Country and Interstate Tournaments

Cowra Teams Tournament 29-30 May 2010 - more

Berri SA Teams Carnival 22-24 May 2010 - more

Wagga Wagga Seniors Tennis Tournament 1-2 May 2010 - more

2010 Tennis Seniors Victoria State Championships 5-8 March 2010 - more

Grenfell Teams Tournament 6-7 March 2010 - more

Milton-Ulladulla Seniors Tennis Tournament  12-14 February 2010 - more

Mildura Seniors Tennis Championships (ITF 4) 31 October-3 November 2009 - more 

Merimbula Seniors Tennis  Championships (ITF 4) 19-22 October 2009 - more

2009 Millenium3 Tennis Seniors NSW State Championships (ITF2) 2-5 October 2009 - more

Grenfell Seniors Tennis Tournament 19-20 September 2009 - more

Eurobodalla (Moruya) Seniors Tournament 28-30 August  2009 - more

Forbes Teams Tournament 1-2 August 2009 - more

2009 Tennis Seniors Queensland Championships 3-6 July 2009 - more

Cowra Open Seniors Tournament 27-28 June 2009 - more

COWRA TEAMS TOURNAMENT 29-30 MAY 2010
 

Around 20 of our members made the trip to Cowra for their annual teams tournament.  A total of 21 teams (12 mens and 9 ladies) were divided into two grades.  The Cowra organisors did a great job in getting the tournament almost completed despite the very wet conditions.  Players learned the art of playing on heavy courts and with heavy balls. Some of our ladies were successful with Betty Smith, Helen Holcombe with Helen Worland (Orange) and Di Buchanan (Cootamundra) winning the A grade Ladies and Heather McKay and Leonie Ainsworth joining Pam Crawford (Tumut) and Gail Windsor (Bathurst) to be close runners-up.

Wagga again turned on some great Autumn weather for tennis.  Margie Harrigan and Barbara McCluskey won the B grade Ladies Doubles while Leonie Ainsworth paired with Hugh O'Brien from Wagga to win the A1 Mixed Doubles.  A number of our members featured in the runner up list.  May Howard was runner up to Helen Worland (Orange) in the A grade Ladies Singles.  In the doubles events, Graham Smith was runner up in the A1 Mens American Doubles and with Eric Koetz (Wagga) in the A1 Mens Doubles.  In the Ladies American Doubles, Val Gavin and Margie Harrigan were runners up in A2 and Barbara McCluskey in B grade.  In the Ladies Doubles, Heather McKay with Enid Besant-Ryan (Sydney) were runner up in A1 and Leonie Ainsworth and Betty Smith in A2 grade.

2010 TENNIS SENIORS VICTORIA STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS - 5-8 MARCH 2010

Ros Balodis and Pat Moloney represent the ACT at these Championships held at Glen Iris Valley and Dendy Park Tennis Clubs.  Despite some wet and wild weather, the organisers managed to complete the events.  Ros made the final of the 45/50 Womens Singles losing to Kerrie Douglas from Victoria.  However she combined with Vicki Collins from Victoria to win the 45/50 Womens Doubles and Manuel Radic from NSW to win the Combined 90+ Mixed Doubles (from Wayne Arthurs and his mother Angie).  Pat playing with Lee Taylor from Queensland made the final of the 65 Mens Doubles.

A large contingent from the ACT made their way to Ulladulla anticipating a good weekend's tennis.  Unfortunately for the players (good news for the farmers) rain washed out all play apart from a set or two in the singles events on Friday.

MILDURA SENIORS CHAMPIONSHIPS (ITF 4) - 31 OCTOBER-3 NOVEMBER 2009 
 

A further contrast in the weather was experienced at Mildura.  It was hot, hot, hot.  Play was suspended on the Sunday and Monday from late morning to late afternoon due to the extreme heat.  The temperature reached 40° C.  One player ended up in the hospital on a drip while others struggled in their matches.

As a result of the lost time doubles matches were reduced and the tournament finished late Tuesday afternoon instead of the normal early afternoon timing for Melbourne Cup festivities.  The committee did well in reprogramming for the lost time.

Four ACT players competed at Mildura, May Howard, Ernie Young, John Stark and Pat Moloney.  The most successful being May who won the 45/50/55 Womens singles, and the 50 mixed and was runner up in the 40/45/50 Womens doubles.  Pat won the Men's 65 singles and Ernie was runner up in the Men's 50 doubles.

After the tournament Victoria, SA and NSW compete in a tri-state competition.  May and Ernie were recruited by NSW and Pat played for Victoria (state of origin).  Another couple of days of good tennis.

Players were kept on their toes late Tuesday afternoon when a small snake crawled out from the bushes in front of the tournament box.  The 'rubber snake' joke was soon dismissed and the thoughts of where was 'moma and papa' kept the players alert. 

