The President's Blog - A Year in Review
The year in review from Debbie Mason-Smith
The Presidents Review of the Past Year
TENNIS:
Our Coaches (Chris, Andy and Jack) continue to provide excellent coaching at all levels and their commitment is evident in the hours they are on court in all weather conditions. There’s been an increase in Social Tennis groups with a special mention to Simon Spiers who has put together a group of more than 80 who can play on a Thursday evening. Not to forget the Riff Raff, Younger Riff Raff and the ladies groups who play regularly during the week and on Saturdays. Our new members who wish to play tennis have a short knock with Chris so that he can establish their standard and he can then direct them to the group most suitable for them.
The new surface and floodlights project is well underway. This is a big project but we are looking to get it started in 2023. A lot of effort has gone into the work needed to pursue this project and a big thank you goes to Tony Lydiate, Emma Nicol and Jack Rowland.
A Club tournament was held in August with finals a few weeks ago. This attracted members from all sections and it is great to hear tournaments are being resurrected.
Success on the courts:
Mixed 1st Team winners Wirral 1st Div (Thom Jones- Men’s League Player of the year 1st Div)
Mixed 3rd Team winners Wirral 4th Div (Steve Sutton – Mens League Player of the year 4th Div)
Mens 1st Team winners Wirral 1st Div
Lara Wedd Cheshire Junior Champion of the Year
Abi Redman – Finalist in Doubles “Road to Wimbledon”
CRICKET
We have many teams representing Juniors, Ladies (softball) and Men.
Professional coaching, provided by Brad Donelan, retains its excellent standard
Dave Collyer heads up Volunteer coaching and it takes a big commitment to turn up every week to coach the many junior age groups playing here. There are so many boys and girls at U9s that Bern Thorne set up 5 teams playing a “100 format” over a 6 wk period. This meant that all children at this age had the opportunity to play match cricket.
The section has secured a substantial sponsorship from Johnson&Johnson via Syed Rashid, one of our members who also manages the U11s team. Many thanks Syed.
Neston were selected to Host 3 ECB Finals Days because of their respect for our wickets, grounds and facilities. These were:
U15s Boys Regional Final, U13 and U15s Girls National Finals as well as one day for the ECB Disability Premier League.
The finals brought many players, families as well as ECB staff and umpires to the Club and it was a delight to hear how highly they regarded us. They also commented on the warm welcome they received.
Success on the pitch:
Rowan Shelton – our overseas player from Tasmania took over 50 wickets
Senior cricket had a great final Saturday with all teams winning
Ladies Softball runners up in Cheshire League in their 1st season
Junior cricket swept up trophies in every age group
U13 and U15s winners in Wirral League
U17 s winners Cheshire Cup
HOCKEY
Colin Leeman handed over Chairmanship of section to Justin Cowley this month. The section has a number of new coaches bringing fresh coaching ideas. The Summer league was a massive success bringing clubs from over the Wirral to keep fit whilst having fun. The section has secured a substantial sponsorship from Smylie’s for junior hockey this season. Thank you to the Smylie Family. Junior coaching has started with a bang helped by the success of NASSA.
Success on the pitch:
Mens 2s won league and promoted to the North West 1st Div
2nd and 4th mens finished runners up in their leagues
5 U18 boys represented Neston at England trials this year
Priya Kerfoot was selected for the England U16 Squad
SQUASH
Coach Andy Evans has brought new life to Neston Squash and has attracted new members from St Asaph and Wirral clubs like Heswall, the section looks much healthier.
Graeme Lea-Swain and Adam Mitchell have taken on key roles and there are now 5 sessions of coaching/week and 6 squash and racketball teams. The Monday evening racquetball coaching session with Andrew is great fun and a great session for new members to make friends.
Success on the court:
Jon Hunter captained Cheshire over 35s again
GLS selected for Cheshire over 55s
NESTON ALL SPORTS STARS ACADEMY ( NASSA )
This was a vision of Bern Thorne a few years ago when we were restricted to outdoor events during the Covid outbreak. This was so popular and we had 160 new members who wanted to get out again, run around and meet their friends they hadn’t seen for months.
We now have two groups, the Minis age 3-6 yr and 6yrs old upwards who play all individual sports.
