars and two peacocks from drenching rain during one day alone!  It's hardly surprising then that work in the Club grounds has been concentrated on ditches to avoid flooding of the covered courts and the construction of cemented pathways to allow players to walk from Club House to tennis courts without getting their feet wet.  All this was arduous, time-consuming labour............

 During all this time playing on the courts continued with very little restriction - it is reassuring to note how fully our facilities are used during daytime: also, after a day of rain, late in the evening under the 'bubbles' protection.

Visitors continue to arrive: in the Christmas period we were glad to welcome two old friends Veteran Captains of Ireland and Sweden teams: Neagle Cathcart and Mikael Kirs :

Allow me at this point to introduce a sad note at this point concerning the passing of a long-time member of our Club by a crushing illness after a lifetime of sport and artistic activity.  Michel Slatkine was known to many for his cheerfulness,  good humour and sportsmanship. To record this loss, a small gathering of friends took place in the restaurant. Here are photos of Michel in happier times, and of the meeting of friends in remembrance of him.

Now most players are familiar with our veteran worker, Fred and know that it is thanks to him that the courts are kept in such fine condition - few however know who can act when Fred is on holiday. The following photo gives away this secret:

Another sturdy Club character was caught bringing in extra decorations in the form of one of his wife's  recent works of art:

                                                                                   Well done,  Nicole and Gilles.

   

Younger members  that are training hard day by day form part of the thriving Tennis Academy: the girls,  enthusiastically led by Nathalie Ballet are on court morning and afternoon for physical exercises, tennis traing and matches.  Two of them, Mirabelle Njoze and Nelise Verster leave tomorrow for a tournament in Hammamet in Tunisia - you can follow their progress in detail on internet. Here's another one of the group, Chelsea Samways in action here recently.

Back to the courts now - to practise if you're lucky enough to have reserved one;  otherwise to watch one of the high-level matches.  The first Club Tournament of the year is well and truly in progress.