C.L.T.A. president defends Sunday play

Press, 15 December 1983, Page 44

C.L.T.A. president defends Sunday play

The best interests of all senior tennis players, and not just those of the senior men, had to be considered by the Canterbury Lawn Tennis Association in rescheduling competition matches in the new year. This was said yesterday by Mr Brian Faulls, the president of the C.L.T.A., in reply to criticism by Ralph Webster of the programming of four rounds of senior men’s matches on Sunday mornings. The association was extremely disappointed at having to take these steps with the seniors, Mr Faulls said, but it must be realised and appreciated that the association was dealing with about 2000 inter-club players and not just the 32 in the top men’s grade. “We appreciate the points

which Ralph Webster made on publicity, and we have always tried to ensure that the seniors receive the best deal we can give them,” he said. “However, the draw was already made, and all we have tried to do was to cause as little inconvenience to as few players as possible.” “Let’s not forget, either, that these moves are still only tentative,” Mr Faulls said. “The proposal by the management committee has yet to be confirmed by the competitions committee. “In my opinion, only when clubs are notified does it become official. I think Ralph Webster has been a bit presumptuous at this stage, for the association deals with clubs, not individuals.”

Mr Faulls said that the hard courts at Wilding Park — which will be the venue for senior men’s matches for the rest of the season — were funded out of junior association money, and the senior body was always mindful of that fact. “If we can use those courts now and then that’s fine, but we wouldn’t demand them,” he said. “If senior players expected that they can just walk on to those courts as of right, they are mistaken.” The rescheduled programme involved only about four or five weekends of competition play, Mr Faulls said; and having made the decision to gradually withdraw from the grass courts at the park, the association was left with no alternative.