KIRKTONHILL Tennis Club’s president Tom Corcoran is convinced the club can go from strength to strength with increasing membership and infrastructure improvements planned.

The Dumbarton club held the LTA’s Great British Tennis Weekend and a French Open Kids Day at the weekend which was well attended.

There are big challenges ahead for the club, however, as they look to raise funds towards a new club house which is a small portacabin of 50 years in need of replacement.

Corcoran said: “Kirktonhill may be a small club but it has big ambitions. We’ve already had over 50 children taking part in our Saturday coaching and have increased our adult membership this year and we would be delighted to welcome more local folks along.

“Our ambition for the coming months is to replace the club house and give the club the facilities it needs to move forward. There is so much tennis talent amongst our youngsters in West Dunbartonshire and I have no doubt that Kirktonhill has what it takes to help them fulfil their potential.”

Meanwhile, the club’s gents’ team have started the season with a bang as they progressed in the Junior Calcutta Cup.

The team’s first competitive match of the season saw them secure a 4-1 win against Weir Recreation a place in the quarter finals.

The fixture began with three singles matches. The strongest performance in the Kirktonhill team was Andy Bone who won 6-4, 6-4.

Alan Barbour had a more challenging match, narrowly losing the first set. However, he comfortably took the second set and went on to take the tie-break 10-4.

The toughest match of the tie involved Douglas Mackechnie against Weir Recreations’ number one player.

After coaching children for 4 hours immediately before the match, Douglas’ play was less consistent than usual and he went down 4-6, 2-6. With the contest finely balanced at 2-1 in Kirktonhill’s favour, the outcome of the two doubles matches would be crucial.

Douglas and Andrew McCollum were slow to get started and lost their first set 3-6. They fought back strongly and took the second set 6-1 before going on to win the tie-break 10-6.

On court 2 were Andy Bone and Alan Barbour. They proved to be far too strong for their young opposition and completely dominated their match with a 6-0, 6-0 win.

With a final score of 4-1, the team move through to a home tie in the quarter finals against either Whitecraigs or Hamilton

Kirktonhill Tennis Club is located in Dixon Avenue, off Clydeshore Road and just opposite Levengrove Park.

The club provides coaching for ages 5 upwards. All coaching is open to non-members.

The cost per hourly session is £3 for club members and £5 for non-members. There is no need to book or pay in advance and rackets can be borrowed on the day. This year for the first time the Saturday junior coaching is being provided free to all club members aged 10 and under.

Beginner ladies coaching has just got under way on Monday evenings, 7pm-7.45pm, again open to non-members, rackets provided.

As with the junior coaching, the sessions are taken by club coach, Douglas Mackechnie. As a special incentive, the club is offering 4 free lessons to new club members. Visit www.kirktonhill.co.uk, its Facebook page, contact Fiona on 01389 750688 or Karen on 01389 603102.