Some dates for your diaries

16/11: Little musicians & English Breakfast 
18/11: Bridge tournament
27/11: Thanksgiving Dinner
28/11: TGIF Scottish/Irish dancing Ceilh
29/11: Private party
30/11: Brunch
06/12: Squash match
13/12: Christmas Dinner
14/12: English Breakfast
14/12: Christmas Carols (5 pm)
23/12: Club closes for Christmas
03/01/26: Club reopens

Armistice Day Football: four family teams took part in memory of the fallen

Four teams, made up of parents and children, took part in SAC's traditional Armistice Day football tournament on a perfect autumn morning on Tuesday, 11 November.

After a minute's silence following a short speech by Matthew Curtin, it was fellow sports-section head Laurent Brault who marshalled dads, daughters and sons into a mini-tournament of finely balanced teams, matching youth and experience.

Thanks to all who turned out for a memorable morning's sport.

(Click for full-sized picture)

 

Bar and Restaurant - Weekend of 15 & 16 November

Saturday
Lunch by Rym from The Néflier: Potato Salad with Tuna cream, Chicken Wings and Mac & Cheese
Cakes by Janine: Tangerine cake, Pumpkin cheesecake, Lemon ricotta cake, Spiced pear upside-down cake, Cranberry orange walnut muffins, Flourless chocolate cake
Sunday
Breakfast by Janine with Little Musicians!
Book here: https://www.helloasso.com/associations/standard-athletic-club/evenements/breakfast-et-les-petits-musiciens-16-november-2025

Little Musicians and Breakfast - Sunday 16 November

The next Little Musicians/Petits Musiciens session will be on Sunday, 16 September, from 11 am to 12:30 pm, with Breakfast from 11 am to 2 pm.
Book using this Hello Asso link. Don't forget that if a child is signed up for Breakfast/Brunch together with a parent, they have free access to the 1.5-hour class. If you don’t want to sign up for breakfast/brunch, it is €25 per child for the class. It is easier and cheaper if you reserve your place before Friday evening. Prices are more expensive at the bar on the day, and you risk the class being full.

Bridge News - 18 November Tournament & Quiz

Our next tournament will be on Tuesday, 18 November, at the same time and place (Quiz discussion at 2 pm, Tournament at 2:30, followed by a little cocktail). To get you in the mood, the Quiz is in the main article  "Replies to partner's intervention without a fit" (Reponses aux interventions sans le fit).

Please let Jenny know if you would like to participate (if you haven't already signed up) and if you are looking for a partner.

Don't forget the big tournament at the Trefle Meudonnais on 11 November!

A message for SAC members - the choir may want to use the Bridge Room for rehearsals from 4 pm on Sunday 30 Nov., Sun 7 Dec. and possibly Sun 14 Dec - the day of the Christmas Carols.

Clothes with the Club crest - order by Sunday 23 November 2025

White polo shirts and other clothes with the embroidered SAC crest are again available (just in time for Christmas). Last orders by Sunday, 23 November!
Sizes and prices
- Polo tennis shirts (38 € for adults, 28 € for children)
- Sweatshirts (45 € for adults, 38 € for children)
- Hoodies (50 € for adults, 48 € for children )
- Softshell jackets (65 € for adults, 60 € for children)
- Quilted jackets for adults (70 €)
Please place your order with the selected sizes and quantities by writing to before Sunday, 23 November.

Pilates and Step & Sculpt classes stopping, restarting Monday 24 November

Pam will be away for the next two weeks from this Saturday, the 8th; classes will restart on Monday, 24 November.
(Mondays: Step 10:00; Sculpt 11::00. Wednesdays: Zoom Pilates 9:30; SAC 2:30 pm Pilates Mat - Beginner/Intermediate. Saturdays: 9:45 Pilates Mat; 11:00 Pilates Mat Intermediate/Advanced. 12:30 Step.)
Stay in contact with Pam at  to sign up and stay tuned to your emails for class confirmations and updates.to ensure your class is on.

Thanksgiving Dinner - 7:30 PM Thursday 27 November 2025

Our Annual Thanksgiving Dinner will take place on Thursday, 27 November at 7:30 pm
Open to members and non-members. Please book as soon as possible using the following HelloAsso link.
https://www.helloasso.com/associations/standard-athletic-club/evenements/thanksgiving-dinner-2025
Thanksgiving dinner menu(buffet): Welcome cocktail, Corn chowder soup; Roasted citrus mustard turkey breast stuffed with pistachio, cranberry stuffing, sweet potato, leek and potato gratin, green bean casserole, cranberries; Pumpkin pie, pecan pie, vanilla sauce.

TGI Friday Céilí / Cèilidh - Friday 28 November - Scottish and Irish dancing

Welcome to a traditional Scottish and Irish céilí / cèilidh ball on Friday, 28 November. All welcome, from experienced dancers to complete beginners.
Full details and sign-up in the main article.)

SAC Squash News: We’re on Fire!

The squash season has burst back into action — and what a great start it’s been! The SAC squad is proudly sitting at the top of the 2nd Division Ile-de-France, boasting a perfect 3-for-3 winning streak. That’s right: undefeated, unstoppable, and yet, hungry for more !
But wait — there’s more excitement bouncing your way! On Saturday, 6 December, we’ll be welcoming none other than Jerome Rideau, last year’s King’s Cup champion, and his talented son Titouan Rideau. These two are squash royalty — and rumour has it, they’ve been training nonstop since the announcement of this fixture. To celebrate Jerome’s well-deserved trophy, we’ll hold a ceremony and, of course, a friendly (but fierce) showdown: “The SAC vs. The Rideau Family!”

