President's Newsletter - End of summer 2026

PRESIDENT’S REPORT. End of Summer 2026

As we reach the end of the season, I would like to thank everyone for their continued support, enthusiasm and commitment to The Neston Club. Everyone plays a part in making this one of the greatest multi-sports clubs. It’s been a marvellous Summer, the soaring heat presenting yet another challenge for Steve and Tom the Groundsmen. We have received such positive feedback from Lancashire CC who hired our cricket pitch for a county ladies game,and also glowing words from Sir Alastair Cook who, alongside Geoff Miller, was Guest speaker at the Sporting Lunch in the Marquee.

L-R. Pez Tellett (MC), Alastair Cook, Debbie Mason-Smith, Geoff Miller

The Marquee Weekend was as busy and colourful as always. The staff worked extremely hard for weeks beforehand in preparation, and also worked very long days over the four events, followed by a mammoth clear up programme. The celebrations came to an end with the Parkgate Proms on Sunday afternoon, with record numbers attending, and was hosted wonderfully this year by Dan Wakefield. The Orchestra D’ell Arte were spectacular as always, with music from Around the World. There was a tribute finale of music by Queen and two little members took this seriously and took to the floor in full Freddie Mercury style.

Our two Winter sports, Hockey and Squash, continue all year round now and for all the latest news you can join the WhatsApp groups. Andrew Evans, the squash coach, continues to attract members to the club and has grown the section immeasurably and put us on the map across Cheshire and Merseyside as the place to play. Just some smashing news from Junior Hockey, our brilliant players Tom Canning and Harrison McCabe have been selected to progress from the England Hockey Talent Academy Cup to the initial assessment phase for England u16 Squad. What a magnificent achievement for these two talented lads, as a result of their hard work and tenacity.

This season the junior cricketers have gone from strength to strength with record numbers both in terms of participation and trophies won. (Full report in my next newsletter).

It’s also so healthy to see many juniors playing in the adult teams – gives us great strength for the future.

The adult section has been a mixed bag but joyful to sit and watch with a glass in hand on a Saturday afternoon. We did venture over to Marple on a balmy Sunday afternoon to see the 2nd XI win in the semis and then the finals of the Cheshire 2nd XI T20 cup. Great celebrations were held with many of the spectators and players returning to the Club.

Here are our little Seahorses team following their very close defeat in the Finals in the U11 Cheshire Cup. They have loved their cricket this year.

The Tennis Section have had a resurgence with Lydia and Ben at the helm. They have introduced some new ideas and are doing some magnificent marketing. The courts seem busier than ever and with the hot weather many have taken advantage of playing on the grass. Large numbers entered the Club Tournament and I look forward to the announcement of the winners of each category. End of Season celebrations are on 12th September. I hear that the 5th team have been promoted – congratulations, and the 4th team narrowly missed out on promotion, having come up against a very strong Birkenhead team.

Table Tennis have purchased a second table and numbers here are also increasing, so that a further team will be competing this coming season. Good luck to you all.

Thursday Group have launched their Autumn programme with their Welcome Back Lunch to be held on 1st October. All are welcome, just let the Office or Pam Garner know for reasons of catering numbers. We were sad to hear that our oldest member of the Club, Ruth Snowden, had a fall at home and since leaving hospital has moved into a care home in Heswall. This really is such a shame as Ruth was still playing table tennis on a Tuesday morning and regularly attending Wednesday Seniors Yoga. We wish her well and hope to see her attending the Club in the not too distant future.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to add their views on the colour for the surface of the hockey pitch. Despite obvious disappointment that this will have to wait until the end of the coming season, this was unavoidable due to several factors and a decision agreed by the Management Team and the Hockey Committee. A big thank you must go to Craig Trenholm and Max Dutton for the extensive work they have done in getting this project off the ground.

Two dates for your diary.

Wednesday 30 September. Club AGM

Saturday 21 November. Club Awards Evening at the President’s Dinner

Thank you again to everyone who participates in any way to the Club, making it such a successful, wonderful and welcoming place.

Deb

Debbie Mason-Smith

President – The Neston Club.