DORCHESTER Tennis & Squash Club (DTSC) has announced that installation of its new, British-made, AdvantageClay tennis courts, is now complete.

Installed on-time and on-budget by Chiltern Sports Contractors, who won the competitive tender for the project last summer, the new courts have been in-play for several weeks.

Initial feedback from members across the age spectrum has been extremely positive.

The state-of-the-art artificial clay courts are the only one of their type in a 15-mile radius of Dorchester, fast making the club the tennis venue of choice for the area and new members are always welcome.

The new courts will be formally opened by councillor Mary Penfold, West Dorset District Council (WDDC), lead councillor for sports and community projects at a ceremony to be held tomorrow.

The project, which represents a significant investment in the regeneration of the club’s tennis facilities, has been financed through DTSC’s own reserve funds with supporting grants from Sport England’s Community Asset Fund, WDDC’s Leisure Development Fund, Dorset LTA, Tesco’s ‘Bags of Help’ initiative and Pengillys Solicitors & Mediators.

Additionally, loan funding has been provided by the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) and Dorchester Town Council provided invaluable access to the town’s Borough Gardens tennis courts to enable club play to continue while work was in progress.

Keith Mason, chairman of the club’ committee, said: “The project to install our new artificial clay tennis courts has gone extremely well.

“I’d like to thank all of our grant providers and other supporters, without whom it would have been difficult to bring the new tennis courts project to fruition.”

“Already, the expected benefits of improved court accessibility and usability during wet and frosty weather are paying dividends with both early morning junior coaching sessions and late-night play continuing unabated in conditions that would previously have prevented them.”

Mason added: “The early morning frosts that used to cause the cancellation of our junior coaching sessions on our old tarmac courts are no longer a problem with the artificial clay.

“Additionally, the courts are not affected by the early evening dew point and are extremely free draining enabling play to continue when wet."

If you would like to experience the new courts contact the club’s administrator, Adam Lawrence, during office hours (Monday to Friday 9am- 11am) on 01305 268103 or email admin@dtsc.org.uk