REPORT AND RESULTS of 2007 Queensland Tennis Seniors Championships

 played at the Gold Coast from 29 June to 2 July, 2007.

The rain had cleared away, setting up a great weekend for the State Championships at Miami, in the "twin centres" – Gold Coast Seniors and Miami Grass Tennis Clubs, with 320 entries. It was typical Queensland weather, "Beautiful one day, Perfect the next."

After the wind had died down, that is…….Friday had been a challenge! A few upsets, some new faces, and excellent tennis were the order of the day.

The tournament was expertly run by Steve Longworth, most ably assisted by Secretary Coral Vickers, who couldn’t find her voice, and John S Walker – Mr President. They were standing in for Gail Bates, the usual Tournament Director who was overseas with husband Max, who is playing tennis in Germany.

The Aussies welcomed a large contingent of overseas visitors, including our friends "across the ditch" which numbered over 20, and at least one of them caused an upset. Kerry Noble beat No 2 seed Ros Evans in the W40/45s. Sandy Tritt led 3-love against Helen Worland in the 55WS, but was defeated 6-4 6-2. Players also came from Great Britain, New Caledonia, Japan (7) and interstate visitors from SA, Victoria, Tasmania, ACT and New South Wales numbered 96.

Perhaps the biggest "upset" was caused by unseeded Ian McDonald who defeated top seed Peter Froelich in the first round of the M70s in three sets, 6/1 5/7 6/4. Ian continued to the final with two more 3-set matches, first against Tony Harkin (NSW), and then Qld’s Kevin Crump. He must have had nothing "left in the tank" as he led 5-1 in the Final, conceded the next 4 games and retired, giving the title to Ian King (NSW). NZ’s Gary Oliver (#1 seed in the 55s) had a 3-set tussle in the Final with Mike Clayton (NSW), coming out the winner, 6/4 5/7 6/1. In the 50s, Top seed Takamichi Hirooka met an in-form Stephen Whitecross in the Final, going down 6/4 6/2.

In the M60s World #1 Hugh Thomson had to withstand a huge effort by Terry McLellan in the semis, to win in 3 sets, 7/5 4/6 6/3. He then took the title in fine style, defeating Lee Taylor 6/2 6/4. In the 65s, Australian Champ. Bruce Burns dispatched Derek Schroder in straight sets 6/3 6/4.

In the Women’s events, "straight sets" victories went to Brenda Foster (45s), Helen Webb (50s) and Helen Worland (55s). In the 60/65s Judy Hancy held on to defeat hard- hitting Marilyn Davis in 3 sets, 4/6 6/2 6/4. ACT’s "evergreen" Alison Ide took the 70s in a round robin, 4 wins to Helen Ferris’ 3 wins.

Catering was next to none, with Chris Golds and her band of helpers providing nutritious wraps, sandwiches and soup, along with scrumptious muffins, slices and cakes, not to mention that the Cappuccinos were very popular too!

Main venues were Gold Coast Seniors Club & Miami Tennis Club, with courts used at Queens Park Tennis Club, Southport, Miami Highway & Burleigh Heads Tennis Club.

A highlight of the Final day was that after the presentations, the New Zealanders, led by Dick Garratt, performed a version of the "Haka" and the Japanese ladies treated us to some delightful singing. It had been a great weekend!

Report by Robyn Castle.

SINGLES RESULTS:

M35s: Glenn Philp (QLD) d Chris O’Mara (VIC) 6/3 6/4

M40s: Glenn Hamilton (QLD) d Graeme Foster (NSW) 6/3/6/3

M45s: Simon Arms (VIC) d Mike Ford (QLD) 6/2 6/4

M50s: Stephen Whitecross (QLD) d Takamichi Hirooka (Japan) 6/4 6/2

M55s: Gary Oliver (NZL) d Mike Clayton (NSW) 6/4 5/7 6/1

M60s: World #1 Hugh Thomson d Lee Taylor (QLD) 6/2 6/4

M65s: Bruce Burns (NSW) d Derek Schroder (QLD) 6/3 6/4

M70s: Ian King (NSW) d Ian McDonald (QLD) 5/5 Ret.

M75s: Max Byrne (TAS) d Tom Gillett (QLD) 6/1 6/1

W40/45s: Brenda Foster (NSW) d Wanda Clothier (VIC) 6/4 6/4

W50s: Helen Webb (NSW) d Roslyn Hand (QLD) 6/3 6/2

W55s: Helen Worland (NSW) d Sandra Tritt (NZL) 6/4 6/2

W60-65s: Judy Hancy (VIC) d Marilyn Davis (QLD) 4/6 6/2 6/4

W70s: Alison Ide, (ACT)(winner) Helen Ferris, (NSW) (Runner-up) 4 wins/3 wins

Combined Doubles – Friday pm

M 100 Lee Taylor Glenn Hamilton d Quentin Maisey Gary Oliver

M 120 Terry McLellan Noel Cheshire d Hugh Thomson Ian Worland

M 130 Bruce Burns John Davis d Dennis Bindon Arthur Olsen

M 140 Ian King Tony Harkin d Garth Wenck Stuart McLay

W 100 Helen Webb Roslyn Hand d Wendy Wrigley(NZL) Kerry Noble (NZL)

W 110 Helen Worland Jenny Grose d Sandra Tritt (NZL) Victoria Kerrison (NZL)

W 120 Donna Walker Val Balnave d Atsuko Sakashita Nobuko Kawamura (JPN)

W 130 Alison Ide Helen Ferris d Pauline Ward June Burke

Saturday pm

M 35 Paul Kleverlaan Chris O’Mara d Peter Ohl Allan Pade

M 45 Simon Arms Mike Ford d Garth Dix Malcolm Gaydon

M 55 Hugh Thomson Errol Zelinski d John Dunnett Ian Somers

M 65 Bruce Burns John Davis d Don Biddle Brian Dew

M75/80 Bill Cox Barry Headland d Tom Gillett Richard Wilson

W 35 Helen Worland Diane Cassel d Kim Whitbread Paula Bower

W 45 Brenda Foster Wanda Clothier d Roslyn Hand Helen Webb

W 55 Sandra Tritt Victoria Kerrison d Sachito Nakajima Matsue Machida (JPN)

W 65 Judy Hancy Norma Godbolt-McGhie Lyn Wayte Joy Rigter

Sunday pm

M 40 Gary Keens (GB) Mike Cozier (NZL) d Graeme Foster Glenn Hamilton

M 50 Tony Bray Takamichi Hirooka (JPN) d Merv Rickards Ken Stokes

M 60 Ray Cush Alan Lynch d Lee Taylor John Butler

M 70 Tony Harkin Ian King d Peter Froelich Ray Woodforde

W 40 Wanda Clothier Kerin Tulloch d Mi Ran Kim Kaoru Yoshiba (JPN)

W 50 Helen Webb Roslyn Hand d Helen Worland Carol-Anne Robinson

W 60 Marilyn Davis Heather Barwick d Jan Johns Maree Schacht-Dean

W 70 Alison Ide - Helen Ferris d Blanche Wall - Esme Tobin

Monday pm MIXED (WINNERS):

35/40 Mike Cozier - Kerry Noble (NZL)

45 Mark Hall - Wanda Clothier

50 Takamichi Hirooka - Robyn Castle

55 David Hawkes - Sandra Tritt (NZL)

60 Dennis Bindon - Julien Pratt equal with Bruce Burns - Heather Barwick

65 Brian Dew - Helen Dew

70/75 Ollie Smith - Alison Ide

oooOOOooo