The absolute priority of everyone in Britain needs to be protecting the health of the nation, with a requirement to dramatically adjust our behaviour to help slow the spread of the disease, prevent the NHS from being overwhelmed, and ultimately save lives. The way everyone can do this is complying with the Government’s guidance and staying at home.

Following the Prime Minister’s announcement on Monday evening (23 March) all tennis facilities and courts should be closed, and tennis coaching and activity should be put on hold with immediate effect.

The National Tennis Centre is closed, and all activity delivered by the LTA remains suspended for the foreseeable future, including all LTA organised coaching sessions, programmes and training courses. We have also now extended the cancellation of all LTA staged and LTA approved competitions (grade 1 to 6) up to 31 May 2020.

During these challenging times for our society, our focus over the coming weeks will be to ensure tennis coaches, venues, volunteers, officials and players are supported in any way they can be, so that tennis in Britain emerges from this period in as strong and healthy position as possible, and the sport is able to resume its role in keeping the nation active.

We are continuing to work with Government to help us achieve this, and establishing what further support can be provided to help all those impacted by this unprecedented situation.

Advice for CoachesLTA further information Advice for VenuesLTA further information

As you are all aware, the Coronavirus outbreak is having a significant impact both globally and here in the UK, in what is an extremely fluid and fast-changing situation.

On Monday 16th March 2020 the UK Government updated its advice, and we are now being advised to avoid gatherings, work from home and limit all travel to only essential trips. It is expected that further measures will be introduced in the coming days.

The LTA has also issued a statement suspending all LTA activity until 20th April 2020. Again, we expect further restrictions to be announced shortly.

As a result, the Walkden and District Tennis League have discussed these developments and regrettably, we now have to announce that all Walkden and District League activities are suspended indefinitely and with immediate effect.

This means the 2020 season will not now start as planned on Wednesday 29th April 2020.

We will continue to monitor the situation, and heed the advice of Government and the LTA and will provide updates as necessary on the Walkden and District League website and via communication to club secretaries.

We hope that it may be possible to play a shortened season at some point this summer and will advise if and when this becomes a possibility.

In the meantime, please look after yourselves and your families.

Ian Hodgkinson

Chairman

Walkden and District League

Thank you to everyone who attended the presentation evening at Monton.
I hope you all had a really great evening.
Congratulations to everyone who picked up a trophy.
A big thank you to Amanda for all her hard work in organising the event.

Please be aware that Cup & Plate finals can be played at any time from now until the 14th August, which is the date set for the finals.

Thanks.

Can all clubs who have trophies from last season, please return them to Caroline Whelan, at Claremont.

Thanks.

As Pauline is away this week, if you want? You can send the match cards to Gary@walkdenanddistricttennisleague.co.uk

Thanks.

Sadly I have to announce, that Lostock A have had to withdraw their team from the first division, for this season.
All of their fixtures will be awarded as 64-0 to the teams that they were due to play.

Thanks to everyone who attended the AGM on the 4th of March, at Claremont.

The minutes, for all of you who missed the evening, can be found here Minutes of Walkden & District Tennis League AGM 2019