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Page 1<br />
H A N D S A C R O S S T H E<br />
N E T , F R I E N D S H I P S<br />
A C R O S S T H E O C E A N<br />
INTERNATIONAL CLUB<br />
N E W S L E T T E R I S S U E 8<br />
SOUTH AFR<strong>IC</strong>A<br />
J U L Y 2 0 1 2<br />
<strong>IC</strong> CAPE TOWN TENNIS DAY A GREAT SUCCESS<br />
In this issue:<br />
<strong>IC</strong> Cape<br />
Town <strong>Tennis</strong><br />
Day<br />
<strong>IC</strong> SA on<br />
Facebook<br />
Maud<br />
Thorne -<br />
<strong>our</strong> <strong>new</strong><br />
<strong>honorary</strong><br />
<strong>member</strong><br />
Vosloorus -<br />
a year on….<br />
<strong>IC</strong> Cape<br />
Town<br />
breakfast<br />
News events<br />
and<br />
happenings<br />
Jeff Coetzee and <strong>member</strong>s of the <strong>IC</strong> Cape Town<br />
pose with some of the players from the Anyone for<br />
<strong>Tennis</strong> development programme<br />
Jeff Coetzee, former SA Davis Cup player and<br />
<strong>member</strong> of the <strong>IC</strong>, teamed up with good<br />
friends and former international players, Danie<br />
Visser, Pietie Norval, and <strong>new</strong> Davis Cup<br />
player Ruan Roelofse, in an exhibition tennis<br />
match at Meadowridge <strong>Tennis</strong> Club, Cape<br />
Town in April.<br />
The exhibition match was part of a fun afternoon<br />
of tennis, and participants of the Anyone<br />
<strong>IC</strong> SA on Facebook!<br />
Dear <strong>member</strong>s, we are on the move!! It’s time<br />
that we, too, enter the age of social media.<br />
Actively embracing the various social media<br />
tools means we can communicate easily with<br />
you regarding important information, events<br />
and other <strong>new</strong>s about the International Club<br />
of South Africa.<br />
Feel free to share questions comments and<br />
ideas. Together, let’s move the <strong>IC</strong> in SA to<br />
<strong>new</strong> heights while we play <strong>our</strong> part in growing<br />
tennis! We can be found at:<br />
http://www.facebook.com/groups/<br />
327484710665936/ ,alternatively search for<br />
the “International <strong>Tennis</strong> club of SA”.<br />
Jeff Coetzee, Pietie Norval, Danie Visser and<br />
Ruan Roelofse who took part in the exhibition<br />
doubles match<br />
for <strong>Tennis</strong> development programme, for which<br />
Jeff is an ambassador, also took part in the<br />
day’s activities.<br />
“We are delighted that <strong>our</strong> past Davis Cup<br />
players are involving themselves in activities<br />
such as this. It is a great way in which they are<br />
able to give back to the game and act as role<br />
models to young players,” commented Leonie<br />
Grondel, Chairperson of the <strong>IC</strong>SA. Well done<br />
<strong>IC</strong> AGM in London<br />
Doug Hillen and Terrey Schweitzer at the<br />
Roehampton club after the <strong>IC</strong> AGM in London on<br />
Sun 1 July. With them is Dan Waldman President of<br />
<strong>IC</strong> USA and Kit Spencer President of <strong>IC</strong> Bahamas<br />
who co-ordinates the <strong>IC</strong> Junior Challenge.<br />
The International Club of South Africa
Page 2<br />
MAUD THORNE <strong>–</strong> OUR NEW HONORARY MEMBER<br />
At a function held in East London before Nationals,<br />
Maud Thorne of Border was invited to become an Honorary<br />
Member of the International Club of SA.<br />
Maud is one of the longest serving tennis administrators<br />
and players in the country, having been involved with<br />
tennis since 1960. She began her tennis “career” by becoming<br />
secretary of the now defunct East London <strong>Tennis</strong><br />
Club which was recognised as the third oldest Club in<br />
South Africa.<br />
Since then she has served on numerous committees<br />
which includes service on the Juniors Committee and as<br />
the Chairperson of Border <strong>Tennis</strong>. Maud’s name was<br />
synonymous with Border Junior T<strong>our</strong>naments in the 60’s<br />
and 70’s and many of us re<strong>member</strong> her efficiency in<br />
those good old days! Nowadays she still serves on the<br />
