Anyone for tennis? Players in Stourbridge dust off their rackets for first time in weeks
Eager tennis players in Stourbridge have smashed their way back on to the court as lockdown restrictions eased.
Members of Wollaston Lawn Tennis Club have keenly picked up their rackets after government guidelines changed to allow people to take part in some outdoor sports with members of their own households.
Strict social distancing rules have been laid down by the club, based off Prestwood Drive, Stourton, to keep members safe as they play.
But players are raring to go nearly two months after Covid-19 restrictions forced them to lay down their rackets.
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Members were invited to start booking slots on the club’s eight courts from last week.
Boris Johnson – himself a keen tennis player – has announced that some outdoor sports, also including golf, can now go ahead provided people play with members of their own family or one other person from a different household.
That means that non-family members can play singles tennis together provided they keep at least two metres apart at all times.
Wollaston Tennis Club chairman Alan Hughes said: “The easing of lockdown restrictions is a breath of fresh air for our members, who have really missed playing our favourite sport.
“They were champing at the bit to get back on court. But we are very conscious of the need to keep everyone safe, so we have issued guidance to our members to follow strictly the rules laid down by the government.
“To ensure that people can come to the club without overcrowding we have implemented a booking system and our new rules include that people cannot go inside the clubhouse and nobody should play if they have symptoms of Covid-19.
“We have introduced a system of playing that means it is quite simple for people to keep their distance from each other while still enjoying their favourite sport and we are reinforcing advice about hand washing or sanitising before and after playing.”
Mr Hughes and his wife, Heather, were among the first members back on court, playing singles against each other.
And the Harris family from Kingswinford – mother Lorna, aged 46, father Anthony, 48, and children Annabelle, 17, and Joseph, 12 – dusted off their rackets to play together this weekend.
Mrs Harris said: “We have been trying to keep fit in our garden, with regular boot camps and walks in the local area. We have really missed our Saturday afternoon tennis mix-ins. But we are delighted now to return to the tennis courts at Wollaston and are grateful that all four of us are able to play as a family.”
