History · Founded 1927
Club History
Killinchy Tennis Club, founded in 1927.
Transcribed from the club’s printed history, Killinchy Tennis Club 1927–1997, including extracts from the first minutes and the Ellesmere Guardian.
Forming the club
General Meeting, 7 May 1927
A meeting was called for the purpose of forming a tennis club at Killinchy was held at the residence of Mr J Spence on the evening of May 7th 1927.
Mr Pocock presided over an attendance of 32 intending members.
Mr Spence formally presented an area of ground sufficient for two tennis courts. The gift was recorded on paper.
Mr ……. moved and Mr ……. seconded that a tennis club be formed and that Mr Spence be thanked for his generous gift. This was carried unanimously.
The following officers were elected:
- Patrons
- Sir Heaton Rhodes, Mr D. Jones
- President
- Mr J. Spence
- Vice-Presidents
- Mr Marshall, Mr W. J. Lemon, Mr H. McLenaghen, Mr J. Millar, Mr McClure, Mr Boon, Mr Chappell, Mr Allen, Mr Dawber, Mr McIlraith, Mr Nixon, Mr O’Brien, Mr L. C. Lemon, Mr Whiskers, Mr Allen, Mrs R Allen, Mr Adams, Mr Caldwell
- Treasurer
- Miss L. Spence
M. McLenaghen, Hon. Sec.
Extracts from the first minutes
Laying the courts
At a meeting on 18-6-1927 a “well-wisher” offered a sum of £50 as a gift to the club if it was intended putting down an asphalt court. It was decided to accept the generous offer and lay down an asphalt court.
On 20-8-1927 it was decided to accept Mr Smart’s offer of £87/9/6 using local material and the carting to be done by the local people. Arrangements were made for clearing the ground and carting the shingle from Mr Marshall’s pit.
The second court was put down by Mr Gwatkin in 1929.
LAWN TENNIS
Killinchy Club
New Court to be Laid
The first annual meeting of the Killinchy Tennis Club was held on Friday evening, Mr R Bruce presided over a fair attendance of members.
The Secretary presented a report of the years work showing a membership of 61. The balance sheet showed a credit of £19/2/9.
It was resolved to hold the official opening on Saturday next, September 29th.
Club life
Dances and Balls
The major source of funds over the years has been from dances. The first event organized by the club was a concert and dance on 7 July 1927. For many years an annual ball was organized. Perusal of the minutes show that as much time was spent organizing dances as was spent on organizing tennis.
Subscriptions
The subscription in 1927-28 was 5/- and under 14, 2/6. It rose to 10/- in 1928-29 and was 10/- or 7/6 until 1946-47. In 1949-50 men paid £1/0/0 and ladies 15/-. By 1957-58 it had risen to 30/- and 25/-. At the change to decimal currency in 1967 it was £1/5/0. In 1993-94 it was $45.00.
Sunday Play
There was considerable discussion at the 1934 Annual Meeting on playing on Sundays and a meeting arranged for 26 September to discuss the proposal to permit Sunday play. At this meeting a secret ballot was held with 11 for, 6 against and 1 informal vote.
Topdressing the Courts
One of the joys of working bees at the start of most seasons was topdressing the courts. A drum of creosote or colfix was purchased and sand or sawdust used. The cracks were hammered down many times but the sides turned back up in a week or two. Topdressing is first mentioned in the minutes in 1933.
The Pavilion
A room at the Presbyterian Church was used for afternoon tea until the pavilion was built in 1958. Agreement was reached with the Anglican Church for a small area of land. Peter Lemon supervised the working bees and was given a free sub for his services. Later water was connected to the pavilion and the need, each Saturday, to take the urn to Boon’s to fill was over.
Ellesmere Sub-Association
Killinchy affiliated to the sub-association in 1929. The other clubs were Dunsandel, Leeston, Southbridge, Springston and Waihora. The sub-association had been formed in 1926.
The club has been successful in the sub-association competitions. In 1963 and 1964 the club combined with Doyleston and Leeston to win the A Grade. The B Grade team which won the 1961 competition was Ron Allen, Murray McClure, Roger Boon, Ian Sunckell, Judith Sunckell, Mary Jackman, Valerie McClure & Lyn Doyle.
The Senior Reserve was won in 1976 and the C Grade in 1987.
New Courts
A number of times over the years relaying of the courts was considered. In 1995 it was again considered. Grants from the Selwyn District Council and the Lottery’s Commission were received and when added to the money raised by peastraw sales, enough finance was available to go ahead with the project. After much thought it was decided to shift the courts to the Community Centre and the tender of $44,595 from Fulton Hogan Ltd was accepted. The courts were completed in February 1997.
Have memories, stories or records to share? We would love to hear from you.
Get in touch