PLANS are underway for what a Vale of Clwyd club hopes will be a fine season.

Denbigh Tennis Club held its 72nd annual meeting earlier this month and the members began the planning process for the 2019/20 season.

The club's hopes for 2019 were boosted in January as they became finalists in Tennis Wales' club of the year category during the awards night at St David's Hotel, Ewloe.

Denbigh would finish joint second with Allt-Yr-Yn Tennis Club, Newport, and just behind winners Caerphilly Tennis Club following a successful 2018.

The club has also been competing in the first ever North Wales Winter League over the 2018/19 campaign,

Denbigh men's first team ended mid-table in their division during the first ever campaign.

The summer season at Denbigh Tennis Club will start on Sunday, April 7 from 1.30pm.

On this day, the club will play host to a tournament in memory of former treasurer and stalwart Alastair McNab.

The North Wales Alastair McNab Tournament will be held for the second year and it will attract some of the best players from around North Wales to compete for the first pre-season silverware.

The tournament is held in aid of St Kentigern Hospice and the Stroke Association.

Last year, the club also held an auction during this event and they raised over £3,000 for the two charities.

A Just Giving page has been set up for this year's tournament and the £5 entry from each player goes straight to the charities.

This year, the club has been working closely with North Wales Tennis to host the presentation of the North Wales Winter League trophies, a first presentation of its kind after a successful winter campaign within the region.

Denbigh Tennis Club will then hold its annual open day the following Saturday, April 13.

This will run between 10am and 1pm.

This event is held annually as part of the season opening weekends in April, aiming to attract extra club members and players for the forthcoming season.

Last year, over 75 people attended the event and plans for this year's open day include an interview with North Wales TV, a visit from Vale of Clwyd MP Chris Ruane, free coaching and a ball machine. The event is entirely free of charge and local businesses have got involved by displaying posters to promote the day.

Local schools, groups and residents are encouraged to attend.

Further plans for the 2019 season include a brand new Denbigh ladies second team, the first time such a team has been formed in the club's 72-year history.

The club's new ladies have had a successful winter league campaign and they look forward to their first ever summer season under the captaincy of mixed doubles champion Meinir Hughes.

The team has been formed after a successful series of Monday night coaching sessions with club coach Jonathan Jones.

These saw six new ladies and a further three new men take up the sport for the first time.

The club's Monday evening adult coaching sessions continue in 2019 from 6.30pm, while Saturday morning junior coaching sessions will run from 10am until noon.

The club encourages new members to attend these sessions, as previously joining member have found some great enjoyment and success from them.

The club will also set dates for their end of year tournaments in the near future, with events being held in September to close the summer season.

Club secretary Steffan Jones said making it to the final of Tennis Wales' club of the year category had given everyone the confidence that the club can progress further over the next 12 months and beyond.

"We have learnt so much from other clubs and various committees from around the area - as well as giving ourselves time to look back and reflect upon our own achievements," he said.

"Denbigh boasts one of the lowest membership fees throughout Wales and, for such a small club, it is amazing to see so much positivity at the moment.

"Over the past two or three years, we have had a first ever Denbigh men third team in 2017, a first ever Denbigh ladies second team in 2019 and raised over £3,000 at last year's tournament - as well as brand new floodlights in 2018.

"I think now is the time we will start to see the club grow a bit more and hopefully have an even better 2019.

"We are expecting our open day to be one of our biggest and best yet as tennis begins to grow in popularity within Denbigh town."