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Dunfermline Tennis Club nets new courts with sportscotland funding

Thursday 17 August 2006

Judy Murray, former Scottish National Tennis Coach and mother of rising Scottish tennis star Andy Murray will officially open Dunfermline Tennis Club’s three new all-weather courts this Saturday (19 August).

Supported by a Lottery award of £50,000 from sportscotland’s Sports Facilities programme, the club will benefit from having three new artificial clay courts with floodlighting, allowing use all year round. The enhanced facility will make them the central hub for tennis within the local area, allowing them to provide tennis to the wider community. The new surface will enable them to expand and develop their senior and junior coaching programmes, in particular the floodlights will extend the use of the courts in the winter allowing more time for their after-school junior performance sessions.

The new courts will hopefully see the club continue its competition successes, in particular their ladies team have won the Scottish Cup 15 times in the last 20 years, a record for any Scottish club. In fact Judy Murray, a past member of the club, was part of the winning team during the 1990s when she captained the ladies team. They also have six senior and nine junior teams in the East of Scotland league as well as mini tennis teams who all compete in events both in Scotland and across the UK.

The new ‘Classic Clay’ surface laid on the courts is the first time this surface has been used on a court in Scotland. The surface, which originally comes from Australia, is a synthetic all-weather alternative to natural clay but without the maintenance problems that come with an actual clay court and will be a real asset to the club.

Pat Reid, Honorary Secretary, Dunfermline Tennis & Bridge Club said: “We are very grateful to so many funders who have combined to produce what we think we will be a valuable new facility for the local community. Hopefully our new artificial clay courts will produce playing success at least as great as the natural clay courts which they have superseded. Already some hundreds of children and many adults have been able to try the new surface and lights both of which have proved popular with members and others.”

Julia Bracewell OBE, Chair of sportscotland, said: “sportscotland is delighted to have supported this fantastic project with a Lottery award of £50,000 from sportscotland’s Sports Facilities programme. This award demonstrates our commitment to enhancing sporting opportunities for local communities, by providing them with quality, accessible and well designed facilities. The new courts will ensure that people of Dunfermline and the surrounding area will have access to tennis facilities all year round, giving them the opportunity to participate, develop and excel in sport, and will hopefully see the club producing tennis stars of the future.”

  • The opening ceremony will take place at Dunfermline Tennis & Bridge Club, Bothwell Street, Dunfermline KY11 3AF. Tel: 01383 721470
  • The format of the day is:
    12.30pm – Official reception for guests and members
    12.30-1.15pm - On-court demonstrations of tennis drills led by Judy Murray and involving some club youngsters (photo opportunity)
    1.30pm - Official opening by Judy Murray (photocall)
    2.00pm - Buffet lunch and demonstration matches involving some of the club’s top players
    3.00pm - Come and try session
  • Other funders of this project have included: Foundation for Sport and the Art, Robertson Trust, Carnegie Dunfermline Trust, Fife Council, West Fife Common Good Fund, the Lawn Tennis Association, East of Scotland LTA.
  • You and your representative are invited to attend.
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