The Burnside Park Tennis Club, Inc.

Our Club - our history

A Brief Backgrounder on The Burnside Park Tennis Club: Preliminary meetings in late 1924, concerning the formation of a new Sports Club, led to a General Meeting on February 11th, 1925, at which a decision was made to purchase 2¾ acres of land at 43 Burnside Road, for the sum of £2,200.00. This was followed up with a meeting on February 19th, at which it was decided that the Club should be "The Fendalton Tennis and Croquet Club" After more monthly meetings, The Club was finally incorporated, and the rules were passed at a General Meeting on October 12th, 1925. November 1925's meeting saw the purchase of boiler tubes, the erection of a water tank shed, and the acceptance of a tender to fit up and paint a farm shed as a pavilion. The Club was finally established in 1926 on three courts in Memorial Avenue, and Mr. G.E. Royds was elected it's first President on January 19th of that year. The had Club remained at that location for some 48 years — when a Special General Meeting (over which Mr. O.H. Waters presided on July 2nd, 1973) resolved, due to a ground-swell of membership opinion and the favourable findings of a sub-committee which had been established the previous year, to move the Club to a more suitable situation, and after negotiations with The Waimairi County Council and other Sports Clubs in Burnside Park, preparations were soon underway to effect the much anticipated relocation to the new site. The move was ultimately made in 1978 to the present site, but prior to that (whilst still located on the original site) the Club celebrated it's 50th Anniversary under the Presidency of Mrs. Margaret Murray. Initially eight hardcourts were laid at the new site, but after subsequent improvements, the complex now boasts an attractive, versatile club house and ten courts (six of which are hardcourts with synthetic coatings, and four of which are in AstroTurf synthetic grass). Floodlighting covers seven of these, enabling play, coaching and Business House tennis in the evenings. Since moving to Burnside Park, the Club has committed to maintaining the very high standard of its resources and to providing its members, and the local community, with first-class playing facilities. The Club boasts one of the largest Junior memberships in New Zealand, and is strongly affiliated to Canterbury Tennis Inc., the sport's governing body in Canterbury. Being easily accessible, BPTC's courts cater for casual players, local hotel guests, businesses, corporations, and overseas visitors.

At the 81st AGM of The Fendalton Tennis Club, Inc. on July 15th, 2006, the rank and file membership voted overwhelmingly in favour of changing the Club's name to The Burnside Park Tennis Club, Inc. - in deference to it's "new" location in Burnside Park.

"The Fendalton Tennis Club Opening Day 1927"

The first Club Championships were initiated in January 1927 and entry fees were set for Singles at 2/-, Doubles 2/- each, and Mixed Doubles 1/6 each. As these events were unduly drawn out, it was recommended that Championship events be completed by June 30th, and Handicap events by December 31st.

Winners of the Championship and Handicap matches were ...
Men's Championship Singles JR Crawshw Jr (A Stewart Esq. Cup) — Ladies Championship Singles Miss M Wake — Men's Championship Doubles MG Somerville and Hale (TD Harman Esq. Cup) — Ladies Championship Doubles Misses M and ED Oxley — Ladies Handicap Singles Miss R Dallas — Men's Handicap Doubles EW England and Labbott — Ladies Handicap Doubles Mrs Fleming and Mrs Falconer — Combined Handicap Doubles Mrs EE Crawshaw and JR Crawshaw

Extract from "Burnside Park - It's History, People and Sports" by Arthur Grayburn

Joan Thompson - Trophy Donor "The Joan Thompson Handicap Doubles"

Joan Thompson (1995)
Presents "The Joan Thompson Handicap Doubles" Trophy to Sandy Wilson and Trevor Dimmock

Lorraine Hearne - Daughter of Donor of "The Bert Hearne Plate"

Lorraine Hearne (1994)
Daughter of Bert Hearne (donor of the "Bert Hearne Plate") talks with member Janet Drury

Ray Allison (1995)
A former Treasurer of the Club and donor of "The Ray Allison Doubles" Trophies

Chris Lewis
An unseeded Finalist at Wimbledon in 1983, talks to BPTC Juniors along with coach Brian Faulls

Brian Faulls - Former Fendalton Tennis Club Coach

Brian Faulls (1992)
Fendalton Tennis Club professional coach for many years, Brain Faulls strung up - again !

Barbara Ryan (1991)
Our longest serving Junior Convenor who was made a Life Member of the Club for her work.