Every point will count, pride will be on the line, and laughter is guaranteed. So dust off your rackets, polish your goggles, and come and join us for a fun afternoon of squash, sweat, and spectacular serves on Saturday, 6 December.

See you on court — and may the bounce be ever in your favour! 🥇🎾

Christmas Dinner - 8 pm, Saturday 13 December 2025

Our traditional Christmas Dinner will be at 8 pm on Saturday, 13 December, featuring music, crackers, and fabulous food!.
Pricing and booking details will be provided later.

Christmas Carols are on Sunday 14 December - probably 5 pm

Come along and sing with us! (Entrance for guests is free!)
Mince pies and mulled wine will be served afterwards.
Want to be part of the choir? Adults and children all welcome! Contact Morven Alexander ().

Teatime at weekends from 4 to 5.30 pm

Enjoy a nice (hot) cup of tea with one of Janine's marvellous cakes from 4 pm to 5.30 pm at the Club at weekends! Please order at the bar. 

Taekwondo News

Taekwondo classes are almost full, but there are still a few spots left for children, so, if you’re interested, feel free to send a message to .
Hadad, the Taekwondo instructor, would like to offer a self-defence class for teens and adults at the club on Fridays from 6 PM to 7 PM.
If you're interested, feel free to send us a message via WhatsApp or email to .

Yoga Classes

Monica communicates with regular users via a WhatsApp group, so ask her to add you if you're interested.
Thursday mornings, 9:30-10:45 am Vinyasa followed by Gentle yoga 11-midday. Saturdays from 3-4:15 pm.
Contact Monica by email at , WhatsApp, or visit her website monicashaka.com for the latest information.

Self-defence classes

Hadad, the Taekwondo instructor, would like to offer a self-defence class at the club on Fridays from 6 PM to 7 PM.
This class is intended for teens and adults.
If you're interested, send us a message via WhatsApp or email .

Junior Football News - Registration for 2025-26 Coaching is open

The registration for Junior Football coaching on Saturday afternoons in winter, beginning mid-September, is now open to Club members. The number of places available is limited and these will be allocated on a “first come first” served basis.
Please register the application for your children by completing the form accessible by clicking on this link:  2025-26 Registration Form.
The price for child members of the Club for the 2025-26 season is 245€.
Members whose children were registered for 2024-25 and have already completed the 2025-26 form do not need to resubmit a registration.
Contact:

Tennis Coaching News: Campus Ambition

Tennis Ambition and the SAC present "Campus Ambition", more than just a leisure centre.
Fun and sports activities in English for children from 3 years old on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
See the poster in the main article as well as the QR code for information and registration.

Tennis Coaching News: 2025/26 Group Classes Registration for Adults & Children

To register for the Group Classes for adults and children, please go to the page in the main article and scan the appropriate QR code.

Children at the Club

We are trying to keep our favourite club members (and their parents) as happy as possible. If any parent wants to join the WhatsApp group dedicated to children at the club, wants to discuss anything child-related, or has any suggestions, please email .

Changing Room lockers available

Some lockers are available in both the Men's and Women's changing rooms.
The price depends on the size: Large: €135, Small: €95 (Women's only).
Contact  if you are interested.

Help Wanted for the Front Desk at Weekends

We need help to welcome our members and their guests on Saturdays and Sundays for one or two hours from 9 am to 5 pm.
Volunteers, please contact Roxane at  if you can help and we'll add you to our WhatsApp helpers group. Thank you!

Completion of old pavilion exterior renovation … 9 years of work

The old pavilion is the oldest full structure on our site, built by the Royal Army Corps of Engineers on the foundation of the original Clubhouse, which remained after it was dynamited by the retreating occupying forces in 1944. It was moved to its current location in 1956, as the old Clubhouse was rebuilt.  It now serves 2 functions:
* 50% as a cricket pavilion
* 50% as a storage space for our ground care machinery.

In 2016, it was in a parlous state, as the Club didn't have the funds to repair it or maintain it.

With support from (then President) David Colson and the management team, the cricketers took on the task and set about raising the necessary funds from seasonal dues, “tea” payments, and volunteer coaching, amounting to around €7K in increased revenue per year. 9 years later, the last major part of the exterior renovation was completed this week at a cumulative cost of ~€50K, plus thousands of hours of volunteer time. Many people have contributed. However, the Club and Section would particularly like to record their immense gratitude to Andrew Jackson, carpenter extraordinaire, without whom this would have been impossible.

Click to see a photo of the destroyed final “wall” revealed after removing the shipping container in January 2025,
and click here to see Andrew Jackson and Chris McCarthy getting stuck into the structural repair, 9/9/2025,
and click here to see the repainted new wall on 9/11/2025.

See the main article for much more information.

Newsletter and Website - call for volunteers

As we all know, our Club is an Association 1901, which is run largely by volunteers. Much of this work is behind the scenes. Among the most important contributors, for many years, has been Paul Miller, who produces this Newsletter, the website, and all the Flash News posts that we all receive.

Paul, after some 20 years, is now looking to hang up his Newsletter-mailings-website boots and transition out of these roles. Firstly, we would like to express our thanks to Paul for all that he has done … and secondly, this is a call for volunteers to take on one or more of the roles which Paul has so diligently performed.

The Management Committee