October 2008 (from the NARAnewsletter)

Dear NARA Member,

As we look back on a wonderful 2007-2008 Racquets season, highlighted by the celebration of the T&RA’s Cen­tenary and the brilliant play of New York’s Jamie Stout, we embark on the 2008-2009 season, which has all the ingredients to be as busy as and even more exciting than last year.

The upcoming season features a Singles and Doubles World Championship, the Pro Singles/Pro-Am Doubles contested as a stand-alone tournament in Montreal for the first time, three English School Tours, as well as the usual slate of NARA tournaments.

Jamie Stout earned the right, through his spectacular play last season, which featured dominating wins at the US and Brit­ish Opens, to challenge Harry Foster for the World Singles title. The first leg of this challenge will be in New York, along with the Silver Racquets, during the weekend of November 1st. In addition, Harry Foster and Mark Hue-Williams were awarded a doubles challenge against the defending champions Neil Smith and Mark Hubbard. The first leg of this challenge will also be in New York in mid-April. In considering the venues for the first legs of these challenges the NARA Board, with much debate, decided it was important to support our North American players by having them play on their home court. Both of these events promise to be fantastic weekends of world-class racquets.

Additionally, the Board of the North American Racquets Association has outlined a strategic plan for the next five years focused on four major objectives:)

1. Improved communication through newsletters like this one, an updated web site coming by year-end, plus monthly e-mails during the season.

2. A Junior Development Program.

3. A Professional Development Program.

4. Continuing the US Open as our most significant major event by increasing prize money coupled with larger social events and celebrations.

Our ability to accomplish these initiatives will require increased funding. Currently the dues NARA receives only offsets our current level of expense and leaves no additional funds for new initiatives such as those outlined above. In an effort to support the advancement of our game, the NARA Board announces three new measures to help fund these pro­grams, available immediately:

1. Tiered Membership — The regular NARA membership dues will remain $50 annually.

However, two new membership categories will now exist. You can now become a NARA Patron with a $100 con­tribution, or a NARA Benefactor at $250. We obviously encourage you to renew your current membership, but also to consider the opportunity of being a Patron or Benefac­tor to help support our great game. You can increase your membership level by contacting your NARA representa­tive, contacting your pro shop, or by e-mailing NARA at naramember@yahoo.com.

2. Auction — At this year’s US Open in Detroit, as well as in future years, there will be a brief, but fun, auction at the Stag dinner featuring a half dozen spectacular items. The proceeds from the auction will be used entirely to support NARA initiatives.

3. Newsletter Sponsorship — Historically the NARA has avoided sponsorships of any kind, and generally the Board remains committed to that. However, there will be a lim­ited number of sponsorship opportunities available in this newsletter, which will be published once or twice per sea­son.

Please consider participating in as much as you can to ensure the viability of North American Racquets for years to come.

I’d like to recognize a few people:

First – E. Denis Walsh, who has been a constant pillar of strength and a driving force in NARA through several genera­tions of NARA Boards.

Secondly – Neil Smith, who at the professional level has con­sistently supported NARA tournaments for more than twenty years and, remarkably, continues to compete at a world cham­pionship level.

Thirdly – All of our Club professionals who quietly carry on our game day in and day out.

Fourth – Our English friends who loyally show support for NARA by making the long journey year after year to compete in our tournaments.

Next – Jeff Durkes, Dick Ryan and Chelsea Cankar (Zweig­White) for putting this and future newsletters together

Finally, YOU, the club player, like me, who shows an undying love of our game through membership, participation, travel to tournaments and more!

Thanks to you the next fifty years of North American Racquets looks to be a winning strike of the ball!

Serve Up!!

