Elizabeth Craig-Allan
Born Elizabeth Fenton, in Temora 1946, Liz was the youngest of 7 children, one of whom died at an early age. She would hit a tennis ball against the garage wall from the age of eight, and when Dad couldn’t stand the noise any more, he built a tennis court. With his engineering skills, he designed and made a ball machine, which enabled the kids to hit without a partner. Liz played many sports as a youngster, athletics, hockey, softball, basketball, vigoro, table tennis and finally tennis.

From age 17, Liz was living in Sydney, and represented Northern Suburbs in Interdistrict. In her first Angus & Coote Cup she played with Carol Easy (Langsford), Lorraine Gill (Plummer), and her sister Mary Fenton and they won. Later that year she beat Mary in the Final to win her first NSTA Open Singles title. She went on to win this title for the next 5 years. During this time she also played Angus & Coote Cups with Evonne Goolagong and Patricia Edwards.

In 1963-64 season Liz was R/U in the Qld U-19 Singles. She was then selected to represent NSW in the Wilson Cup team consisting of Karen Krantzcke, Helen Gourlay and Carol Sherriff ( now Campling ) which they were to win. In 1964-65 season Liz won the Qld U-19 Singles, R/U NSW U-19 Singles, R/U Victorian U-19 Singles, Finalist Tasmanian U-19 Singles (not played, too wet) won SA U-19 Singles, R/U Australian Hardcourt U-19 Singles, Semi-Finalistist Australian Grasscourt U-19 Singles.

In 1965 Liz was ranked #4 in Australia U-19, then in 1966 was ranked #3 in U-19 and #10 in Open Ladies. In 1967 she was still ranked #10 in Open ladies in Australia. She won the NSW Hardcourt Singles in 1966-67-68, was a Semi- Finalist in ’67 in the NSW Grasscourt, (losing to Lesley Turner), and won the Metropolitan Grasscourt Doubles with Lesley Turner. She has been a Singles titleholder in 4 different Sydney Districts – Eastwood-Thornleigh (7 consecutive), Northern Suburbs (6), North Western (1) and Parramatta-Baulkham Hills (5). Liz also won both Doubles and Mixed titles in each district with various partners. Some of her partners included Mary Hawton (nee Bevis) and Geoff Pollard with whom she won 5 consecutive Mixed titles in Northern Suburbs. Liz feels honoured to have played in such illustrious company, and owes a debt of gratitude to these players for helping her to develop her game.

It was in this period at age 19, that Liz got to the final of the South Australian Open Doubles with Madonna Schacht. Her great "claim to fame" is winning a set from Billie Jean King in 1/4 final of the Queensland Open Championships (‘65) and defeating Rosie Casals and Nancy Richey (No.5 in World ) in Adelaide in the Australian Open Doubles to advance to the Semi-finals with Sandra Walsham (Reid). This result has made Liz (and Sandra) members of the famed "Last 8 Club" for players who have reached the Semi-Final of a Grand Slam event which gives privileges for life. Liz also won the Metropolitan Grasscourt Doubles at Strathfield, around this time with Lesley Turner (Bowrey).

Liz remembers travelling around to lots of different country centres to contest the NSW Championships. Gunnedah and Parkes and many other small country towns hosted the event, and players like Kerry Melville, Karen Krantzke, Helen Gourlay, Evonne Goolagong and Madonna Schacht would travel to all these tournaments. Liz had wins and losses against the best of them. Many of these players were able to afford overseas travel, and they went on to win tournaments all over the Continent, and in the USA. Who knows what Liz may have achieved if she had the same opportunities?

In the 1970s and early 80s, much of her time was spent in child-raising, and tennis took a "back seat." Her three children, 2 girls and a boy were seen at Ladies mid-week, however, and Liz would be the "one to beat" in Eastwood-Thornleigh or Parramatta-Baulkham Hills. In 1979 Liz , at the tender age of 33, decided to return partially to the tournament scene and played in the popular Illawarra Easter tournament where she defeated Debbie Freeman, Patty Coleman (Gregg) and then, Michelle Berrigan in the final. While visiting her sister Mary on the Gold Coast she played in the "Rose Bowl" tournament defeating Queensland's Jan Fallis in the final. Also later that year (at 33), she won the Metropolitian Hardcourt Ladies Singles, and then the Doubles with Lyn Wayte. The next year she won the doubles again, this time with Debbie Chesterton (now deceased).

