Events

City Recreation Fundraiser August 30

Once again the City of El Cerrito's Recreation Department will be hosting its major fundraising Golf Tournament, the 14th Annual Dynamo Open, to raise money for the David Hunter Memorial Scholarship Fund and the Open House Senior Center. The Dynamo Open will be held on Monday, August, 30, 2010, at Mira Vista Country Club.

The David Hunter Memorial Fund offers scholarships for our recreational, childcare, day camps and residential camping programs. Scholarships assist families in need of providing safe, high-quality programs for children. The Open House Senior Center Fund helps to maintain many activities and services El Cerrito's senior programs have been noted for over the years.

Last year's golf tournament hosted close to one hundred players who played a round of golf, had a delicious lunch, and great prizes provided the tournament sponsors. Past tournaments raised more than $10,000, and during this economic downturn, our community needs your help! The success of this event is due to the generosity and support of local businesses, service organizations and private citizens. Without your support, many programs that benefit seniors and children in El Cerrito would not be possible.

Sign up today for the 14th Annual Dynamo Golf Tournament at Mira Vista Country Club by visiting www.el-cerrito.org/recreation. To discuss becoming 2010 Dynamo Golf Tournament hole sponsor, contact Monica Kortz directly.

Annual Mixed Tournament Coming Up September 19

Save Sunday, September 19, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., for the club's annual mixed doubles tournament. This is our event with prizes and (small) entry fees. Lunch and prizes will be served at the Arlington courts following play. Adult members and nonmembers are welcome. You may register as a team or as a single. We will attempt to match up single entrants. (For the benefit of those who are not regular tennis players — a mixed doubles team consists of a man and a woman.)

Because so many players have moved up in the ratings, this year the two divisions will be at the 7.5 and 6.5 levels, instead of 7.0 and 6.0 as in past years. The combined ratings of the two players must not add up to more than these numbers. Entry fees are $8.00 per doubles team or $5.00 per single entrant. Download the registration form here and send it in before September 13. There is a maximum number of players that can participate, so be sure to register soon!

We Won't Take Wet for an Answer

About a half hour before the annual New Year's Red-Eye was scheduled to begin, a brief rain shower soaked the courts. Recognizing that the courts wouldn't be dry at 9:00, the organizers declared the event canceled and moved the club's annual membership meeting to its alternate site.

Players who showed up at the courts had other ideas, though, along with an impressive supply of towels and squeegees. One court after another was dried to the point where it wasn't slippery, and play began.

The coffee, bagels, and champagne made their way from the alternate site, and soon it was like new years past. In all, a couple of dozen players participated, and play went on until after 1 p.m.

See pictures at this Picasa Web Album.

Mixed Round Robin Tournament Results

Forty-two players showed up for our annual mixed doubles tournament on on a perfect fall Sunday, September 20, 2009.

The 7.0 winners (pictured with club president Margo Takemiya) were defending champions Jan Wilkins and Dave Gerstal. Runners-up were Cathy Roberts and John Smiriga.

In the 6.0 division, the winners were Helen Bae and Jim Robinson, with second place going to the "mixed" pairing of Clif Erickson and Dave Liu (we ran out of women!).

Everyone enjoyed a leisurely barbecue lunch thanks to the Board (specifically Ellen de Neef, who coordinated).

Pictures at this Picasa Web Album.

Summer Picnic Round Robin 2009

a record number of tennis players enjoyed a great day of informal, round robin, doubles tennis on Sunday July 26. Beautiful weather, good food, and good companionship kept the courts full well into the afternoon.

Pictures at this Picasa Web Album.

Foggy New Year to Us!

Unlike some years, New Year's Day 2009 saw the courts mostly dry, needing just a little squeegeeing and toweling on the shady south side. A couple of dozen people showed up for round robin play, and with the four-game no-ad format, no one had to wait too long to play. Coffee, bagels, and champagne were on hand, but the champagne went unopened; it seems we value our coordination too much.

See photos at this Picasa Web Album.

Record Turnout for Fall Tournament

The 2008 edition of the fall mixed doubles tournament on September 14 saw a record 56 entrants in two divisions, 7.0 and 6.0. With cool weather for the tennis and sunny weather for the picnic, what could be better?

Winning, maybe. Gift certificates to Plaza Tennis were awarded to the winners and runners-up in each division. In 7.0, that was Jan Wilkins and Dave Gerstel in first and Marty Jewett and Ned Waring in second. The 6.0 division needed a 10-point tiebreak to decide the winners. In the end, Susan Jaffe and Darrell Staley prevailed over Kellie Applen and John Ranucci, a first-time team from Berkeley who found out about the tournament through this website.

See photos here — mostly of 7.0 play because that was where the camera was.

Summer Picnic Round Robin 2008 Chilly and Fun

It was late July, but no one got too warm at the club's second annual picnic and round robin. The overcast at Arlington Park had many keeping their layers close at hand.

We had a good turnout for the event, lots of food and drink, and full courts until well after the scheduled 1:30 ending time.

See photos at this Picasa web album.

ECTC Serves In the Year 2008

About 30 players turned out for mixed doubles on a dry, sunny first day of the year. Play began at 9:00 a.m., and the last point ended about 1:00 p.m. Matches consisted of four games, so no one had to wait too long to play again. Pairings were done by where your racket came up in the line on the fence. This was just informal play: there were no champions (or was it that everyone was a winner?).

Thanks to everyone who showed up and to Jan for the bagels and pastries and Darrell for the coffee.

Check out the pictures at this Picasa web album!

Fall Mixed Tournament a Success!!

The 2007 annual Mixed Doubles Tournament was a rousing success with approximately 44 participants. Everyone enjoyed many rounds of good competitive tennis. At the end there was even a playoff between the top two 7.0 teams, Jean-Manuel Izaret and Anne Lohier vs. Kora Cypress and Eddy Quijada. The winner was Jean-Manuel and Anne; second place went to Kora and Eddy. The winners of the 6.0 section were Clif and Bonnie; second place went to Debra and Rajive.

A delicious barbecue lunch was coordinated by Susan Brand as well as great breakfast goodies provided by Jan Wilkins!

Thank you all for participating. See photos here.

The ECTC 1st Annual Summer Picnic Round Robin

The El Cerrito Tennis Club sponsored a fun event Sunday July 8, 2007, 10:30 – 1:00 at Arlington Park. A great time was had by all who attended our 1st Annual Picnic. Sorry to say, our intrepid photographer got so excited about playing tennis the camera was totally forgotten.

Thank you one and all for attending and having a great time!