The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) has clinched victory in the 2011 Australian Teams Tennis Championships, which was held in Newcastle, New South Wales from January 10-14, 2011.
“It was good to win the first ever Australian Teams’ Trophy for the ACT,” said Neville Rodwell, a member of the side and competitor in the 55 plus age group.
“We had a good strong team in the 55’s [category]; we only lost three sets for the whole week, so it was a good effort. We have won that age category before, but we have never won the actual Teams’ Trophy so it was good,” added Neville, who also played in the 2010 World Super Seniors Teams Championships in Turkey last October.
Tournament director, Yvonne Stanton, was impressed by the ACT’s inaugural win, especially since they only had six out of the 89 teams vying for the title.
“The ACT was the winner, which is their first trophy, so that’s great for them,” said Stanton.
“Each day the points are calculated by each state’s performance and at the end of the week the winner is determined. They had a small representative team but they were able to take home the points and ultimately the trophy.”
The competition is determined by an average of sets played by each state over the weeklong event, with the ACT scoring 66 percent.
In second place was Queensland on 55.5 percent and New South Wales finished in third place on 54.9 percent.
This is the 32nd year this event has been staged and the 2011 championships were well supported by the local Newcastle community and beyond.
“The event was very successful; all the competitors were happy and we had lots of spectators,” Stanton expressed. “The weather was good throughout which always helps, and we had lots of publicity for the event which helped draw in the crowds.”
The ACT had to overcome some tough competition to walk away with the title.
“There were a lot of strong players during the competition; it’s hard to pick just one stand out because it’s a group effort,” Stanton said.
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ACT Team List for 2011 Australian Teams Tennis Championships
45yrs (Ladies’) – Ros Balodis(C) Rebecca Claremont, Chris Fraser, Helen Holcombe and Narelle Raftery.
55yrs (Men’s) – John Starke (C), John Greenup, Greg Holcombe, Colin Holgate, Neville Rodwell, Alan Wilmshurst.
55yrs (Ladies’) – Leonie Ainsworth (C), Kay Giffin, Jan Joyner, Betty Smith and Jocelyn Thompson.
60yrs (Ladies’) – Val Gavin (C), Merle Coutts, Helen Greenup, Daphne Kennedy and Marilyn Walter.
65yrs (Men’s) – David Coutts (C), Peter Breugelmans, Pat Moloney, Colin Power, David Spratt and Terry Walker
70yrs (Ladies’) -Margaret Harrigan (C), Mary Gormly, Jenny Howland, Barbara McCluskey and Heather McKay.
For full results from both the Teams and Individual Championships please visit: http://www.92computing.com.au/catav11/cat.htm
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