Border Executive. In 2008 she was part of the organising<br />
committee for the SAA SA Open held in East London.<br />
Not to forget her prowess on the c<strong>our</strong>t, Maud’s name<br />
appears on the Hon<strong>our</strong>s Board at her present club, Beacon<br />
Bay, more times than anyone cares to count and<br />
she was selected to play for SA Veterans in the mid<br />
A year into <strong>our</strong> project and we have firsthand experience<br />
of coping with day to day realities in the Township of<br />
Vosloorus. Challenges such as municipal bureaucracy,<br />
a shortage of c<strong>our</strong>ts, a poor communication infrastructure<br />
and the lack of a full-time coordinator in the township<br />
make <strong>our</strong> job difficult at times, but there is definitely<br />
progress, albeit slow.<br />
2012 had a slow start with tennis completely being<br />
overshadowed by the different demands of the school<br />
calendar and Athletics was the order of the day. Once<br />
lessons got underway, however, we were pleasantly surprised<br />
when two local High Schools indicated that they<br />
would like to become part of the coaching project. Michael<br />
Lelosa now has his hands full with three Primary<br />
Schools and two High Schools. In addition he runs a<br />
Saturday morning junior club. Three teachers who assist<br />
Michael attended a morning c<strong>our</strong>se on Play and Stay <strong>–</strong><br />
2000’s.<br />
Those who do not know Maud as an administrator or<br />
player, will certainly re<strong>member</strong> her as a dedicated j<strong>our</strong>nalist<br />
who for many years had a weekly tennis column in<br />
the Daily Dispatch. She is still the local tennis correspondent<br />
reporting on all the Junior and Senior events<br />
taking place in East London. Welcome to the family,<br />
Maude!<br />
VOSLOORUS - A YEAR ON….<br />
Allan Karam, one of <strong>our</strong> <strong>new</strong> <strong>member</strong>s very kindly gave<br />
of his time to present the c<strong>our</strong>se. Slowly we are working<br />
on equipping the coaching staff with better skills. We<br />
also were involved in a t<strong>our</strong>nament at the end of April<br />
and hope that it was the first of many.<br />
<strong>IC</strong> CAPE TOWN BREAKFAST HELD AT CONSTANTIA TENNIS CLUB<br />
A most enjoyable breakfast was held at Constantia <strong>Tennis</strong> Club on<br />
the 31st March. Organised by Richard Ballance and Mike Wolffe,<br />
it was a perfect opportunity to meet up with old friends and discuss<br />
<strong>IC</strong> matters of interest.<br />
The highlight of the morning was the presence of Jeff and Mauricia<br />
Coetzee who had come through from the Boland to spend time<br />
with us. In an informal address Jeff entertained the <strong>member</strong>s with<br />
stories of his own boyhood and subsequent career. He also told of<br />
his foundation "Anyone For <strong>Tennis</strong>", a most worthwhile cause.<br />
At the same occasion we were delighted to welcome Muriel<br />
Cherry (Western Cape representative) to the committee. Both she<br />
and Jeff are passionate about tennis and within two weeks she<br />
and Jeff had organised the wonderful tennis day at Meadowridge<br />
<strong>Tennis</strong> club (please see page 1 of this <strong>new</strong>sletter for more details).<br />
The International Club of South Africa
Page 3<br />
NEWS EVENTS AND HAPPENINGS 2012<br />
Trip to Namibia<br />
Unfortunately we finally had to cancel <strong>our</strong> trip to Namibia<br />
as we could not raise a team. We will be keeping this on<br />
<strong>our</strong> list of “to do’s” as Namibia are still very keen to have<br />
us visit them.<br />
Another exhibition game in Cape Town!<br />
Cape Town is leading the way and Jeff Coetzee has<br />
been asked to organise another exhibition game to be<br />
played by past Davis cup players. This has tentatively<br />
been planned for Sunday 4 November at the Edgemead<br />
Club. It would be very exciting if we could have the same<br />
support we enjoyed at Meadowridge.<br />
So, watch this space!<br />
70’s Club<br />
