Sydenham Tennis & Squash Club

Club Recognition Awards
The Club Annual General Meeting is coming up in November. Each year we have the opportunity to recognise members who have provided service to the Club through our Club Recognition Awards.
The Volunteer Recognition Award is for both short and long term voluntary contributions, and the Special Recognition Award for longer term service to the Club in either a paid or voluntary capacity. You will find full details of the criteria for these awards here, along with a list of previous recipients.
If you think someone should be honoured at this year’s AGM in November, please put your nomination forward to me by email – deadline for nominations is 1 October 2026 – with a brief explanation of why you think this person is deserving.

Kent Tennis Seniors Tournaments 2026-27
Entries are now open for this year’s tournaments that take place over the winter. Seniors events start at 35 years & over. You’ll find full details and a list of events here, and booking here.

Club Team Results
Kent Squash Summer league results from last week:
15 September: 1st team v Poult Wood 3 (H) – won 8-6 (Kent Div 4)
16 September: 2nd team v Limpsfield 3 (A) – lost 4-12 (Kent Div 5)

Club Manager Hours
I’ll be available at the Club on Saturday from 0900-1500, and then on annual leave until next weekend. Remember that the clubhouse bar is open Monday to Wednesday from 7.00-10.00pm, Thursday 6.00-10.00pm, and Friday 6.00-9.30pm.

Dez Lewington
Club Manager
Contact – dez.lewington@sltcc.co.uk

Continue Reading

Congratulations to all competitors in the Finals this weekend, and many thanks to all those who came to watch and support.

Men’s Singles:
Gregor Maclean bt Mark Carey 6-3 6-3

Women’s Singles:
Vikki Courtney bt Anna Daniel 6-1 6-0

Men’s Doubles:
Luis Perez Zorrilla & Geoff Ward bt Stevan Jovic & Gregor Maclean 6-3 2-6 7-5

Women’s Doubles: 
Anna Daniel & Veronique Vera bt Katharine Beaudry & Vikki Courtney 7-6 6-3

Mixed Doubles:
Luis Perez Zorrilla & Katharine Beaudry bt Ben Redhead & Vikki Courtney 6-2 7-5

Men’s 40 & Over Singles:
David Evans bt Richard Payne 7-6 6-7 10-1

Women’s 45 & Over Singles:
Katharine Beaudry bt Anna Watkins 6-1 6-7 10-0

Men’s 55 & Over Singles:
Richard Payne bt Dez Lewington 6-0 6-0

60 & Over Mixed Doubles:
Margaret Ohuche & Dez Lewington bt Katharine Beaudry & Paul Beaumont 3-6 6-3 10-5

Men’s 65 & Over Singles:
Paul Beaumont bt John Flanagan 6-0 6-4

Men’s Plate Event:
Luke Prentice bt Josue Seekings 6-2 7-5

Women’s Plate Event:
Olga Potapenko bt Kirsty Oliphant 6-3 6-1

Roger De Klerk Mixed Doubles Trophy for Improver/Intermediate:
Kirsty Oliphant & Martin McLean bt Olga Potapenko & Neill Quinton 7-5 3-6 10-7

Squash Open Singles:
Joe McTague bt Benjamin Baranger 3-0

Squash Plate Event:
Jake Przbysz bt Nicola Daisie 3-0

Racketball Tournament:
Benjamin Baranger bt Ian Moody 3-0

Dez Lewington
Club Manager
Contact – dez.lewington@sltcc.co.uk

Continue Reading

Club Finals – Friday 11 & Saturday 12 September 2026
You can find the Order of Play here.
We are a few short of umpires this year. It’s really nice for the finalists to have an umpire on Finals Day, so if you can volunteer to help that would be great. We’ll go through things with you, so don’t worry if you haven’t done it before. Please contact me as soon as possible if you can help out. 

Squash beginners course
Why not try out squash if you are a tennis member – there is a discounted combined All Sport membership to play both sports. Of perhaps you have family or friends who might like to give it a go. There are still a few places left – book here.

Club Tennis Teams
Congratulations to our Women’s 1 & Mixed 2 teams who won their Divisional Play-off Finals last weekend – 3-1 and 4-0 respectively. Unfortunately, our Women’s 3 couldn’t make it a clean sweep, losing 1-3, but are still promoted next season.

Club Team Results
Kent Squash Summer league results from last week:
8 September: 2nd team v Beckenham 3 (H) – lost 0-15 (Kent Div 5)
9 September: 1st team v Parklangley 3 (A) – won 9-7 (Kent Div 4)

Club Manager Hours
I’ll be available at the Club this coming week as follows: Sunday from 0900-1330, Monday 1030-2100, and Friday 1030-1800. During these times you can obtain drinks & snacks from the bar, as well as balls & accessories, and hire the tennis ball machine. 