In the late 80's Liz paired with Carol Campling, to win the Manly Seaside Open Doubles. In 1991, Liz was able to enter the Veterans’ scene, and not long after her husband John’s sudden death, she was a Finalist against Wendy Gilchrist in Newcastle, and went on to Brisbane to win the Young Cup for Australia. In 1993, Liz won the 40+ Singles, Doubles and Mixed in Hobart, which she did again in Canberra in 1995. In Adelaide 1994, she was Runner-up to Christine Dorey. She played with Carol Campling in Doubles, which they would win year after year.

1993 was the first year that she and Carol won the World 40 + Doubles, in Barcelona, to begin a reign for Liz that has lasted a staggering 15 years. Buenos Aires, in 1994, Bad Neuenahr, Germany, ’95, Velden, Austria ’96, Johannesburg ’97, Nottingham ’98, Amsterdam ’99, Buenos Aires 2000, (all with Carol) and then with Kerry Ballard from 2001, in Velden, Austria – winning the 50 Singles that year as well! Fort Lauderdale 2002, Hanover, Germany 2003, Philadelphia 2004, Perth 2005 (where she won the TRIPLE – The Connolly Cup, the 55 Singles and the Doubles!), Durban 2006 and Antalya 2007. This is a record worth recording by the International Tennis Federation!

In ITF Cup competition, Liz has competed for 16 years, and the teams of which she has been a part, have always featured in the "top four" – 6 Winners, 3 Finalists, 5 times 3^rd and 4^th twice! After winning the Connolly Cup in Durban 2006, Liz with Kerry Ballard became the first Australians to win the same cup for 3 consecutive years. How good is that?

Liz has only lost 8 singles matches for Australia in teams’ representation. In the Individuals, Liz has made the semi-finals or better 11 times and the 1/4 finals 3 times. In 1998 she lost to Marie Pinterova in the final at Nottingham. Playing in a semi final in South America in 2000, Heidi Eisterlehner struggled to beat Liz, and then had a comfortable win in the final. This motivated Liz to go for it in 2001, where she beat Marie Pinterova in Velden. For Liz, this was her "crowning glory" - to beat the person who has the best record in International Senior Singles (11 times). This was a really tough 128 draw. All the matches were tough, in fact for Liz all matches from 1/4 final onwards were 3 setters. The final day was extra hard on Liz (3 matches) first the Singles final, then the doubles semi-final with Kerry Ballard and because of extreme possibility of rain on the next day, in fact the only match to be played, Liz and Kerry took to the court again, coming away with the Championship.

State League in New South Wales has also been a platform for Liz to shine; playing with Carol, against youngsters from 16 to 20, and winning 3 years out of 4.

Elizabeth’s illustrious career has been studded with wins and losses against some of the world’s best in Women’s tennis. She has played each of the following ‘famous name’ players Lesley Bowrey, Billie Jean King, Judy Tegart, Betty Stove, Madonna Schacht, Virginia Wade, Francoise Durr, Rosie Casals, Nancy Richey, Kerry Melville, Karen Krantzcke, Helen Gourlay, Gail Sherriff, Evonne Goolagong (Cawley) and even the legendary Margaret Smith (Court), in a quarter-final when she was only 18.

As well as playing and running her coaching business, Liz has found time to put something back into tennis through her involvement with juniors in coaching and management. Liz manages teams selected by Tennis NSW as they compete in various team tournaments throughout the state. For many years, this was a voluntary position and on many weekends Liz travels to a designated country town to take care of a team of juniors. Win or lose, they can learn much from Liz. She says it's similar to when she was young, playing with the likes of Lesley Bowrey, Mary Hawton and Geoff Pollard - they were so good and she learnt many playing skills from them. Liz says it is the enjoyment and sheer love of the game that was instilled into her by these people that has kept her in tennis, both coaching and playing competitively for so long and she cannot believe how successful she has been during these years.

Denis was born in Waverley, April 11 1941. He began playing tennis with his parents and their friends when he was less than 5 years old and played his first tournament at 10. He played a C-grade man and lost 6-0 6-0! Denis played Interdistrict for Eastern Suburbs as No 1 in the President’s Cup (U-16), then Tremlett Cup and at age 16, played in the Division 1 Blackwell Cup team (Open).

