New Zealand is a "happy hunting ground" for many of our Super Seniors, after a week of tough matches against some of the world’s best. The USA did dominate once again with 4 Cup wins, but Australia beat the USA to win the Crawford Cup (M70s) and the Britannia Cup (M65s). What a sensation!

The 60 Men’s team had a really tough time against the USA "Dream team" going down 3-0, but they sprung into action to take the Bronze medal, defeating France 2-0. Phil Higgs (ACT) and Terry Smith (VIC) had been in great form, winning each match in the R/R, and putting up a spirited performance in the Semi-final against the "kings of the court" from the USA. The scores were 5-7 2-6 and 6-7 1-6 respectively, and the Doubles was no walkover. Alan Walsh (NSW) and Terry McLellan (QLD) made Hugh and Jimmy really work for a 6-4 7-5 win. Against France Australia dominated proceedings to take the Bronze.

In Ashburton, the Men’s 65s were in high spirits, spurred on by their entourage and the 65 Women’s team supporters and players, who were nearby. They had beaten the #2 seeds, Germany in the semi, and were "fired up" to take out the confident Americans in the Final. Bruce Burns produced an absolutely amazing win, against Allan Carter, 7-6 1-6 7-6, followed by an emphatic win to Bob Howes against Fred Drilling 6-2 7-6. Sweet Victory! Last time Australia was successful in the Britannia Cup was back in 2000.
  
Success story No 2! Our Crawford Cup team of Peter Froelich(QLD), Ian King (NSW), Tony Harkin (NSW) and Ray Woodforde (SA) had a resounding win against the USA team. Ian King sealed the No 2 Singles in 3 sets, 6-2 4-6 6-4. How do you come back from 6-2 0-6? Ask Peter Froelich. He managed to "turn the tables" on Robert Duesler to take the deciding 3^rd set 6 love. What an impressive result! Duesler and Davis then salvaged some of their damaged pride in defeating Tony and Ray 7-5 6-3. The Americans have won this Cup for four consecutive years. What a fabulous victory to Australia!

Lorne Main and Ken Sinclair of Canada had a third successive win in the Bitsy Grant (75s), and their 11^th Cup win together as a pair. Chuck Devoe caused a few anxious moments when he took the #2 Singles, but then Main equalised against George McCabe. In the deciding doubles rubber, Main and Sinclair sealed the win in straight sets.  Our boys did well, coming in 5^th, downing Sweden 2-1, and then having to defeat Great Britain, which they did, 2-1! New Zealand and Japan will play for the Bronze. Being in Group 1 with the top seed Canada, did not help Australia’s chances for success in the Teams.  Our team members (Max Byrne, Adrian Alle, Ron deCosta and John McCarthy are likely to do far better in the Individuals, so good hitting, guys!)

It was a great performance by Victorian Ward Hillier in the Gardnar Mulloy Cup, who took Tony Franco to 3 sets, going down 6-4 1-6 5-7. Doug Corbett (NSW) found the going too tough against Graydon Nichols, 2-6 1-6, with Roald Flater and William Tully to strong for Nev Halligan and Dick Wilson (both QLD), wrapping it up in straight sets. A silver medal is just reward for a great week. Well done, gentlemen!

Number 1 seeds, Germany lived up to their reputation to take the Gold in the Alice Marble Cup, but not without a few anxious moments. Great Britain’s Sue Hill almost came back from the brink, levelling at one set all, and after being down 5-2, came back to 4-5, but then lost 6-4 to Inger Kubina. Frances Maclennan took a set from former World #1 Heidi Orth, unfortunately going down 3-6 7-5 1-6. Our Australians, Carol Campling (NSW), Marilyn Davis (QLD), Lou Griffith and Heather Barwick (VIC) were narrowly defeated in the battle for Bronze. Carol levelled the scores with a Singles win over Brenda Carter 3-6 6-2 6-4, but then losing the deciding Doubles with Heather, 3-6 3-6.

The Kitty Godfree Cup went to the USA team who had a resounding 3-0 win against Great Britain. Jacky Boothman and Felicity Thomas were no match for the four-pronged attack from the Americans, Suella Steel, Charleen Hillebrand, Sinclair Bill and Cathy Anderson. Our girls, Linda Pengelly (VIC), Helen Muir (WA) and Jill Taylor (QLD) made a gallant effort against South Africa, represented by Janine Lieffrig, Margaret Bornman and Valme Viljoen, only going down 2-1. They were slightly outclassed in the Singles, but came back to win the Doubles, with Linda and Jill having a 7-5 6-2 win over Janine and Valme. Considering they lost #2 Singles player Judy Hancy earlier in the week, through injury, this was an excellent result.

Silver medals to our Althea Gibson Cup girls, Margaret Robinson (WA), Nola Collins (VIC), Joyce Rogers (VIC) and Helen Ferris (NSW), after a week of excellent performances.

Having defeated South Africa in the semi, they then had to face up to the might of the USA with the world #1 at the helm. The Americans Dorothy Matthiessen, Doris Devries, Burnett Herrick and Roz King proved too strong, taking the Gold medal 3-0. Nola had not lost a Singles all week, and only went down 7-5 6-3 in the Final. Great form, Nola! A well deserved result for Australia ladies, we are proud of you.

The Queens’ Cup was decided on Friday, and our team had won 2 of 3 round robin matches, putting them in the playoff for 3^rd and 4^th. Canada proved too strong for our girls, Barbara Godfrey (VIC), Elsie Crowe (WA) and Claire Murrie (SA). The Canadians, Rosemarie Asch and Joyce Jones, did not have it all their own way in the Doubles, however, needing three sets to win 6-4 2-6 6-3, against Elsie and Claire. A creditable performance, well done!

Robyn Castle
Publicity Officer

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