British Tour 2016

the addict · Tennis legend

RE: British Tour 2016

Born2WinTennis · Club Coach

The LTA is a large organisation and I guess this was a last minute call on a Sunday, when most of the back office staff (finance) would not have been available to authorise additional expenditure. The tournament organiser would not have had the authority to just shell out for indoor courts without approval, so was probably just suggesting a way to get the match played. The reduction in British Tour money over the last two years is a clear sign that competitive play is the over-riding priority for these tournaments, not providing prize money. Clearly the players didn't agree.

I was organising the Hertfordshire boys school finals yesterday at Queenswood and had no adverse weather alternative. I probably could have got some indoor courts at nearby Gosling but there's no one to pay for this. The schools are even instructed to bring their own match balls. We only had the Queenswood venue free-of-charge due to their generosity.

indiana · Tennis legend

Sorry, but I don't think there should have been any doubt that the LTA would authorise such additional expenditure. He / she should have gone for it whatever the theoretical procedure.

The Optimist · ATP qualifying

No longer rumour - this defo happened. I accept it was a late weekend call but the British Tour at G1 and G2 is supposed to be the top level of domestic competition. Players travel and incur considerable expenses to play - generally not covered by the prize money (nice though it is to receive some!). We are talking about an event that took in £2709 in entry fees and cannot sanction the cost of an indoor court long enough for the two finals to be played!!!!

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Yes. I've organised various smaller FFT-backed events, and been involved in many bigger ones, and the FFT facilities are always available in case of rain delay, although not always at the same time. i.e. if it's a Saturday afternoon final, scheduled outside, there may well be lessons going on in the indoor courts and so - if it rains - the final will have to be played later in the day i.e. inside at 6 pm, say, when the lessons have finished. Not perfect but....

For the money tournaments run by clubs, if it rains, the club will probably have an arrangement with another club to take overspills (i.e. you take my extra matches this week and I'll take yours in two months time when you have your money tournament).
The FFT facilities will be lent out too to help.
And it will always, but always, be the host club who pays for the indoor court (PLUS the lighting tokens etc. etc.) if a match has to moved inside somewhere.

Born2WinTennis · Club Coach

indiana wrote:
Sorry, but I don't think there should have been any doubt that the LTA would authorise such additional expenditure. He / she should have gone for it whatever the theoretical procedure.

I don't agree, 2 courts for 3 hours each at say £20/hour could be £120 for the two finals to be played indoors. Referees are self-employed, they can't just pay out that type of money and cross their fingers the LTA reimburse them at an unknown time in the future.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

It's not that they should cross their fingers and hope; it's that it should be part of the agreement.

Born2WinTennis · Club Coach

The Optimist wrote:
No longer rumour - this defo happened. I accept it was a late weekend call but the British Tour at G1 and G2 is supposed to be the top level of domestic competition. Players travel and incur considerable expenses to play - generally not covered by the prize money (nice though it is to receive some!). We are talking about an event that took in £2709 in entry fees and cannot sanction the cost of an indoor court long enough for the two finals to be played!!!!

I'm not sure the £2709 in entry fees is relevant because no one really knows the finances behind these events. They could still run at a massive loss. It's a different question about what the venue charges the LTA and whether the venue should be responsible for wet weather provision as part of their fee.

indiana · Tennis legend

Born2WinTennis wrote:
indiana wrote:
Sorry, but I don't think there should have been any doubt that the LTA would authorise such additional expenditure. He / she should have gone for it whatever the theoretical procedure.
I don't agree, 2 courts for 3 hours each at say £20/hour could be £120 for the two finals to be played indoors. Referees are self-employed, they can't just pay out that type of money and cross their fingers the LTA reimburse them at an unknown time in the future.

It would clearly be quite ridiculous if the LTA didn't reimburse such an amount in these circumstances. Yes, a fair amount for the organiser / referee, but relatively really very little to the LTA to cover a common sense solution. Though ideally as CD suggests such a situation should already have agreed procedure.

Unless their experience is of the LTA being quite ridiculous ....

-- Edited by indiana on Tuesday 28th of June 2016 04:45:56 PM

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

In West Worthing this week:

SF:

Joel Cannell def. Jathan Malik 6-4 6-2

Marcus Walters def. Luke Simeone 6-4 7-6(4)

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Final: Joel Cannell def. Marcus Walters 6-4 6-3

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Good win for Joel. I am sure he is pleased to have his A Level exams out of the way and to get back on court.

the addict · Tennis legend

Joel is signed up for Frinton next week, so hopefully I will be able to see him on Thursday, weather permitting.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Did you get to see Joel, the addict?

I see that he won.....

For the record the QFs stack up as:

Joel v Vincent Gillespie

Marcus Walters v Sean Hodkin

Henry Parocki v Tom Hands (who put out Luke Oakley)

Mark Whitehouse v Chalres Broom

the addict · Tennis legend

Coup Droit wrote:
Did you get to see Joel, the addict?

I see that he won.....

For the record the QFs stack up as:

Joel v Vincent Gillespie

Marcus Walters v Sean Hodkin

Henry Parocki v Tom Hands (who put out Luke Oakley)

Mark Whitehouse v Chalres Broom

Yes, I saw the second set, but from two courts away. Of the four matches in that group of courts, Joel looked by far the best (and most consistent) player. Marcus was on the furthest court of the four, so couldn't really follow that match, and it was the first to finish.