September 27, 2017
Dear NARA Member,
Thank you for your membership in the North American Racquets Association. Your support helps the Association run tournaments, pay prize money to our professionals, support new player development and run our website and other communications.
Last season was an exciting season for North American Racquets. Some of the highlights were NARA members James Stout and Jonathan Larken becoming World Doubles Champions and James Stout and Peter Cipriano winning the British Open Doubles Championship. The NARA board was also proud to see that at least one NARA member won or reached the finals of each of the NARA sponsored tournaments last season.
The NARA board is committed to growing the membership and the development of our players at all levels.
Some of the initiatives we are focused on this season are:
Funding new player development at each club and providing travel subsidies for first time travelers.
Training our Club Professionals- Building on the successful training session we held in Boston in June we are going to hold an annual training session in September each year to improve the level of coaching our club professionals can provide to our members.
Interclub Novice Tournament- April 13-15 2017 in Boston. The format of this new event will be for each club to send at least four players to play in handicapped tournament. Each player will be guaranteed 4 matches over the weekend. The goal is for novice players to have an opportunity to play in several match’s over a tournament weekend and build new friendships from other clubs.
Increasing our membership of NARA and tracking tournament participation to promote growth in the game.
I would also like to thank Jeff Durkes for all his efforts as our communications director and NARA liaison with the UK for touring events. Jeff worked tirelessly to promote the tournaments and keep the racquets community in constant contact through the Facebook page and updating the NARA website. Jeff has decided to pass the mantel on to one of our younger NARA members and I am happy to say Charles Vennat will be taking on this role for the next couple of years.
Although we had a successful season we lost one of the greats in our game with the passing of Denis E Walsh in late December last year. It was incredible to see the support from all the clubs on a cold January day in Boston to pay their respects and support the Walsh family during this difficult time. It is a true testament to the Rackets community and the camaderie we have between all the clubs.
To ensure The Prince will never be forgotten the NARA board has agreed with the Walsh family to nominate a NARA member each season who best represents Denis’ zest for the game on and off the court. The NARA board will review at the annual board meeting the NARA member who best represented the aspects that Denis amplified at each tournament he attended. The winner of the Walsh award will be presented a bow tie that has been designed by the Walsh family the following season. I encourage all the NARA members to get out and tour this season to be eligible to join this exclusive club.
Finally, I would like to give a special thank you to our 2016-2017 Benefactors and encourage you to join them in 2017-2018 season. To do so, you simply let your NARA rep know, and they can arrange for you to be billed through your club.
NARA BENEFACTORS Lucas WalshBostonPhil BelecMontrealMatthew BreuerBostonRick HartMontrealTodd MeringoffBostonJonathan LarkenNew YorkTim FulhamBostonWilly BristoweNew YorkJeremy WintersteenBostonCharles BuaronNew YorkRyan HayesBostonCharles BuaronNew YorkWinston SmithBostonPeter CiprianoNew YorkAlan RoseBostonMorris ClothierNew YorkCraig CorrineBostonKendrik de KoningNew YorkJohn BorlandChicagoPeter de SvastichNew YorkPeter DunneChicagoDavid EmilNew YorkMichael KeiserChicagoAdam InselbuchNew YorkJay LeonardChicagoElihu InselbuchNew YorkMarty KinsellaChicagoMitchell KellyNew YorkSteven MossChicagoKevin LuskNew YorkRob WoodChicagoKevin MacGuireNew YorkAlly BulleyChicagoPeter PellNew YorkColt LandrethChicagoRobert PilkingtonNew YorkMany TancerDetroitRobert PowerNew YorkKevin BroderickDetroitZach SacksNew YorkMichael McLernonMontrealChristopher ScottNew YorkSteve CookMontrealJohn TaylorNew YorkGlenn ChamandyMontrealWill ThompsonNew YorkSteve ChamandyMontrealDonald WilkinsonNew YorkDominic CostantiniMontrealJeffrey YagerPhiladelphiaStuart WebsterMontrealTed LawsPhiladelphiaJohn KalaydjianMontrealJoe SperaPhiladelphiaAlex KarakozoffMontreal
Attached is the schedule of NARA tournaments for the upcoming season to help you plan your attendance. Thank you again for your membership in the North American Racquets Association. I look forward to seeing you on tour.
Play!
Michael McLernon
President
North American Racquets Association
NARA Fixtures 2017-2018US AmateurDetroit Racquet ClubOctober 19-22World Championship Singles ChallengeNew York Racquet & Tennis ClubNovember 11Silver RacquetsNew York Racquet & Tennis ClubNovember 9-12Jock SoutarRacquet Club of PhiladelphiaNovember 16-19Sales/Price/WalshBoston Tennis & Racquet ClubDecember 14-17Kendrick Cup (with Etchebaster)New York Racquet & Tennis ClubJanuary 19-21 2018Canadian AmateurMontreal Racket ClubJanuary 25-28 2018Gold Racquets/Pro SinglesThe Tuxedo ClubFebruary 16-19 2018US OpenRacquet Club of PhiladelphiaMarch 7-11 2018Western OpenRacquet Club of ChicagoMarch 15-18 2018InterclubBoston Tennis & Racquet ClubApril 13-15 2018