Local and international tournaments at revamped VLTC courts

The extensive works on the tennis courts of the Vittoriosa Lawn Tennis Club at Kordin Heights are now in their final stages. The four courts have been levelled to one plane, resurfaced with hot-asphalt (tarmac) and each given easy access through an independent entrance.

The floodlighting system has been totally replaced and strengthened to give better light distribution. A new chain-fencing system has been installed all around the courts.

The VLTC - the second largest tennis club in Malta - can now better serve its hundreds of members thanks to its three full international courts and another one with slightly less running space. The latter is earmarked for coaching lessons ready to take the hundreds of children who regularly attend tennis lessons at VLTC.

The reconstruction works, which took several weeks to complete, have been rendered easier thanks to the constant help given by members of the club, particularly committee members.

Appreciation also go to other members who have patiently abstained from their favourite game while works were going on. However VLTC's special thanks go to Architect Jesmond Mugliett, Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Education, responsible for Sport, for his valued assistance to help make a dream come true for the hundreds of club members.

The newly refurbished courts are being made available for the first time to host the young tennis players who will be coming from various countries for the FISEC games. The Malta Tennis Federation Council chose the Vittoriosa Lawn Tennis Club to host this tournament. On many occasions the VLTC hosted European tennis team championships with Tennis Europe and Open international tournaments.

The girls chosen under the Malta Tennis Federation to take part are Tanya Camilleri, Rosanne Dimech, Karen Ferrante, Steffi Pace and Steffi Sullivan. Matthew Camilleri, council member within the Malta Tennis Federation, will be in charge of the Maltese contingent while the officiating committee of the MTF will be assisting in umpiring. It will be recalled that the players who participated last year managed to acquire silver and bronze medals. Adrian Borg Cardona is the tournament director. These last six months the FISEC committee, notably Louis Borg and David Azzopardi, had fruitful meetings with the Malta Tennis Federation in preparation for the forthcoming games.

The second major event at the revamped courts will be the San Michel Junior Open Tournament, sponsored by Simonds Farson Cisk plc. This tournament is valid for the Malta Tennis Federation ratings .

The club's own first team tournament - the Candy Tournament - starts immediately after. It is sponsored by George Demajo of V. Demajo & Bros of Paola Hill, Paola.

Application forms for these tournaments may be collected from the Vittoriosa Lawn Tennis Club at Kordin Heights, Paola.

Forthcoming events at VLTC

FISEC tennis - starts Monday, July 22, ends Monday, July 29.

San Michel Junior Open - starts July 29, ends Sunday, August 4.

Closing date for entries: Monday, July 22. Draws: Wednesday, July 24.

Candy Tournament - starts Friday, August 2, till end of September.

Closing date for entries is next Thursday.