- the grass, the tennis, the croquet...
Windsor Lawn Tennis Club was founded in 1901, almost single-handedly by RP Corry, a man of remarkable energy (one of Ulster’s best players in the early years of the twentieth century) and foresight (early on managing to acquire a 10,000 year lease on the ground) and supported by a splendid groundsman, Willie Turkington, he adroitely guided the Club’s destiny for the next sixty years.
Very much a “player’s” club, Windsor's beautifully maintained courts (the original 1/4 ton garden roller is still in the club, along with the original croquet set) attracted the Province’s best players, resulting in many successes at top League level, as well as providing a home for the Ulster Hardcourt Championships. Remarkably, of the nine Ulstermen who have represented Ireland in Davis Cup, nine (Viv Gotto, Tommy Crooks, Peter Jackson, Derek Arthurs, Robin Condy, Ken Reid, John Magrath, Johnny Biscomb and Peter Lowther) all, at one time or another, have been Windsor members. Susan Rusling (nee Minford), Federation Cup player and a finalist in Wimbledon’s Junior Invitation Tournament, also developed her game on Windsor’s Courts. Many distinguished guests have graced the courts – the Sultan of Pahang played here in 1959, and in the mid-fifties Wimbledon singles champions Vic Seixas and Tony Trabert played an exhibition with a supporting cast of Viv Gotto and another Davis Cup man, Cyril Kemp. Current Windsor Tennis Pro, Przemek Stec, has played on the ATP circuit against Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray. The late sixties witnessed several important changes in Windsor’s life. The addition of a bar and 2 glass-backed squash courts greatly extended the Club’s facilities. During the squash boom which followed, Windsor began to excel in this sphere too. Headed first by John Magrath and later by David Gotto (currently the World’s most capped international) the Club dominated the Ulster squash scene as well as winning the All Ireland Club Championship. Led by Dorothy Armstrong, the women’s team also enjoyed considerable success. As time progressed, the 60 year-old clay courts, which had replaced the original grass courts, progressively deteriorated and the little wooden pavilion (even older) was gradually falling apart. All this contributed to the realisation that new changing rooms were urgently required and these finally materialised in 1979. Since their erection unfortunately coincided with a freeze in grant aid, the club was forced to borrow heavily. Shortly after, bar receipts suffered a considerable decline – as in many sports clubs at that time and to the present day – and membership too fell off as the tennis courts became increasingly difficult to maintain. Members volunteered to help with running the bar , and organising many different Social events to pay off the Club’s debts but it was a constant uphill struggle against high interest rates at that time. Despite the difficulties and upheaval during this period the Squash section continued to thrive, winning numerous Ulster league titles in succession. The Tennis section was also successful by winning the All Ireland Club Doubles Championships in Fitzwilliam – the only Ulster Club to have ever won the title. Some notable racket players including Ken Reid and David Williams represented Windsor on both Tennis and Squash Teams at the highest level and played a significant part in the winning of these competitions. However, the financial position was a constant constraint to enable the Club to develop further and secure its longer term future. A drastic remedy was clearly needed and the nettle was firmly grasped in 1987 when it was decided to sell three of the seven courts and with the proceeds revamp the remaining space to accommodate five top quality synthetic floodlit courts. The carpet finally chosen was a German product, Polygrass; it had also been entrusted with the Soccer and Hockey pitches for the Seoul Olympics and was the first tennis surface of its kind to be laid in Ireland. In place of the old clay courts now lay an unbroken green carpet, some 29,000 square feet in extent, comprising five magnificent all - weather courts. Surrounding this superb complex were the tall standards of powerful sodium floodlights. Sir Robin Kinahan, a Trustee of the Club, opened the new courts. Virginia Wade, former Wimbledon Ladies Singles Champion, took part in many different events that were organised throughout the day including an Exhibition Match and coaching for some of the junior members. After the carpet had been laid in 1988, the Club took an important step by introducing a policy of saving for a new carpet in ten years time so that it would not have to rely on loans or grant aid. This meant that subscriptions had to be increased to allow for a certain amount to be set aside as a “sinking fund”. The main influencer of this Policy was the Club Chairman at the time Chris Parsons, who had also been Honorary Treasurer in the preceeding years. Chris later went on to take back the reins of Treasurer and played a major part in steering the Club’s finances into a sound position that any Club would envy. This was complemented by numerous and very successful membership drives to bring the levels up to the required number. The nineties were no less eventful with the carpet having to be replaced, a car bomb exploding in St Brigid's Car Park adjacent to the courts, a second floor extension to the clubhouse, a new Fitness Suite, a Secretary/Manager appointed with responsiblities for the staff and the day-to- day management of the Club. Windsor Lawn Tennis Club continued to thrive throughout the nineties when for the first time in the Club’s history membership had to be closed due to court capacity being reached. In 1998 the Club appointed a Club Development Officer and introduced a very successful development programme for juniors which attracted almost 200 for the launch in one afternoon! The Club celebrated its centenary year in style with a number of specially run events culminating in a Centenary Dinner at the Wellington Park Hotel with guest speaker Dame Mary Peters. The dawn of the 21st century sees Windsor Lawn Tennis Club continue to go from strength to strength. Windsor has upgraded its playing and clubhouse facilities once more and has appointed a Tennis Director to promote the club, develop coaching schemes and various programmes including social events designed to appeal to all age groups and standards. New indoor tennis courts will be in place by the start of the off season in 2008, coinciding with the launch of Ireland's first fully integrated online booker (tennis, squash, fitness, function rooms), a dynamic new website, function rooms, changing rooms and showering facilities, manned reception, printing and photocopying facilities, wireless internet access, games room (with table tennis, TV, table football, kids games,), catering facilities, smart-key access, secure onsite parking, physiotherapy and sports massage treatments. With many other club improvements in the pipeline the new-look Windsor faces the coming years with confidence. |