MERIMBULA SENIORS CHAMPIONSHIPS (ITF 4) - 19-22 OCTOBER 2009
 

As a contrast to the NSW Championships, the Merimbula tournament was contested in nice fine weather. There were over 200 players from Queensland, Victoria and NSW.  ACT was well represented at the tournament with twenty eight players travelling there to compete.  Many of them returning home with prizes.  Walking into the Merimbula Club on Wednesday morning saw ACT players contesting singles semi finals on four of the seven courts, a fine performance.  The photo, courtesy of the Merimbula News Weekly, shows Colin Holgate (right) with Dennis Love (NSW), the runner up in the 50/55 singles.

Four players provided outstanding performances:  Heather McKay and Colin Holgate won each of their three events; Phil Higgs and Leonie Ainsworth won three of their four events and were runner up in their forth event.  Phil played his four finals on court 6 , one after the other.  By the time he reached the 130 doubles the strain was telling.

Other players who won or were runner up were, Betty Smith, Rick Genge, Graham Smith, Pat Moloney, Mary Gormly, Neville Rodwell, John Greenup, Margaret Harrigan, Val Gavin, Barbara McClusky, Daphne Kennedy.  All in all a fine ACT performance.

The Merimbula prizes are cash vouches to be spent in the sponsoring stores in Merimbula.  So Thursday afternoon and Friday morning it was like a ACT reunion in the main street as the winning players went from shop to shop to cash in their vouchers and compare what each had bought.

Congratulations must go to this years new tournament committee. They did a very good job and saw the tournament completed Thursday afternoon as programmed.

Winners

Womens 40/50 Singles - Leonie Ainsworth

Womens 60 Singles - Heather McKay

Mens 50/55 Singles -  Colin Holgate

Mens 65 Singles -  Phil Higgs

Womens 50 Doubles -  Leonie Ainsworth and Betty Smith

Mens 50/55 Doubles - Rick Genge and Colin Holgatel

Mens 65 Doubles - Phil Higgs and Pat Moloney

Mixed 65 Doubles -  Phil Higgs and Heather McKay

Mixed 70 Doubles -  Barrie Arnold(NSW) and Mary Gormly

Womens 120 Combined - Leonie Ainsworth and Heather McKay 

Mens 100/110 Combined - Colin Holgate and Graham Smith

Mens 120 Combined - John Greenup and Neville Rodwell

Runners up

Womens 50 Doubles - Mary Gormly and Dot Green(NSW)

Womens 65 Doubles - Margaret Harrigan and June Simpson(Vic)

Mens 60 Doubles - John Greenup and Neville Rodwell

Mixed 50/55 Doubles -  Dennis Love(NSW) and Leonie Ainsworth

Womens 110 Combined - Valerie Gavin and Betty Smith

Womens 130 Combined - Daphne Kennedy and Barbara McCluskey

Mens 130 Combined -  Phil Higgs and Pat Moloney

2009 MILLENNIUM3 TENNIS SENIORS NSW STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS (ITF2) - 2-5 OCTOBER 2009
 

A small contingent of ten represented the ACT at the NSW State Championships held at Pennant Hills over the October long weekend.  There was a bumper entry of 288 which was very encouraging for the organising committee.  Unfortunately the weather was atrocious with Sydney receiving more rain over the weekend than it had for the last three months.  However by cancelling the combined and mixed doubles events and shortening some of the other matches almost all the other events were completed on time. 

Our only winner was Colin Holgate who won the Men's 50 singles in a strong field which included the Australian No 2 ranked player.  Our only other finalist was Phil Higgs who lost to Australia's No 1 player Dennis Bindon 6/1 6/3.  Phil was unlucky to find Dennis in top form.  Other players performed well.  John Stark playing in the Men's 60 singles quarter final was in a winning position against the No 3 seed when he strained a hamstring and had to forfeit.  Neville Rodwell's match also in the Men's 60 singles quarter final against the top seed Terry Smith was of a high standard with Terry winning 6/4 6/4.  Not sure whether this loss affected Neville’s toast making abilities as next day he burnt the toast which set off the motel's fire alarm causing a mild panic with people hurriedly dressing and ready to evacuate as the fire brigade arrived and settled things down.  The motel subsequently confiscated Neville's toaster and got him to order toast from the kitchen.  Rick Genge lost his Men's 55 quarter final to the No 2 Seed Gary Thoroughgood 6/3 6/4 in another good match and May Howard lost a hard fought match 6/2 2/6 7/6.  All in all the ACT players performed well.

Congratulations must go to the NSW Tournament Committee for their excellent work in completing the tournament under the very trying wet weather conditions.  Congratulations must also go to the ground staff for repeatly mopping up the courts enabling matches to proceed in between the rain storms

GRENFELL SENIORS TENNIS TOURNAMENT 19-20  SEPTEMBER 2009
 

Grenfell  once again held their annual Seniors Tournament in warm sunny conditions around 22 degrees. The play got underway on time with entrants from Victoria, ACT, Sydney, NSW South Coast, Wagga and regional areas surrounding Grenfell.

