By Darlene Jackson

The rains keep coming – but for those of you who have first round matches in the 2000 Fleet Newtown Open, you can still squeeze them in even as difficult as it may be. And outside of the tournament, there are several other opportunities to play.

Check it out:

Attention Women

Liz Lynch is again organizing women’s play for Newtown tennis players and those who would like to play. There is Get-Together scheduled for Sunday, April 30, from 3 to 5 pm, at Dickinson Park. Beginners are welcome. Those intending to participate should call Liz ahead of time (270-9072) so that she can provide instruction for beginners and also begin to match players of like ability.

Sandlot Tennis

Sandlot tennis begins on Wednesday, May 3, from 5:30 pm until dark, at Dickinson Park. By the way, the nets are up and players can walk in despite the barricade at the gate. Players are invited to just come down and play. One need not necessarily even bring a partner. Sandlot tennis will be every Wednesday through the summer.

Berlingo Summer Challenge

This year the Berlingo tennis league will be from early June to the end of the summer. Entry applications will be mailed soon to the entire NTA membership offering mixed doubles, singles, regular doubles or all three. Entries will be group in a division appropriate to level of play.

The NTA will organize a schedule that will be mailed back to you in May. Players are expected to arrange their own matches within certain time limits and then report their scores to the NTA. At the end of the season, the person or team with the highest winning percentage will be the winner.

There will be two new divisions this year – one for juniors and one for seniors.

The junior program will be for players 10 to 15 years of age and will be held Saturday mornings immediately following the free tennis clinics at Dickinson Park from 11 am to 12:15 pm. Tennis activity will be competitive and players will be organized by a tennis professional, group according to ability and supervised by NTA officials. Junior Berlingo dates are June 10, 17 and 24, and July 8, 15 and 22. Watch for signup sheets in the mail or notices in the paper.

The senior division will be for male players ages 50 and over and female players ages 45 and over who wish to play with other senior division athletes on a regular basis. Again, applications will be in the mail.

Join The NTA

You can join the NTA for $10 (individual) or $15 (family) and be eligible to participate in all the above activities. Mail dues to NTA, P.O. Box 3432, Newtown, 06470. Watch for announcements for more NTA events, or visit the web site at www.homestead.com /newtowntennis/files.index0/htm