Prospect (City/Hills) and Mount Gambier (Rural) have been announced as South Australia’s Most Outstanding Tennis Clubs in 2024. While dedicated volunteers Damian McGee (Gawler and Districts Tennis Association) and Rebecca Burford (Tumby Bay Tennis Club) were honoured with Volunteer Achievement Awards.
The awards among others were presented at the Tennis SA Awards Night held at the Adelaide Convention Centre on Saturday 27 April. “The Tennis SA Awards Night was once again a spectacular celebration of the achievements of our players, coaches, clubs, communities, volunteers and officials” Tennis SA CEO Debbie Sterrey said.
“It was great to see over 360 people attend to celebrate all those who make tennis great in our state. Our congratulations to all of the award winners and finalists, we are very proud of you all.”
Prospect Tennis Club won the award for the first time after an amazing year of growth participation numbers. A new court hire offering and strong facility upgrade strategy has created many opportunities for the club and the wider community, building a strong club culture.
For Mount Gambier Tennis Club, this award recognises the wide variety of programs on offer, catering for all players from social to competitive levels, with inclusivity a key focus for the club.
Golden Grove and Greenacres Tennis Clubs were finalists for the City/Hills accolade, whilst Renmark Tintra Lawn and Strathalbyn Tennis Clubs were in the running to win the rural category.
Professional athletes Li Tu and Petra Hule were awarded South Australia’s most prestigious player awards, the Burr and Boyce Medals. Kristina Tai took home the Gwen Thiele Memorial Trophy for most outstanding 18-and-under female, while Hugh Winter was awarded the Don Turnbull Memorial Trophy for most outstanding 18-and-under male.
The City of Port Adelaide Enfield won the award for Most Outstanding Council or Government Department, while Mark Haskett was announced as the Most Outstanding Player with a Disability following an outstanding year leaving him ranked No.1 in Australia and No. 2 in the World (B2) in Blind Tennis.
Peter Clark won of the Most Outstanding Coach – Development award, while Craig Mousley took home the Most Outstanding Coach – Club award and Sam Clayson won Most Outstanding Coach – Rural for the second year running. Whilst 100-year-old Henry Young won the Most Outstanding 30+ Tennis Senior.
The full list of award winners were as follows:
South Australian Legends Club
Dianne Berkinshaw
Pam Wearne
Joanne Camens and Ashley Wearne on behalf of Pam Wearne
Sadie Rogers
Metro League Premiers
Division Two Women – Broadview Tennis Club
Division One Women – Denman Tennis Club
Division Four Men – Gawler and Districts Tennis Association
Division Three Men – West Lakes Tennis Club
Division Two Men – Lockleys Tennis Club
Division One Men – Glenlea Tennis Club
Metro League Strike Rate Award Winners
Sofia Haddock (Denman Tennis Club)
Oparah Rajakaruna (East Torrens Kensington Gardens Tennis Club)
Riley Gill (Gawler & Districts Tennis Association)
Ben Lancaster (West Lakes Tennis Club)
Jacquyn Colalancia (Collingrove Tennis Club)
Jack Schipanski
Not in attendance
State League Men’s Premiers – Peake Gardens Riverside Tennis Club
State League Women’s Premiers – Glenlea Tennis Club
State League Fair Play Awards Winners
Hayley Riessen (Happy Valley/Glenunga Tennis Club) and Jieyi Chen (Happy Valley/Glenunga Tennis Club)
Nick Watts (Seacliff Tennis Club)
Not in attendance
Andrew Tavella (Trinity Gardens Tennis Club)
State League Players of the Year
Kasumi Hirayama (Memorial Drive Tennis Club)
Not in attendance
Jieyi Chen (Happy Valley/Glenunga Tennis Club)
Ashwin Vijayaragavan (Tea Tree Gully Tennis Club)
Most Outstanding Club-based Competition
Somerton Park Tennis Club “Rackets and Rascals”
Most Outstanding Tournament
JDS Seacliff February
Most Outstanding Council or Government Department
City of Port Adelaide Enfield
Most Outstanding School
SA School and Services for Vision Impaired
Most Outstanding Inclusion Initiative
SA Blind and Low Vision Tennis Program
Excellence in Officiating
Marija Lentic
Most Outstanding Athlete with a Disability
Mark Haskett
Most Outstanding 30+ Tennis Senior
Henry Young
Gwen Thiele Memorial Trophy
Kristina Tai
Don Turnbull Memorial Trophy
Shane Winter accepting on behalf of Hugh Winter
Burr Medal
Ben Milner accepting on behalf of Li Tu
Boyce Medal
Angela Hule accepting on behalf of Petra Hule
Newcombe Award Winners and Finalists of 2023
Most Outstanding Coach – Rural
Sam Clayson
Most Outstanding Coach – Club
Craig Mousley
Most Outstanding Club – Development
Peter Clark
Volunteer Achievement Award – Rural
Rebecca Burford
Not in attendance
Volunteer Achievement Award – City/Hills
Damian McGee
Most Outstanding Tennis Club – Rural
Mount Gambier Tennis Club
Most Outstanding Tennis Club – City/Hills
Prospect Tennis Club
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