Dez Lewington
Club Manager
Contact – dez.lewington@sltcc.co.uk

Continue Reading

The culmination of the annual competitions that started back in April.

Tennis finals start at 11.00am and play through to around 5.30pm: Men’s & Women’s Singles, Men’s & Women’s Doubles, and Mixed Doubles – all first played for in 1900 – plus Men’s 40 & over Singles, Men’s 65 & over Singles, 60 & over Mixed Doubles, Men’s & Women’s Plate, and the Roger De Klerk Memorial Trophy for Improver/Intermediate level players – 11 Finals in all. Presentations will take place in the clubhouse around 6.00pm. 

Finals in the squash courts start at 11.30am with the Squash Open Singles Final, followed by the Squash Plate at 12.15pm, and the Racketball Final at 1.00pm – presentations at around 1.45pm.

The bar will open from 10.30am with food available to buy from Papa Dough pizza outside from lunchtime. Look out for the full schedule from 10 September on the Club noticeboards and come along to watch and support – it’s always a great day!

Due to scheduling conflicts, the Women’s 45 & Over Singles and Men’s 55 & Over Singles will take place on Friday 11 September at 6.30pm on courts 6 & 7, so please come along and watch – the bar will be open for refreshments.

Dez Lewington
Club Manager
Contact – dez.lewington@sltcc.co.uk

Continue Reading

American Mixed Doubles Tournament – Friday 9 October 2026
The next fun tournament – starting at 7.00pm. You will play a game of mixed doubles for 15 minutes before everything changes – the court you play on, the opposing team, and even your doubles partner! Find out more here. 
All playing categories are welcome to take part. Bar will be open for refreshments afterwards. The entry fee is £8.00 per player.

David Bent-Hazelwood
On Saturday 12 September, Club member David Bent is running a 50km ultramarathon, from Putney to Runnymede along the Thames Path. As well as a (strange, perhaps idiotic) 50th birthday present to himself, he is doing it in memory of his late wife, Jo.
He is raising money for Bexley Moorings Project, which helps young people who need mental health services in the same area as Jo’s last NHS job. If you feel moved and are able, please donate using the link – https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/davidbenthazelwood50.

Club Tennis Teams
Last week I mentioned that two of our Women’s teams are in Kent League Finals today. I neglected to say that our Mixed 2 team is also in a Final tomorrow away to Kemsing 3, so good luck to all.

Club Team Results
Kent Squash Summer league results from last week:
2 September: 2nd team v Bexley 4 (A) – lost 1-15 (Kent Div 5)
3 September: 1st team v Canterbury 2 (H) won 15–8 (Kent Div 4)

Club Manager Hours
I’ll be available at the Club this coming week as follows: Saturday from 0900-1630, Sunday 0900-1200, Monday 0900-1500, and Friday 1200-2100. During these times you can obtain drinks & snacks from the bar, as well as balls & accessories, and hire the tennis ball machine. 

Dez Lewington
Club Manager
Contact – dez.lewington@sltcc.co.uk

Continue Reading

Club Members Handbook
Apologies for the delay in releasing the latest version of the Members Handbook, but there were a few more items that required updating. The new edition will go out tomorrow directly via the email on your membership account, so keep an eye out for it. It will include new door codes for the clubhouse and squash courts.

Kent Tennis County Championships 2026
Congratulations to Club member Vikki Courtney, who won last week’s Women’s 35 & Over Singles Championships. Photo of the finalists here.

Club Teams
Two of our tennis teams are in action in the Kent Tennis league summer season Finals on Saturday 5 September. Both teams are already promoted for next year, but this is for the honour of the divisional title.
The Women’s 1 team are playing away against Canterbury 1, and Women’s 3 are at home versus Bearstead 3. The home match starts at 10.30am. so I’m sure they would like some support if you are around.

Club Manager Hours
I’m back from holiday and will be available at the Club as follows for the remainder of the week: Tuesday from 0900-1630, Friday 0900-1630, and Saturday 0900-1630. During these times you can obtain drinks & snacks from the bar, as well as balls & accessories, and hire the ball machine. 

Dez Lewington
Club Manager
Contact – dez.lewington@sltcc.co.uk

Continue Reading

Club activities to try out starting September 2026
Here is a list of courses and sessions running during the Autumn term. Why not try out a new activity, or you may have family and friends who might be interested.
Booking and details on the following links:
Pickleball Drop-in sessions on Monday afternoon
Junior Squash for 5-14 years on Friday afternoon
Fun Friday Tennis for 3-14 years on Friday afternoon
Beginners squash course on Friday 18 September 2026
Tennis Xpress course for beginners – starting 7 November 2026

Club Team Results
Kent Squash Summer league results from last week:
18 August: 2nd team v Blackheath 2 (H) – lost 3-15 (Kent Div 5)

Club Manager Hours
I’ll be available at the Club this weekend as follows and then on holiday for the remainder of the week: Saturday from 0900-1330, and Sunday 0900-1500. During these times you can obtain drinks & snacks from the bar, as well as balls & accessories, and hire the ball machine. 

