At one stage it appeared the annual seniors tournament at Paramount Tennis Club was in serious doubt but not only did it go ahead, it attracted a larger number of players than last year.
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There were 79 players on the court during the weekend’s action, with a host of players trekking from around the state to take part in one of the club’s longest running competitions, which is played out between competitors older than 35.
“It was very good and there were some new faces too,” club secretary and organiser Karen Armstrong said.
“There were a couple of father and son teams and while a lot of the ladies had been there previously there was a couple from Port Macquarie and a couple from Collaroi who decided to meet in the middle and play at Dubbo.”
While there wasn’t a huge turnout of local players, those who did take to the courts made an impact.
The father-and-son duo of John and Brad Williams won the Men’s Doubles on Sunday, which was Brad’s second title after teaming up with fellow local Glenn Armstrong to win on Saturday.
The mixed events were washed out on Saturday morning but after the steady rain on Friday night, all players were happy to just get out on the courts at all.
The hard work of club members who got out and swept the court after the rain made any play possible.
Sydney’s Phillip Hazell won the prized men’s singles title on Saturday, getting over Canberra player and Czech Republic Embassy counsellor Miroslav Pisa.
Armstrong added having interesting characters like Pisa, national seniors champion Margaret Wayte and those who had travelled great distances, was one of the real highlights of the tournament.
“It’s nice to see those little stories each year,” she said.
Wayte showed off her talents as she won the ladies doubles on Saturday when playing with Loretta Funnell, while she backed up to win again on Sunday alongside Judy Cousins.
She and Glenn Armstrong also won the mixed doubles on Sunday.
With another successful tournament now all over, the only thing left for the club is to attract more locals to the court.
“Our figures increased from last year and it’s been about the ninth year we’ve run it and compared to a lot of other competitions it always goes well,” Armstrong said. “But we’ve got to try and get locals into really seeing they can compete at this level.”