Dozens of members battled it out in an unprecedented number of singles matches at the Club in June – thanks to the new Tennis Ladder. There were plenty of ups and downs and almost everyone played a match during the month.

We were delighted to see some of our newest members signing up for the Ladder and wish them luck during July. Players can challenge anyone up to three places above them but if a player moves ‘out of reach’ after a match is organised, the game can still go ahead. The result will be valid and players can move places depending on who wins.

The Ladder remains open to new players all Summer – you just need to be a Club member. So check out our special discounted membership packages. There’s something for everyone including adults, juniors, seniors and families.

Of course, you don’t have to play competitively, there are plenty of opportunities for social play and group coaching at the Club so you can meet new people and soon become a regular on our six fantastic, all-weather, artificial grass courts.

Last Sunday saw the welcome return of Sunday Social Tennis, with an encouraging turn out of old and new members on a dry, sunny afternoon.

Sunday Social has always been popular with members as it’s a great opportunity to play with different people and catch up with friends. Social distancing requirements meant we had to forego the usual mouth watering tea and cakes but we hope it won’t be too long before that fine Club tradition can be reinstated.

Bridget & Marian organised the first Sunday Social after lockdown and it was lovely to welcome new members Milla & Tom B, and Katy H-J attending her first ever Social session. Roubina, Emin & Dennis emerged from isolation and it was great to see them back on court. They joined Chris D, John F, John B, Trevor, Alan C, Julianne, Riejet and Penny.

To find out more about all the advantages of Club membership, take a look at our Membership packages. There’s something for everyone, whatever your skills and experience.

We look forward to greeting more members, new and old, at future Sunday Social sessions.

Summer at Gunnersbury Triangle Club wouldn’t be the same without the Summer Championships so we’re very pleased to add this annual competition to our calendar as we rapidly get back on track after the COVID lockdown.

Our six fabulous courts are in great condition for the multiple singles and doubles competitions. The Championships are open to all members including our Summer Special trial members and anyone who joins the Club and submits their entry before Sunday 28th June. If you’re new to the Club it’s a great way to meet other players.

The tournament will run from early July to the end of September and entry fees are just £3 per singles event and £5 per pair for each doubles event.

There are categories for everyone, whatever your skills and experience: 

Mens Singles (Holder Ian Bailes)

A knockout event with the first round losers joining less experienced players in a Plate competition.

Ladies Singles (Holder Philippa Wallbank)

A knockout event with the first round losers joining less experienced players in a Plate competition.

Mixed Doubles (Holders Philippa Wallbank & Ian Bailes)

A knockout event with the first round losers joining less experienced players in a Plate competition.

Mens Doubles (Holders Ian Bailes & Graham Ford)

Ladies Doubles (Holders Jane Cooper & Philippa Wallbank)

Invitation Doubles (4th team players & below)

These 3 doubles competitions will be round robin unless we have 12 or more entries in which case the event will become a knockout.  In the round robin events the top team in each box will be the winner.  If there are 2 boxes in an event then the top team in each box will play a final.

Let Battle Begin!
We have almost 50 members signed up to the new Singles Tennis Ladder and offer a big welcome to Ana, Gillie, Jonny and Jamie who signed up this week. Players can play other players upto three places above and must play their first match before July 1st (and mark an Asterix next to your name on the ladder) to avoid sliding to the bottom of their group.

The Ladder is in the clubhouse and new players are welcome all summer . Email Jack at – [email protected] for more information and to sign up.

Our Summer Special Offer is now closed but you can still join at a discounted rate for this year. Go here for details

One of life’s simple pleasures for me and most tennis players must be the act of cracking open a new tube of tennis balls. The sharp fizz of the pressure being released promises a match of good bounces and responsive performance.

Unfortunately that fizz also starts the clock running on what will be a pretty rapid decline in performance, as the pressure begins to seep out of the balls. If you are a regular player you might get a few more sessions out of them, but all too often they languish in your bag until it’s time to give them to the dog or put them in the practice bucket!

Globally we get through approximately 325 million tennis balls a year enough to make a decent ball pit in Centre Court!

So what if I told you that for not much more money than your current choice of ball you could buy a ball that according to the manufacturer plays for up to 4 times longer and at the same time does a little to help save the planet. All you have to do is give up the fizz!

I stumbled across the Wilson Triniti ball a few months ago and bought 24 from here. Wilson have made a completely new ball that does not need to be pressurised to work which means that gone is the pressure packaging and in comes a fully recyclable cardboard octagonal tube.

Ah I hear you say I’ve tried pressure-less balls before they were way too bouncy, hard, dead or all of above. Well contrary to any bad experiences you may have had with previous pressure-less balls the Triniti ball plays really nicely with good touch and spin.

Wilson have also produced a new felt which lasts well and does not turn into a fuzzy mess at the first sign of rain. In fact most of the sets I played with the ball were wet or very wet and not only did they not fuzz up they also seemed to pick up a lot less water than any other ball I’ve played with. Which means of course that they maintained their bounce even in extreme conditions.

I have been playing with them in as many matches as I can persuade my opponents to try them. Everyone who played with them had good things to say with most liking the consistent bounce-ability.

So the big question is how long do they last?

Sadly I don’t know, all I can tell you it’s at least 34 sets, as that’s how many my first set of balls have completed, come rain or shine, over the last 2 months! I put a dot on one of balls for every set the balls played. Never for one moment did I imagine I would run out of space!

So mission accomplished they play well, last well and don’t hurt the planet, just like it says on the tin, sorry I mean cardboard!