At school he represented the NSW CHS for three years, and won the state U-17 Singles and the NSW Schoolboys’ Championship. His coach was Bob Newman first at Bondi, then at Coogee.

As an adult, Denis has coached many budding young players, including Australia’s Dianne Fromholtz, when she was No. 4 in the world. He accompanied a young team overseas in 1979, and took advantage of being away to play in the Bournemouth Open, reaching the Semi of the Mixed and winning the Doubles. At Cranleigh he was a Finalist in the Singles and won the Doubles and the Mixed.

As a Veteran player for Australia, he was in the first Italia Cup team in 1982 (which came a creditable 3^rd), and in 1983 (7^th). His most memorable performance was winning the Australasian 40+ Men’s Singles and Doubles, the week his step-father died, and also the Teams’ event the previous week.He has also represented Australia in the Austria and Britannia Cups.

Prior to all this, in 1964 Denis organised the first World Surfboard Championships at Manly, having been the first NSW and Australian Secretary of the Surfboardriders Association.

Back to tennis, and we find that Denis wrote the program to train tennis coaches in Australia, having a Masters degree in Education. He was also the first Queensland Director of Coaching and the first Australian Director of Coaching. Some credentials!

Need some psychological advice? Denis is also a registered Psychologist. He taught Economics and geography in High Schools and has lectured at Teachers’ College in Economics, Geography, Pedagogy and Curriculum Planning and has tutored Population Geography at Macquarie University.

When asked what he aspires to achieve in tennis, Denis says he’d like to represent Australia in a winning Seniors World Cup team, (so far, he’s placed 3^rd in Italia & Austria Cups).

The player Denis admires is Bob McCarthy, for his single-minded ability to play Senior tennis over many years at National and International levels, and for his love and desire to represent Australia in Teams’ events.

Finally, Denis loves red wine and playing Mixed Doubles with Adrienne Avis, having won several State and Australian titles.

Denis is currently the President of Tennis Seniors Australia.

Robyn Castle
Profiler

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Malcolm Heard

Malcolm -  "six foot five" and a Singles Champion once again this year in Mildura, has a very illustrious past. He is an Olympian. 1960 – in Rome, he represented Australia in Basketball. In the World Championships, 1962 in Manila, he played for the country again. He has coached and refereed Basketball, and has more than once won the "Woolacott Medal" (in ’64 and ’65) which is the equivalent of the "Brownlow Medal" in Aussie Rules.

Malcolm has helped to raise 2 children (with his wife who is a "Pom") and has 3 grandchildren. His son was a top junior in Basketball (any wonder?), and his daughter excelled in Netball. Since his wife is from England, he is dreading the "Ashes" series, although with Australia’s good start, he may review his position on the matter.

Malcolm has 3 brothers, all of whom have been prominent sportsmen. One was in the 1960 Olympics as well, and then subsequently Captained the Australian team.

Malcolm got into tennis when he was "talked into filling in" for his brother’s team. He would hit a ball against the Church wall for hours, which probably accounts for his excellent consistency. He always planned to "beat the wall one day." One of his highlights was watching Jack Kramer’s professionals from the stands at Memorial Drive, Adelaide. Mal’s tennis was mostly played on hard courts, but he gave it away when he had work to do in establishing his house. Tennis was his favourite sport as a young man, but he chose Basketball because he could play it at night, and not clash with family activities.

His love for tennis was re-ignited when he joined the Vets in the mid-nineties, and he still plays many tournaments both with and against his friend, Norm Coventry. It was with Norm that he won the Mildura Doubles and the South Australian titles soon after starting with the Vets, and he initiated his involvement with Australian Vets in Wodonga 1999. What a red hot start! Mal was a Finalist in 2001, and it made him wish that he had started earlier. Malcolm has had an operation recently on his shoulder, and has come back to fitness by lifting weights, playing golf and swimming.

A degree in Civil Engineering led him into State Roads as Principal Engineer, then as the City Engineer with the local Council. Malcolm is currently on the executive of the South Australian Olympic Council, which raises funds for future Olympians.

Malcolm’s achievements are all the more remarkable when you consider that as a small child he had to suffer many operations over a period of two years, to overcome the fact that he was born with a "club foot." (It was something that his mother would never like to have mentioned!) This could be due to the fact that she had to raise the 4 boys almost on her own because their father, being in the Army, was overseas for six years.

Malcolm is planning to represent South Australia in Perth 2007, so look for him on the grass at Robertson Park!