Women don’t stand back for a man’s volley
RUIMSIG – Two women joined a tennis club when only men were members at the Ruimsig Country Club.
The Ruimsig Country Club tennis section opened in 1985 with only male members swinging their rackets.
In 1996, René Rink joined the club and for two years she was the only female member at the club. “The men accepted me very well,” said Rink. Cherry Henri joined the club in 2001 after her previous tennis club had to close. According to Henri, there were only about four women when she joined. She explained that the tennis club was not officially a men’s club, but that for some reason women only joined 11 years after the club opened.
“This is a very social club. We don’t play leagues, so it takes the pressure of ranking people off and makes for a more social environment,” said Henri. She explained that the women of the club like to do the catering if they have events or organise themed-evenings. Henri said that she prefers playing tennis to keep fit, over the gym. “I find it is a social sport. Apart from playing tennis, we also contribute to charity by donating non-perishable food to people in our community.”
The members of the club compete in championships every two months called round robins, where they play against each other. Henri said that the club has many members over 65 who still play tennis. “We, however, would love younger women, as young as 20 to join the club. We would welcome them,” said Henri.
The Ruimsig Country Club may have begun with only men, but now women players are no longer in the background. The courts are now full of women honing their tennis skills.
Details: Ruimsig Country Club, 011 958 1905.
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