During 2009, Council updated the Forward Strategy, originally presented in 2005, for the next four-year period.  Council recognised the achievements of the previous four years by incorporating plans that were still in progress including the important development of  better communication with Clubs and Counties through the County Veterans Organisers (CVO).
 
At the Forum held before the 2008 Annual General Meeting, county representatives were shown a paper setting out what Vets Tennis GB hoped would be a blueprint for all County Veterans’ Organisers throughout the country.  They would have an important role to play in recruiting more clubs to affiliate to the Association, to help to develop more competitive play for veterans in the clubs and to help to set up more open one or two day tournaments at local level.  This was in addition to their current responsibility to enter teams in the national inter-county competition.  The process is ongoing and it is hoped that a CVO Conference, being held on the day of the AGM, will stimulate more counties to assist their CVOs in implementing this vital strategy for veterans’ tennis.
 
On court, British veterans have had a successful year internationally.  The ten Seniors teams (35- 55) in the ITF World Seniors Team Championships competed in Majorca at the end of April.  The Maria Esther Bueno Cup team (Women 50) triumphed in their event for the first time in 26 years as GB brought home the gold medal.  Brilliantly led by Anthea Stewart, Christine French, Sue Bartlett and Leona Finkelstein all played their part in the defeats of Canada and Italy in the groups, South Africa in the semi-final and the USA in the final.  Individually, Christine had a great run in the 50 singles to reach the semi-final. 

In November, in the Super Seniors World Team Championships, the Women’s 65 team also won gold in the Kitty Godfree Cup.  The team of Sue Hill (captain), Jenny Waggott, Jacky Boothman and June Fisher beat Japan, and South Africa but lost to Australia in their group which they won on a countback.  They then beat France in the semi-final and gained revenge over Australia in the final.  Individually, Betty Howard was runner-up in the Women’s 80 singles , John Paish, with American Brian Cheney, won the Men’s 60 doubles beating teammates Keith Bland and Richard Tutt in the final. and Clive Hutchings and Rod Petchey won the silver medal in the Men’s 70 doubles. 

Vets Tennis GB hosted the Four Nations Group A (35-50) championships at the Bolton Arena in early May which was won by England. 

The Council decided that it had become necessary to recruit a paid assistant to help with the ever-increasing workload of the Secretary and event organisers.   With the help of the LTA, interviews were held in November and the successful candidate is expected to begin work as soon as the contractual arrangements can be concluded.   

The LTA is also providing valuable assistance in the development of a new website which will form part of the LTA network.  This will, we expect, give easy access to LTA programmes such as the rankings and tournaments lists as well as continuing the information service of the present website.  Our e-newsletter was issued twice during the year and we hope to step this up to at least three during 2010.  We strongly encourage the use of electronic means of communication which reduces costs by eliminating the use of the postal services.  Competitors in the three major Championships are growing accustomed to finding entry forms on the web site and we hope that before too long we shall be able to accept the payment of entry fees online also. 

In December 2008 Sue Hill received from LTA President, Derek Howorth, the first ever award of Veteran Player of the Year; and Vets Tennis GB named the West Bridgford Club as 2008 Veteran Club of the Year for its enthusiastic support of veterans’ tennis in staging an indoor tournament in January and regularly entering successful teams in the Inter-Club Championships.   

The number of affiliated clubs decreased but we continued with our prize draw as an enticement for more clubs to join.  This year, representatives of the Stony Stratford, Magdalen and Hartley clubs enjoyed a day at Wimbledon.    

The Inter-Club competition suffered a small decline in entries, reflecting the reduction in the number of affiliated clubs, but the event was no less popular. The winners and runners-up at the 2008 finals were invited to represent Great Britain in the European Seniors’ Club Championships this year.  Two teams won their respective events:  Esporta Thorpe Wood in the Men’s 45 and Wimbledon in the Women’s 50.  The Inter-County event, in nine categories, ran smoothly, culminating in finals at Dudley in October. 

All our ITF-graded tournaments attracted high entry numbers with continued interest from  overseas players at both the Indoor and Clay Court Championships.   Competitors in the British Open Clay Court Championships at Bournemouth enjoyed fine weather for all but a few hours in the week and some superb finals were played out on the Saturday.  The Veterans’ Grass Court Championships at Aorangi Park in August also experienced a week of fine weather, a relief from the tribulations of the previous two years. 

As ever, we owe grateful thanks to the LTA for its continued financial support which recognises the importance of the veterans’ game both at home and abroad.  Many of our veteran players are also involved in administration of the game generally and, play a huge part in passing on their love of the game to the younger generation.   We are grateful, also, to Boughtons who have continued to support the Grass Court Championships by printing the programmes and also to the many volunteers, from inside and outside the Council, who help to run events and whose contribution to veterans’ tennis is so valuable and deeply appreciated. 

Reports and results of all the events and competitions mentioned above may be found on our web site, www.vetstennisgb.org.