| Club History Lord Wimborne, Sir Ivor Guest, opened the court at Canford in 1879 although there had been an earlier court built in the grounds of the manor house dating back to 1541. The present structure is a typical example of a Bickley court, with a red floor and black plastered walls. The result is a very true fast bounce off the floor, which in return rewards the cut shot. Canford School was founded in 1923 and pupils at the school have been able to enjoy the facility ever since. The School has produced some notable Old Canfordian players including the likes of Patrick Jenkins and Simon De Halpert and more recently: Rob Nicholson, Ivan Snell, Peter Paterson, Ivan, Ben, and Matthew Ronaldson (yes, there is an awful lot of that mob around!) The best player to date is James Willcocks who is vying to be the World No1 amateur. Canford are dominating the Henry Leaf Cup at the moment and look as if they will continue to do so for some while yet. Local enthusiasts have always been welcome to play at Canford and in 1980 the Canford Tennis Club was formed. Rob Bartlett was appointed as its first professional and he did a marvelous job in getting the membership up to about 70 in a couple of years. Steve Ronaldson succeeded Rob, and under his auspices the club has continued to develop and thrive. (Currently the membership is about 155). The amenities of the club have changed greatly since the 80's. The screen separating the court from false Dedans has created a very comfortable social area, while the changing rooms have been upgraded and general environs have been carpeted and smartened up. |
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