£15k anonymous gift gets tennis project over the line
AVIEMORE is well on course to getting a new all-weather community venue thanks to everyone rallying together behind an ambitious £394,000 tennis club project.
Last week the Strathy reported that Rothiemurchus and Aviemore Tennis Club was some £20,000 shy of its final target with just a few days to go and in big danger of the development falling through if the money could not be found.
Much to the delight of the club and wider community, there was a tremendous response to the appeal that has allowed them to meet the deadline at the 11th hour. One donor, who wished to remain anonymous, pledged £15,000 to complete the funding for the area's first outdoor covered venue at the Inverdruie base.
Club treasurer Yvonne Birnie said: "We are delighted with the support we have had from local businesses and the community for phase two of our Courts4All Project. We've had donations from small to large but every penny counts and it has all added up to us reaching the amount required.
"Now that we have most of the match funding in place we are very excited and hope to be able to make an announcement in the next week or so.
"Thanks to everyone pulling together we are nearly there!"
Phase one of the project – polymeric surfaces at the three existing courts at Inverdruie – was completed a month ago, but the club also wants to add a fourth covered court in woodland by the clubhouse. The intention is that it can be used in all weather and not only by tennis players and other sports enthusiasts but also by the likes of the Cubs and Scouts, Guides, playgroups, charities and even for children's parties and ceilidhs.
The mystery benefactor came forward after reading last week's appeal in the Strathy.
A spokesman for the donor said: "The extent of the community's input into the campaign was really impressive and that's what swung it.
"Local people had put in a major effort to raise their share of the cost and the project deserves to get off the ground. A letter is on its way to the club to confirm that £15,000 is being pledged, in the confident belief that others can now hit the target they need to hit."
Just six weeks ago the club revealed it needed to raise £80,000 before the end of July for the second phase of its Courts4All project and sent out appeals for help to local businesses.
That target was whittled down but there was still £20,000 needed with time fast running out.
With the club's contribution now safely in place as required by a trio of other agencies backing the project, all that is now to be delivered is their final approval.
The covered court will be twice the size of a tennis court with the polymeric surface and players and other users protected by a stretched canopy.
Tomatin already has a similar venue that's proved popular.
There has already been great feedback to the recent resurfacing of the three existing courts at the club.
Mrs Birne said: "Phase one which was to re-lay the tar macadam and sort the drainage has been completed and we have had great reports from the players, saying it is great on the knees and feet and not slippery in wet weather.
"The drainage is working well – there are puddles outside but nothing lying on the courts."