Keene Addington

 

 

February 2008

 

 

November 2007

Dear NARA Member;                                                                         

     The 2007-2008 Rackets season got off on tremendous footing as we sent a well-balanced team to the UK for the Knott-Stephens Tour (KST). Traveling on behalf of NARA were: Manny Tancer (Detroit), Tom Shumaker (Detroit), Wes Thornburgh (Chicago), Mike Keiser (Chicago), Jeff Durkes (Chicago), Peter Pell (New York), Greg Gross (Tuxedo Park), and Captain Todd Meringoff (Boston). The KST is the brainchild of the late Jimmy Knott of Lancaster County (Philadelphia) and Bill Stephens (London) that began in 1989 with the UK sending a team to promote goodwill and to generate lasting friendships. NARA owes a great deal to Bill Stephens for his generosity of time and commitment in organizing this fabulous event.

     By all accounts, the 2007 version of the KST was a resounding success and I would like to also thank Jeff Durkes and T.P. Howe for the time and energy they devoted to making the trip a great success. I know that each of them spent dozens of hours to coordinate with Bill Stephens the details for this trip. The Team traveled to Bristol to play the Clifton Boasters, Cheltenham College, the Manchester Tennis and Rackets Club, Tonbridge School, Wellington College, Charterhouse School, Harrow-on-the Hill, Eton College and finally to the Queen's Club to participate in the Queen's Weekend that included handicap court tennis and rackets tournaments. Todd Meringoff defeated the Queen's Club Tim Drayson 25-22 in the singles final. A huge win for Todd! Congratulations to Todd for this extraordinary result.

     We will look forward to a similarly large turnout from the UK when they tour the North American clubs in 2009.  The 2009 UK team has been chosen  and will have several Foster Cup winners ( the Foster Cup is the Public Schools championship) so get your games in shape! Bill Stephens will announce the UK team shortly.

     Also I'd like to pre-emptively welcome the incoming class of 2008 fellows to the NARA clubs in early 2008. The fellowship program originated in Detroit and many of the North American Clubs have enjoyed great success with this program since. This year six out of seven Clubs will have a fellow at their club.

    But certainly I'd like to express NARA's appreciation to the North American Rackets professionals. Without the skill set provided by former World Champion Neil Smith and Jamie Stout (NYC), John Cashman and Charlie Crossley (Chicago), Jimmy Burke (Boston), Rob Whitehouse (Philadelphia), Tom Greevey (Tuxedo), Steve Toseland (Detroit) and Ryan Tulley (Montreal) our great game would be listless, at best. It appears that play at most clubs continues to get stronger due to their efforts.

    The tournament side of the year begins on November 1 in NYC for the Silver Racquets and US Amateur competitions. Of note, will be current World Champion Harry Foster who has registered with the tournament committee to attend. Harry ran the table last year by winning the British Invitational, the British Open, US Open and the British Amateur singles' titles and all corresponding doubles competitions. Please contact the NYR&T pro shop at 212 753-9727 if you will be attending. There will also be court tennis and squash competitions incorporated into the weekend.  Bear in mind that the NYC Marathon is going to be run that Sunday, Nov 4th.

    The next major event after NYC will be the US Open in Philadelphia on January 8-11, 2008.  A decision by the NARA Board this past May was that a full membership meeting will be held each year at the US Open.  Therefore, we will hold the 2008 NARA Annual Meeting in Philadelphia.  We will hold a NARA Annual Meeting, the NARA Board continues to do our best to keep you informed of events, activities, and initiatives to advance our great game. The NARA Annual Meeting will be held on Saturday, January 12, 2008 and everyone is invited to attend. The exact time is to be determined but keep checking the website for more information at www.NorthAmericanRackets.com . The Canadian Championships follow immediately on January 17-20th. We expect a large turnout from the UK for both events so we are looking at a great two weeks of rackets.

    Finally, as most of you know, the UK's Tennis and Rackets Association is celebrating their Centenary Season this season. The celebration begins with a black tie dinner at Lord's Cricket Club on November 13th (Tuesday) and culminates on April 23-27 with five days of golf, rackets and the requisite social events. These events are open only to members of the T&RA, overseas memberships are very affordable and can be started from their website www.tennisandrackets.com . As an appreciation for the wonderful friendships we have with the T&RA members as well as that same appreciation for the leadership role they play in the game of Rackets, NARA will be presenting, to the T&RA, an original collage of all the North American Clubs beautifully created by a top American artist.