Barbara Ryan - Badge of Gold (2001)
The crowd assembles at the Airport Commodore for Barbara Ryan's Badge of Gold Award

Sir Richard and Barbara Ryan
The Bank of New Zealand's Ambassador Sir Richard Hadlee makes the presentation

Sir Richard talks about sport
After the presentation John Campbell interviewed Sir Richard about his sporting experiences


Re-laying of Courts 8, 9 and 10 (1996) The machines move in to the court areas to prepare the new base-course (07/05/96), and very soon they are well underway with final surfacing prior to the laying of the asphalt (21/05/96). With the new surfaces down for a week or so it is time to mark the courts (30/05/96)

Surfacing Courts 1,2 and 3 with Plexipave (1994)
Centre Court Surfaces make the final preparations for the application
of the synthetic Plexipave compound to Courts 1, 2 and 3 (note the trees)

Fendalton Tennis Club 75th Anniversary (2000)
A magnificent cake with an image of Brian Faulls coaching Juniors, takes centre stage for the 75th Anniversary of The Fendalton Tennis Club, Inc.

The Annual Fendalton Veterans' Tournament (1995)
The scene outside the Clubrooms for the Annual Fendalton Veterans' Tournament (1995)

The Annual BPTC Seniors Tournament (2003)
Due problems with the use of the word "Veterans'", the Club renamed it's annual tournament to "Seniors" and has used this name for some years

Saturday Afternoon in the Clubhouse (1995)
Enjoying a spot of "after-match" - from left: Liz Lewis, John Campbell, Robyn Campbell, Mark Lewis (back turned) and Brian Faulls

Saturday Afternoon in the Clubhouse (1995)
Former Club Manager Bob Hall and Julie Lawry were obviously getting on extremely well together this particular afternoon .... lucky Bobby !

Fundraising by placing inserts at the Christchurch Press - 1993

"The Fendalton Tennis Nightshift Team" (1993)
A group of Fendalton Tennis Club members placing inserts in the
Christchurch Press as a fundraiser for the Club (early a.m. 11/07/93)

"The Fendalton Tennis Nightshift Team" (1993)
... next night - from left: Tony Smith, John Edginton, Robyn Campbell, John Campbell, Jenny Smith, Carol Todd, ?,Sandy Wilson + Mark Mabin

"The Fendalton Senior Mens Team - Winners 1981-82"

After the move to Burnside Park, and increasing number of men joined the Club, and the cycle was completed with many men playing midweek tennis. The Club reached Senior status for InterClub play for both men and women competing within Canterbury. In 1981-82 the Senior Men won the Canterbury Lawn Tennis Association BNZ Shield and Trophy. The Players were: Phil Seeman, Alistair Chapman, Marty Searle, Alan Adair and Mike Sibley. With a comprehensive Junior Programme underway, the Club was no longer importing Senior men players as the Club's Juniors were progressing through the system. Brendan Furness was the first, and he was followed by Mark Mabin, Andrew Ellis, Marty McLean, Blair Escott, Nicholas Johnson and Andrew Cochrane.

The photograph shows at the rear, Mike Sibley and Alan Adair, whilst in front we see
Marty Searle, Philip Seeman and Alistair Chapman.

Extract from "Burnside Park - It's History, People and Sports" by Arthur Grayburn

"ANTHONY FREDERICK WILDING"

P.C. Fenwicke, with his brother, won the first New Zealand men's doubles championship at lawn tennis, but in 1887 this was won by R.D. Harman an F. Wilding. Thus the illustrious name of WILDING made its first appearance in the records. F. Wilding's three year old son, ANTHONY FREDERICK WILDING, was destined to become the greatest player New Zealand had produced. ANTHONY WILDING, who succeeded Harry Parker as men's single champion, had played tennis since boyhood on his father's court in Christchurch. Originally he was keener on cricket then tennis, and represented Canterbury. WILDING won the All England Championship at Wimbledon, (now regarded as the world's championship) on four occasions, and was a tower of strength to Australasia in Davis Cup matches. The death of Captain Wilding on the 9th of May, l9l5, when serving in France with an armored car unit was an irreparable loss. We have had many fine players in later years, including such notable figures as G. Olliver, and E.D. Andrews, but none to compare in stature or performance with Tony Wilding.
_{Extract from 'Making New Zealand' (l940)}
_{Not directly related to our Club but a huge part of Canterbury Tennis history - this piece hangs on our wall as an inspiration.}