YORK Tennis Club are set to launch the biggest junior programme initiative in the club's history later this month at Clifton Park.

York have had many leading players in the area since it was formed in 1965, initially at Water Lane following the amalgamation of Clifton and Tang Hall Tennis Clubs.

Since then York have won the York Mixed League a host of times in addition to having men's and women's teams in division one of the Yorkshire League.

But although they have had a junior section since the club's formation the major concentration has been on tennis at an adult level.

But on Saturday, September 22, the junior programme will be launched at an open day at Clifton Park.

The club's £40,000 new pavilion, replacing one damaged by fire, will be opened at an 11am ceremony by Gerry Slack, president of the IT Sports York and District Mixed Doubles League and his wife, Floss, who is the York area's representative on the Yorkshire Lawn Tennis Association.

The junior coaching programme will be held in the morning and will be the forerunner of the open day when members and prospective new members are welcome to attend.

York chairman John Linfoot said today: "The club is recovering well following our disastrous experience with the floods last winter and we now have more than 200 members.

"The club is very keen to promote junior players and we are delighted that Bev Cairns, an LTA Licensed tennis coach, has joined us as our senior coach.

"She is very well known to hundreds of junior players in the York area."

Said Cairns said: "I am absolutely delighted to join York as their senior coach and I regard it as a great opportunity for me to give more help to the youngsters."

Mini-tennis, a game modified for young or inexperienced players and which teaches the tactics and skills of the real game, will be held initially on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons after school in September and October, in addition to Saturday mornings.

There will also be intermediate sessions on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday evenings.

LTA box leagues, team tennis and squad programmes begin next spring.

Full details of the junior coaching programme can be obtained from Bev Cairns, 30 Appleton Court, Bishopthorpe, York YO23 2RY (tel/fax 01904 702173, mobile 07721 368173).

Updated: 11:45 Tuesday, September 04, 2001