    In closing, I hope that you are as excited about the upcoming season as I am. Please feel free to contact me at kaddington@flattopgrill.com or at 708-383-2240 ext 235.

Play!

Keene Addington

President

North American Racquets Association

 

 

February 2007

Greetings fellow "Racketeers",

The depths of winter are upon us and this cold snap has lasted since just before the Canadian Championships.  There was some concern that our traditionally frigid Montreal weekend would be mild and tame this year.  The golfers were playing only two weeks before the weekend, which is unheard of.  Luckily the arctic blast arrived just in time.  It was great to have so many players from out of town back in Montreal to see the new court and club.  Due to the large draw the play did extend into the wee hours of the night on Friday and the appreciative crowd was as boisterous as ever.

The big weekend in Chicago is fast approaching and it is not to be missed.  The NARA fiftieth birthday party, the Tom Price and the U.S. Open are on tap in the windy city.  Our friends in Chicago really know how to put on a celebration and this one has the potential to be up there with the best.  Besides, Chicago needs some cheering up after that football game played in the monsoon in Miami in late January!  The play will be incredible and the draws are reported to be very large.  My spies tell me that James Male may be participating as well as the current world champion, Harry Foster.  With the usual list of contenders from England things could get interesting by the time the quarter finals come around.

See you in Chicago and in the meantime keep your head down and your eye on the ball.

BART SAMBROOK

NARA President  

 

 

Greetings Fellow “Racketeers”,                        

Happy New Year!

            It’s January 2007 and NARA’s 50^th birthday celebration and competitions will shortly be upon us so start moving your feet and keep your eye on the ball!  Don’t forget the upcoming schedule includes the Canadian Amateur starting this Thursday, January 18^th on our new and improved court.  This is the warmest the court has ever been at this time of the year so come and enjoy this snowless winter in Montreal.  Gold Racquets takes place in Tuxedo February 16-19^th and the “Big Daddy” of them all --- NARA’s 50^th anniversary takes place in Chicago, March 1-4^th, 2007.  We look forward to welcoming all old and new members of our Rackets fraternity.   

            Maybe the time has come to answer the recurring question of, “What does NARA do for me and where do the annual dues go?”  We might try to tackle the ancient question of how they get the filling into the Caramel bars as well while we’re at it!  Inquiring minds have always wanted to know what NARA does with your annual dues and there have likely been a variety of answers to that question over the years.

            Let’s start with communication. In the past there has been a newsletter that came out once a year summarizing the events that took place over the previous season. These days a dynamic website has been created to provide updated and current information relating to the various clubs and our Rackets world.  In order to have quick, accurate results and commentary for each event, NARA has a scribe who travels to each city when there is a tournament to record everything that goes on and prepares a report for the website.  The NARA board comprised of one NARA representative from each club attempts to meet as often as possible at each tournaments but it is sometimes necessary to have conference calls to discuss challenges or other issues that require quick decisions.  In addition to purchasing stationary and stamps the ongoing maintenance of the website which is crucial as the life blood of the Rackets community.  Also, a complete roster of all NARA members has been assembled and there are always updates being made (and needed)!

            NARA pays out prize money to the pros when they play in the different open events.  Prize money is paid to the pro of the Kendrick Cup winner and NARA financially supports a NARA member traveling to England to play in a world championship challenge.  NARA has also contributes to a fund in England that encourages the development of young professionals.   

            In the future NARA will try to target individual clubs to support initiatives to boost play and encourage new players to take up the game.  It is crucial for the future of the game of rackets that the individual clubs devise ways to develop the game in their respective markets.  If NARA can help financially then we will. The NARA board welcomes any suggestions from our members that will help us promote the game in any of the clubs.

