Tennis booming out Renwick way
In just four years, the Renwick Tennis Club has re-invented itself.
On Saturday, club members, invited guests and council dignitaries gathered at the club’s courts to recognize a milestone in the club’s lengthy history.
They were there to celebrate a major upgrade of the club’s ageing facilities.
Over the past four years the clubrooms have been refurbished, complete with toilet facilities. A fourth court has been installed and, along with the other three, resurfaced with a Laykold Surface installed by Prestige Sports Surfaces.
Club president Ross Broadbridge addressed club supporters who had gathered at the Uxbridge St site to welcome in the changes.
He was joined by Marlborough District councilor Cynthia Brooks, a Renwick local, who spoke of the pride she felt in seeing the community project come to fruition. Then, members of the family of club legend Eric Jackson, who the pavilion is named after, cut a ribbon to signal a new era for the go-ahead club.
Ross explained what the addition of an extra court meant for Renwick.
“Now we can have two teams playing [at the club courts] instead of one of them being split between here and the school courts. That meant things became disjointed. [The improvements] have brought the club together … from school age children through to 70-year-olds.
Ross admitted plenty of work was required to bring the clubhouse up to scratch.
“The power was disconnected, the water was disconnected so we had to reconnect and permit those facilities. The roof and ceiling were both leaking and the floor needed attention … but now it’s all good to go.”
Future improvements include creating an assess way from Uxbridge St, which the MDC have promised to help with, and some decking to enhance the clubhouse.
The improvements have been driven by a motivated, “can-do” committee.
In early 2018 a small group of members got together to discuss how to go about improving the facility, which was in bad shape. At that stage the club had only 10 members and a skeleton committee.
A new committee was elected and a Strategic Plan put together for the next three years.
A submission was made to the Marlborough District Council’s Long Term Plan in 2018, requesting assistance with improving the deteriorated community facility. The club was rewarded with MDC providing funds through their Land Subdivision Account to resurface the three courts with hot mix and remove the large hedge on the southern boundary, replacing it with a tennis fence.
The necessary capital was raised through grant applications, fund-raising events and the help of local businesses support, plus the on-going support of the club’s growing member base.
“We have been very fortunate with the support that has been forthcoming – the Marlborough Tennis Association, Anderson Architecture and the Lion Foundation all came on board to contribute a significant amount and the rest was raised by a fundraising dinner and donations from within the club and community.” added Ross.
Renwick has maintained a core of over 100 members for the last four years, with the current membership sitting at 125.
If you would like more information on Renwick Tennis Club please contact Ross Broadbridge, President: 027 212 2902 or Anna Simpson, Club Captain: 021 270 2662