Helen Worland and Adrienne Avis win Gold

Final report from 2009 Seniors World Individual Championships

Robyn Castle, May 14, 2009

Grinning winners Helen & Adrienne. (photo courtesy of Sergio Carmona)

Helen Worland and Adrienne Avis have done it at last, a well-deserved win! GOLD medallists, and they now have an ITF World Championship to their name. They have persevered, in this 55+ category, and have finally achieved it. For three years previously, they have made the Finals, all-Australian affairs, and fought some very tough battles with Kerry Ballard and Liz Allan.   In another all-Aussie encounter, they took the title 7 5 in the third, this time against #1 seeds, Lyn Mortimer and Susanne Walter. What a thrill for the girls. Not to mention their stalwart supporters, Ian Worland (on the sidelines) and Denis Colette at home.

No other Aussies won Gold in the Individuals, a very disappointing situation, but considering the strength of the opposition, it is understandable. Silver went to Brett Patten and Martin Richards in the 35s and to Simon Arms and Bruce Ferguson in the 45s.  Michael Collins and Andrew Rae made the Final of the 55s, but for some reason, they could not line up for the match.

Brett Patten & Martin Richards in action on the clay of Mallorca

(photo courtesy of Sergio Carmona)

Chris O’Mara and Michael Russell had a sensational score in the final of the Men’s 40 Consolation Singles with Chris coming out the winner 76 76. Also in the Consolation, Paul Kleverlaan lost in the semi to the eventual winner of the 35s, as did Michael Collins in the 55s. Wanda lost the Final in the W45s to Austrian Regina Bano, 12/10 in the third set “Match Tie breaker” – more like “Heart Breaker”! Bad luck, Wanda.

Our best Singles results were Semi-finalists. Noteworthy was Gary Thoroughgood’s appearance in the 55Men’s where he cruised through the first three matches conceding only a few games, losing to #2 seed, Brazil’s Roger Guedes.  Lyn Mortimer (seeded #1) in the 55Women’s, took the first set from USA’s Sherri Bronson, but the American fought back to take the next two sets 64 63. Helen Worland lost her semi to the eventual winner, USA’s Joanne Russell, the “dark horse”  - Joanne once won a Wimbledon Doubles with Australian Helen Gourlay (Cawley), but was unseeded in this tournament.  Kenneth Smith lost to Canada’s J–F Mathieu, who lost in the Final to Germany’s Rodolphe Gilbert who had put out the #1 seed.

Gary Thoroughgood (photo courtesy of Sergio Carmona)

Lyn Mortimer (photo courtesy of Sergio Carmona)

Our two favourites, and World #1s, Andrew Rae (55s) and Glenn Busby (50s), unfortunately took early exits against in-form opposition. Andrew lost to Frenchman Marc Renoult who had figured out how to beat him in the Teams’ week, while Glenn lost to the eventual winner, the Spaniard, Eduard Osta. Osta beat American Mike Fedderly, 63 64 in a one-sided affair to take the title.

In Doubles, a semi-finals berth went to Jurate Hardy (35s), Wanda Clothier and Kerrie Douglas (45s), Helen Webb (50s), Chris O’Mara and Rino Traforti (40s). One cannot help thinking that all this experience should hold us in good stead for the future!

Now we will look forward to hosting the Super Seniors in Perth, November 2 – 15.