Summer interclub is two rounds in, and the teams were picked weeks ago. Here's how it works, what it costs, and when you'd have needed to ask.
What it is
Teams from Christchurch clubs play each other most weekends from October to March. Tennis Canterbury runs the competition, and you play for your club, so you have to be a member of one.
Men's and women's teams are four players. Everyone plays one singles and one doubles. Mixed is two men and two women, all doubles, mostly Saturday afternoons. Men's and women's divisions tend to play Sunday mornings, and Premier is for the top players, usually Saturday afternoon.
There's also a 30+ midweek competition on Tuesday evenings at Wilding Park, where everyone plays two matches. Cashmere has a daytime Wednesday team too.
Dates
Round 1 was 3 and 4 October. Labour Weekend is a playing weekend this year (24 and 25 October). There's no play over Show Weekend, Christmas or Waitangi, and finals are 13 and 14 March.
What it costs
You pay club membership plus an interclub fee, and the combined number varies a lot.
Te Kura Hagley Park lists a senior interclub membership at $500, which includes a $60 interclub fee. Cashmere is $420 membership plus $70 for interclub. St Albans is $270 for a senior membership, with interclub registration fees on top.
Getting in
Clubs build their teams before the season starts, and St Albans says registrations close in early September. If you're reading this in October, you've missed it for 2026/27 at that club.
Winter interclub runs May to September, so there's another way in before next summer. Cashmere asks you to say your level and who you'd like to be grouped with when you sign up, and the club captain puts the teams together.
Is it for you?
Interclub is a commitment: a fixed day most weekends for five months, and a team counting on you to turn up. Plenty of people love that. If your week doesn't work that way, it's frustrating.
The harder problem is the one before it. To get into a team you need to know people, or know a club, and you need to know your level. If you're new to the city or between clubs, that's a lot to get right in a few weeks in early September.
Hitter is for that: finding someone at your level in Christchurch who's free when you are, without needing a team first. More at hitter.nz.