            To conclude, even though we are a small organization there are plenty of ways to spend money.  As always, a great way to see how the money is spent is to get out to an event or two each year and discover the game beyond the confines of your own club. There are new friends to be made, different courts to be played on and cities to explore. If we all contribute and do our part to promote this greatest of Racket sports than North American rackets will thrive and enjoy another 50 years.

On behalf of the NARA board I wish you a Happy, Healthy and Competitive 2007.

Play!!

BART SAMBROOK

NARA President  

 

 

November 2006

            Under the heading of news; go to the Montreal page and note the pictures and write-up regarding the major renovation and changes taking place at the Montreal Raccquet Club.  The great news is the club should be open mid-November!  Also, our new pro Ryan Tully has arrived safely in Montreal just in time to start preparing for the cooler part of the year.  Fortunately Ryan is not sleeping on park benches or in subway stations but rather, he is being very well looked after at an undisclosed cozy Westmount mansion on the mountain where he plans to remain until he has found a pad suitable for Montreal’s newest rackets pro. Yes, the torch has been passed from father to son and we are lucky to have another Tully in Montreal.  It is expected that this month Ryan will actually have a place to go to work. The MRC is likely to be ready for play, on the new court, and be fully operational later this month.  The membership, especially Ronny, are chaffing at the bit to get play started.

For those of you looking for lots of play and plenty of fun it is not to late to enter the U.S Amateur and/or Murray Sales in Detroit starting this Thursday, the 9^th of November . The boys in Detroit put on the "highlight weekend" of last years tournament schedule and have assured me of a repeat performance.  They will be putting on a great show of hospitality as usual so please try and get to the motor city if you can.  Besides they need a lift since the little hiccup at the end of the baseball season has them a little down.

Idle gossip has it that Colt Landreth of the Chicago Racquet Club was seen in the Montreal area recently. Apparently Colt has other passions apart from Rackets. Witnesses say he shot his limit of ducks each day and impressed the locals with his quick wit and marksmanship.

Finally,  Thomas Howe and his able assistant, Susan have been working feverishly to complete the NARA roster and re-design the new and improved NARA website!  Although it is still in the early stages of upgrading; take a look at the new site.  I know Thomas would welcome any additional items of interest pertaining to any fellow NARA clubs or individuals. 

The season is about to begin. Be a part of the celebrations and get out and play!

 

BART SAMBROOK

NARA President

 

 

September 2006

Gentlemen,

            It's September and the golf and tennis players among us are getting those last few games in and the hunters are thinking about the first frost, migratory waterfowl or fur bearing critters. But this is no ordinary September. This is the 50th anniversary season of NARA and it promises to be a memorable one. Our friends in Detroit will kick off the season with the first major event beginning Thursday, November 9-12 with a combination U.S. Amateur and Murray Sales weekend which, if it is anything like last year, should be fantastic!  January 18-21, 2007 will give the rackets community the first look at the new Montreal court complete with a heated level floor, new back wall and a glass door! Of course the rest of the club has been fixed, replaced and buffed as well. We look forward to welcoming all of you to the Northern Outpost.  (Those of you looking for your annual chilly game in Montreal may be disappointed this time.)  But wait, there is a cool court in Tuxedo and there will be a stag dinner on the Thursday night, February 15th, as an addition to the Gold Racquet festivities.  If you have never been to Tuxedo then I recommend checking out this unique stop on the schedule. A committee is hard at work preparing for the official 50th anniversary celebration, March 1-4, 2007. Chicago will be hosting the U.S. Open, Kendrick Cup and the Tom Price will provide something for everyone that weekend. The season concludes in New York April 12-15, 2007 with the first leg of the World Doubles Challenge on Saturday and the Western Open will be played on the East Coast for the first time ever! The Pro Singles and Pro-Am Doubles will also be part of this weekend.

    If you have not traveled before or if it has been a while then this is the year to get involved and be a part of history!  If you are a first timer or getting reconnected to the game we look forward to seeing you on the tour.  If you have not seen the best in the world play doubles then the challenge in New York next spring is a must see!  See you on tour!!

 

BART SAMBROOK

NARA President