THE tennis season is now in full swing with Queens, Edgbaston and Nottingham playing host to all the top names in world tennis.

And Cirencester Tennis Club is doing its bit by putting five ladies' and five men's teams into the Gloucester Summer League, entering the Puma-sponsored competition and having eight players in the recent Hill and Valley mixed doubles competition held at Chedworth.

In the ladies' doubles, the A, C, D and E teams are middling in Divisions Premier, 1A, 3A and 5B respectively, but the shining star is the B team who head Division 1B with games in hand on some of their rivals.

In the men's, there are teams in Premier, 1B, 2B, 3A and 5B and all are facing a hard struggle to do as well as they did last year.

The tennis is, as always, very competitive but played in great spirit which is what the local club symbolises.

In July the club will repeat the Play Tennis opportunity that was so successful last year.

This is an incentive to all members of the public, organised by the Lawn Tennis Association, to have a taster of the game.

The club will open its doors for two hours from 2pm on Sunday, July 13, and all are welcome to come and try their hand.

This is particularly useful for children as there will be club members on hand to provide advice and practical activities to help develop skills.

In addition, the club holds its annual Open Junior Tournament from Monday-Thursday, August 4-7, inclusive.

The tournament is suitable for players without an LTA rating and those up to and including Divisions 6.

This is a very popular competition and those interested are advised to get in their application in early and definitely by Friday, August 1.

In September, there will be an American Mixed Doubles competition which was great fun last year, particularly as it was played on one of the hottest days when sunspecs and caps were an absolute necessity.

Throughout the summer there are club nights, club mornings and roll-ups where you are guaranteed a game just by turning up.

These are for all standards of play and everyone is welcome.

There are generally courts available most evenings and certainly during the day so that members can arrange their own games.

Finally, at Cirencester TC, tennis is not just a summer sport - it carries on throughout the winter as well.

In fact, the club lost more playing time last summer through bad weather than it did during the winter months!

This is because the courts are all-weather and dry very quickly following any rain.

The club has six courts, three of which are floodlit, near the existing cricket ground in Cirencester Park, and a better environment is extremely hard to imagine.

If you would like further information, please contact club chairman Adrian Potter on 01285 654632 or look at the club's website at www.CirenTennis.net where you will find application forms as well.