Parents have to be involved and we’ve gained many new House as well as Full Playing members. This programme is only possible to run with the help of Club adult volunteers and also the
President’s young volunteers who can add their experience towards their DofE Award or University Personal Statement.
THURSDAY GROUP
The Thursday Group is a significantly large and important section who meet every Thursday afternoon. In the summer months they play bowls, boule, croquet whilst in the winter months there is a programme of events peppered in the calendar including coach trips to places of interest, talks and lunches. You will receive a friendly welcome, delicious homemade cakes and a cuppa.
Pam Garner Chairs this section and all information is on the website in House Sports
As well as meeting on a Thursday, a number of the group meet on Tuesday mornings at 10am to play table tennis and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee.
CLUBHOUSE:
External bookings are abundant for weddings, funerals, parties, meetings, lunches, dinners. Yet another successful marquee week went ahead. Preparation and planning start months ahead and the two weeks before it’s ‘all go’. The main staff and summer staff work long hours always on their feet and are exhausted when everything finishes. Horseradish, based at Chester Racecourse, catered the events and served exquisite cuisine to 650 people at the Sporting Luncheon and then again at the Marquee Ball. Added to that we had a fabulous band playing with the dance floor chockablock all night. Sundays Proms was a wonderful relaxed afternoon with the orchestra as accomplished as always. It’s a great end to a rather hectic week.
Ruth Jones with Neston all sports stars Mums at her book launch in the Cranston.
I want to say a big thank you to Craig Stubbs our General Manager, for the work he puts in not just during the marquee week but everything in advance he has to perfect in order to achieve this success. Also to all the Clubhouse Staff and particularly Nick Morrison who broke his foot just prior to Marquee and worked every single day with an orthopaedic boot on.
WHAT WE’VE ACHIEVED IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS
The Members Entrance and corridor had been revamped and looks great and much brighter.
The window in the Members Bar looks good too.
We have some great new staff at the club. Kat Hussey is looking after our members and all membership enquiries ( she is known by virtually all our members!) and is someone the staff turn to with a query. Courtney Roberts has joined to take over as Events Manager and comes from Kings School, Chester with a wealth of experience . Corinna gives support in the office and is quickly learning the ropes. Nick is now Operations Manager and can now let go of the Bar as we have appointed Toriah from the Red Lion as Bar Manager. There are already things in place to ensure efficiency since she has arrived. Emma Nokes is in the new role of Sports Development Officer. This Summer Emma has run a successful Hockey festival and weeks of summer sports camp plus a Club Olympics. There are more camps coming up in the Autumn.
We have responded to the change since Covid, in that people like to spend their time outside and the decking has provided a designated area to sit on our new bench seating and the new outside bar and cellar was a success this Summer The Garni catering van was also good on weekends and when we hosted the ECB.
Bern, Emma and I met up with some of the Ukrainian refugees and attended a language class with them in order to offer all the CH64 Ukrainian families free membership of The Club. They were quite in awe when they visited us the following week but to date only a handful of the children have joined in the Summer Camps. I am working with the volunteers to encourage as many as possible to come along. Maybe the Ladies Racketball session would be appealing. I will pursue it.
There have been so many compliments about the outstanding upkeep of the grounds. This includes all sporting surfaces plus the aesthetic look of the grounds, and the beautiful pink rose bed at the bowling green. I would like to offer my grateful thanks to Steve Woolley, Tom Curtis and volunteer, Jim Marshall who all work so hard to make this such a beautiful place.
Thanks to all the volunteers in all the sports, those who sit on committees, and Council. Craig is critical in his post to ensure the Club’s success, and lastly thanks to the Management Team. Jerry Scriven, Bern Thorne and Jon Schofield who share my passion for the Club and hold it close to their hearts. They give tireless hours as volunteers and share years of business experience and success in order to take on their important task at the Club. Thank you.
THE FUTURE:
Here’s to another challenge over the next 12 months. We are here for you and do work really hard on your behalf as members or parents. We have the Shrimp Appeal if you know of any families who are facing hardship and will always do all we can to help our members.
With all best wishes
Deb
DEBBIE MASON-SMITH.
