From: The Racketeer 18, April 1996
The Story of Mapperley Park Tennis Club
Part 12 - 'A Club to be Reckoned With'
by Chris Weir
Chris Weir rattles some more bones in the mausoleum of history.
THE CAPTAIN'S report of 1986 recorded that 'we are now recognised as a club to be reckoned with'. The Men's 1st team remained in Division 3, the Men's 2nd (who won five matches and lost only one) were promoted, the Men's 3rd won two and lost three, and the Men's 4th won three, drew one and lost one and were promoted. The Ladies, in Division 4B, won all six matches and were 'champions - congratulations to Shelagh and her squad'; the 2nd team won three and lost two.
The Mixed 1st team were champions of Division 3; the Captain's report stated that 'I cannot remember when last they lost, all the usual stars did their stuff, but I would like to pick out Jane Ratcliffe who has made tremendous strides over the last few years and was well able to support Simon [Taylor] against teams containing highly rated county stars.' The Captain's report further highlighted the progress of Amanda Gregory, who continued to represent Great Britain at international level and who played at Wimbledon in the Ladies' doubles.
The 1987 secretary's report noted that club membership stood at 205, consisting of 134 full members, 61 juniors, 9 students and one social member. In that year the fund-raising events raised £712, and in general the club's finances were healthy. One of the notable events of that year was the introduction of a club sweater and shirt, incorporating a new MPTC badge - evidently the club was setting the trends in the latest tennis fashions!
Among the events held in 1987 were a working party on court maintenance in April, a wine party, Ladies' Day on the 20th May, Finals Day and barbecue, an October jumble sale, and the club dinner, which was held at the Dorchester Restaurant. Among the coaching initiatives was the Prudential Grass Roots coaching for 8 to 14-year-olds, held on Friday evenings in May, organised by Lisa Ostrowsky.
In the midst of all those events the committee continued to struggle with unpaid subscriptions, uneven court surfaces, wet weather, and the case of the disappearing tennis balls. In the season 1986-7, it was recorded that the total cost of balls was a staggering £750. Where did they all go? Did anyone ever solve the mystery? Were the balls being stolen, or launched into the stratosphere, never to return, by demon lobbers? Who knows?