We will be hosting a lunch for a very special group of<br />
<strong>member</strong>s <strong>–</strong> we hope that <strong>our</strong> 70’s <strong>member</strong>s will be able<br />
to get together and reminisce about the Golden Years of<br />
<strong>Tennis</strong>. Invitations will be sent out in due c<strong>our</strong>se.<br />
<strong>Tennis</strong> and golf days<br />
We missed out on <strong>our</strong> tennis day in 2011 but we’re working<br />
on a date for 2012. Let us know on Facebook whether<br />
you’d support a <strong>Tennis</strong> & Golf Weekend in Sun City <strong>–</strong><br />
we may be able to get a very good rate for the selfcatering<br />
units.<br />
<strong>IC</strong> <strong>member</strong>s going to Croatia<br />
The following <strong>member</strong>s have been selected to represent<br />
the SA Super Seniors at the World Champs in Croatia<br />
taking place in September:<br />
Men: Danie Botha, Ronnie van’t Hof, Daan Spengler,<br />
Miles Foxcroft, Peter de Vaal, Billy Kehl, Hannes van<br />
Wyk, Oscar Marino, Michael Wolffe, Mervin Watson,<br />
Ralph Burls, Derek Lawer and Brian Smith.<br />
Ladies: Carine Puckrin, Cora Roux, Elsabie Ferreira,<br />
Leonie Grondel, Maeve Samuels, Kathy Nevay, Jackie<br />
Zylstra and Audrey van Coller.<br />
Reminder: <strong>IC</strong>SA WEBSITE UP AND RUNNING<br />
The International Club of South Africa’s<br />
website is up and running!<br />
There are two ways of getting on to the website :<br />
Use either www.sa.ictennis.net<br />
or<br />
www.southafrica.ictennis.net<br />
You will be then directed to the <strong>IC</strong> <strong>Tennis</strong> website with<br />
a link straight to the South Africa home page. There is<br />
also an icon for each country on the right-hand side of<br />
the website which you can click.<br />
Mats Wilander wins <strong>IC</strong> Jean Borotra Sportsmanship<br />
Award 2012<br />
This award is made periodically to a player who has<br />
shown throughout his or her playing career the outstanding<br />
standard of sportsmanship commensurate with the<br />
objects of the International Clubs. The relevant objective<br />
of the <strong>IC</strong>s is to “develop, enc<strong>our</strong>age and maintain the<br />
highest standards of sportsmanship and understanding<br />
among players of all nations and among young players in<br />
particular”. Past winners are Stefan Edberg, Chris Evert,<br />
Todd Martin, Maria Bueno, Pat Rafter, Kim Clijsters and<br />
Gustavo Kuerten.<br />
The selection process involves a panel of international<br />
tennis j<strong>our</strong>nalists who select a group of players who<br />
would meet these criteria. This list is then endorsed or<br />
added to by the 38 International Clubs around the world.<br />
Following this process Mats Wilander came out top and<br />
the <strong>IC</strong> was very proud to announce him as winner of the<br />
2012 Award.<br />
Wimbledon tickets<br />
The lucky winners of the tickets for Wimbledon were<br />
Demetri Caripi, Richard Ballance and Wendy Alves.<br />
Bahamas and La Manga, Spain (2013)<br />
It appears that a doubles event will once again be held in<br />
the Bahamas <strong>–</strong> the 2011 fixture was one fun-filled week!<br />
Also, a very exciting trip will be the tennis and golf week<br />
in La Manga. Apparently Rafa has agreed to participate<br />
in the golf event providing the dates fit into his busy<br />
schedule. Meeting him would be awesome….<br />
<strong>IC</strong> TIES and SHIRTS<br />
FOR SALE<br />
We have <strong>new</strong> ties for sale at<br />
R100 each and <strong>new</strong> <strong>IC</strong><br />
shirts at R285 each<br />
<strong>IC</strong> South Africa<br />
Contact Details: International Club<br />
Chairperson: Leonie Grondel : lgrondel@gmail.com<br />
Terrey : proten@netactive.co.za<br />
Doug : doughill@iafrica.com<br />
Moira : moira.golden@gmail.com<br />
Rene: Rene.Plant@stmary.co.za<br />
Lorna : zk3@mweb.co.za<br />
Muriel : mcherry@mweb.co.za<br />
Ronel : jglouw@mweb.co.za<br />
Neville : nevandjoc@yebo.co.za<br />
Dale : dale@ionic.co.za<br />
Carlos : cemonginho@hotmail.com<br />
The International Club of South Africa