The American Doubles on Saturday were a lot of fun and a lot of tennis priming everyone for Sunday’s doubles. ACT members Wilma Bingley and Graham Smith were runners up in division 2 ladies and division 1 mens respectively.

All were happy to get off around 4pm to their accommodation for a rest or happy hour before hitting the Country Club for the Dinner Dance to the music of the wonderful entertainer Ray Stevens. Shelly Ryan provided a first class three-course dinner. Players ate, drank and danced the hours away until late. Guess who got up and sang AGAIN.

Fine and sunny conditions again greeted players on Sunday.  Even with an earlier start. everyone hit the courts with enthusiasm for the men’s and ladies Doubles.  There were some very close games and good tennis. The afternoon was for the mixed doubles.  Graham Smith met further success winning the combined 90/110 mens doubles with Alan Heathcote (Grenfell) and was runner up in the combined 110 mixed doubles with Diane Buchanan (Cootamundra).  May Howard and Colin Lyons won the combined 90 mixed doubles from Betty Smith and Danny Joyce (Grenfell).  May also won the combined 90 ladies doubles with Annette Cochrane (Wagga) and Betty won the combined 110 ladies doubles with Diane Buchanan.  Colin playing with Hugh O'Brien (Wagga) was runner up in the combined 90/110 mens doubles.

The day closed with a speech from Grenfell Captain Danny Joyce thanking all for travelling to the Tournament and the presentation of trophies by Mick Doyle, the Tournament Director and Anne, his helper.

Numbers were down this year due to some of the regulars having health problems and operations - sign of the times as we get older. It is hoped that they will be back next year along with many of the NSW Seniors. It is an easy run from Sydney and Canberra  and  a warm country welcome awaits everyone.

Eurobodalla (Moruya) Seniors Tournament 28-30 August  2009

They came from Sydney to Sale, Wagga Wagga to Wodonga, to play in the annual Eurobodalla Seniors Tennis Tournament from 28-30 August at the Moruya Tennis Club.  While the weather forecast was doom and gloom, the rain stayed away. Gusty winds on Saturday certainly tested the skill and patience of all players, but overall, conditions for players and spectators were very enjoyable.

Organisers were very pleased with the 30% increase in entries over the previous year.  Following very positive feedback from players, a similar increase is expected for next year's tournament with organisers planning to offer local businesses the opportunity to support one or more events.

The Brian Smith Memorial Shield, for the most senior singles winner, was presented by Karl Croker to Phil Higgs.  Phil was all class in winning his group.

ACT members were well represented amongst the other event winners:

Womens Doubles:

Anne Pratt and Kathy Hart

Mens Doubles:

John Chapman and Bob Hetherington

Mixed Doubles:

Enid Besant-Ryan and Phil Higgs 

Helen Nealer and Zoltan Lukacs

Combined Age Womens Doubles:

Valerie Gavin and Marilyn Walter

Beryl Manley and Leonie Ainsworth

Combined Age Mens Doubles:

Peter Boyle and Garry Buchanan

Combined Age Mixed Doubles:

Valerie Gavin and John Chapman

Helen Nealer and Zoltan Lukacs

Enid Besant-Ryan and Phil Higgs

 Anne Pratt and Rob Pott

FORBES TEAMS TOURNAMENT 1-2 AUGUST 2009
 

Five of our ladies and 4 of our men travelled to Forbes for their open teams tournament and enjoyed a very hospitable weekend. There were 4 divisions, three for men and one for women .  Leonie Ainsworth helped a Tumut team win the ladies division from a Canberra team including Lucy Gormly, Helen Holcombe, Betty Smith and Di Buchanan from Cootamundra.  The Canberra mens team of John Greenup, Tim Harris, Greg Holcombe and Graham Smith was runner up in the A grade mens division.

2009 TENNIS SENIORS QUEENSLAND CHAMPIONSHIPS 3-6 JULY 2009
 

Dale and Kerrie Brooker, Norm Clements, Rick Genge, Phil Higgs, Colin Holgate and John Stark travelled to the Gold Coast to play in the Queensland Championships.  John Stark was the most successful in the singles events making the semi finals in the 60 Mens Singles.  In doubles events, Rick Genge combined with Takamichi Hirooka from Japan (members would know him from our Easter tournament) to win the 45 Mens Doubles, Rick and Colin Holgate were runner up in the 50 Mens Doubles and Phil Higgs and Barry Lymbury (Narooma) were runner up in the 120 Combined Aged Mens Doubles.
 

COWRA OPEN SENIORS TENNIS TOURNAMENT 27-28 JUNE 2009

Around 15 players from Canberra entered this Tournament.  Only events scheduled for Saturday were completed as despite the best efforts of the Cowra Committee and volunteers wet weather prevented play on Sunday.  Canberra winners were Graham Smith in Mens Division 1 and Kath Hetherington in Womens Division 2.  Runners-up were Betty Smith and Marilyn Walter in Womens 2 and Vivien Meagher in Division 3.