Dez Lewington
Club Manager
Contact – dez.lewington@sltcc.co.uk

Continue Reading

Roger De Klerk Memorial Trophy – Saturday 5 September 2026
A reminder that entry is now open for this year’s Mixed Doubles tournament for Improver/Intermediate members. Wednesday evening club players can enter – check with me to confirm you are eligible to play. You MUST also be available to play the Final on Saturday 12 September.
Please enter as a pair by emailing me, or let me know if you want to play and I’ll try to find you a partner. Remember that this is a really open event as team players and more experienced members cannot enter, and you get a chance to play on Club Finals Day

Fantasy Football League
Toby is running a Fantasy Football League again this season. You’ll need to register here: Fantasy Premier League, Official Fantasy Football Game of the Premier League. To join the league, use the code b3fxq7, or contact Toby for more information.

Club Team Results
Kent Squash Summer league results from last week:
11 August: 1st team v Maidstone 1 (H) – won 14-3 (Kent Div 4)
11 August: 2nd team v Bromley Sports 2 (H) – lost 6-14 (Kent Div 5)

Club Manager Hours
I’ll be available at the Club as follows over the coming week: Saturday from 0730-1030, Sunday 0900-1200, Monday 0900-1630, Tuesday 0900-1200, and Friday 0900-1630. During these times you can obtain drinks & snacks from the bar, as well as balls & accessories, and hire the ball machine. 

Dez Lewington
Club Manager
Contact – dez.lewington@sltcc.co.uk

Continue Reading

Annual Club Tournament Finals Day – Saturday 12 September 2026
Remember to put the date in the diary. Starting at 11.00am, there will be up to 15 Finals played on the day. Tennis Finals start at 11.00am; Squash & Racketball Finals start at 11.30am.
It’s always a great day and the more spectators and supporters the better! There will be refreshments available from the bar from 10.30am, and Papa Dough Pizza will keep you fed from 12.00pm. See the poster here.
Good luck to all those still competing to play in the Finals!

Club Team Results
Congratulations to the following teams, who won their respective Kent Tennis Divisions and will be promoted next Summer season: Women’s 1 (Div 2), Women’s 3 (Div 7), and Mixed 2 (Div 6). Also, to the Midweek Men’s 60 & Over team, who won North Kent Division D.
Kent Squash Summer league results from last week:
4 August: 2nd team v Sundridge Park 3 (H) lost 7-9 (Kent Div 5)
6 August: 1st team v Kings 1 (A) – lost 3-15 (Kent Div 4)

Club Manager Hours
I’ll be available at the Club as follows over the coming week: Saturday from 0900-1500, Monday 0900-1800, and Friday 1030-1800. During these times you can obtain drinks & snacks from the bar, as well as balls & accessories, and hire the ball machine. 

Dez Lewington
Club Manager
Contact – dez.lewington@sltcc.co.uk

Continue Reading

Roger De Klerk Memorial Trophy – Saturday 5 September 2026
Entry is now open for this year’s Mixed Doubles tournament for Wednesday evening club play members – check with me if you are unsure if you are eligible. The format will depend on numbers, but the Final will be played on Club Finals Day the following weekend.
You must enter as a pair by emailing me, and you MUST also be available to play the Final on Saturday 12 September. Remember that this is a really open event as team players and more experienced members cannot enter.

Club Team Results
The Summer Kent & North Kent tennis results from last week:
25 July: Mixed 2 v Bexley 2 (H) – won 4-0 (Kent Div 6)
26 July: Mixed 1 v Beckenham 2 (H) – lost 1-3 (Kent Div 2)
26 July: Mixed 9U v Old Wilsonians 2 (H) – lost 2-8 (NL Div 3)
29 July: Men’s 60 v Bromley Sports (H) – lost 3-5 (NK Div D)
Kent Squash Summer league results from last week:
28 July: 1st team v Tunbridge Wells SRC 4 (H) – lost 3-15 (Kent Div 4)
30 July: 2nd team v Bexley 5 (H) lost 6-10 (Kent Div 5)

Club Manager Hours
I’ll be available at the Club as follows over the coming week: Saturday from 0900-1500, Sunday 0900-1500, Monday 0900-1500, Thursday 0900-1500, and Friday 1030-1930. During these times you can obtain drinks & snacks from the bar, as well as balls & accessories, and hire the ball machine. 

Dez Lewington
Club Manager
Contact – dez.lewington@sltcc.co.uk

Continue Reading