![](https://www.tennis.com.au/act/files/2019/02/Seniors-700-x-450.jpg)
The 2019 Australian Seniors Tennis Carnival was hosted in Shepparton, Victoria from 6-11 January. Held on the natural and synthetic grass courts at Shepparton Lawn Tennis Club and Mooroopna, it was a hot and sunny week of tennis.
Eighty-seven teams competed in the team’s competition with 10 teams from the ACT. Participating in his 14th carvnival, Robert Read had the honour of carrying the ACT flag at the opening ceremony.
Five ACT teams finished 3rd in their sections including the Ladies 60, Ladies 70, Men’s 60(1), Nen’s 65(1), and Men’s 70.
The Annual Tennis Seniors Awards for 2018 were announced at the Carnival dinner held on the Friday evening. Canberra’s Ros Balodis was again awarded the Player of the Year, while Peter Breugelmans was honoured as the Administrator of the Year. Ros was also inducted into the Australian Seniors Tennis Players Hall of Fame, one of 12 initial inductees.
The individual championships were held the following week with 288 competitors from across the country. Pat Moloney was the most successful ACT player winning two combined aged doubles events, the combined 150 with Frank Aiken from Ireland and the combined 130 with John Stark.
Greg and Helen Holcombe were finalists in the 65 mixed doubles while Colin Holgate combined with Sydney’s Adrianne Avis in the 60 mixed doubles.
Holcombe and McCluskey honoured at Christmas Dinner
At the Tennis Seniors ACT Christmas Party held on Saturday 8 December, Helen Holcombe was awarded the Frank Thornton Player of the Year, while Barbara McCluskey was the winner of the George Henshilwood Award acknowledging her dedication as a player and adminstrator.