5 January 2015 | Tennis Victoria

The 59^th Inter-regional Country Championships were held in hot and windy conditions on the grass courts at Mt Prospect Tennis Association, Creswick – home of the Central Highlands team last weekend. 508 matches were completed by 264 players representing 9 regions over the three day event.

The Barwon team, managed by Mick Mullen, won for a record seventh consecutive year, and also won both the Women’s and Men’s Open singles. Carolyn McGann won her sixth Women’s Open singles title, defeating Jessica Hartland (Loddon) 7/5 7/6, and Matt Hicks won his third Men’s Open singles title, defeating Matt Moloney (South West) 6/1 6/3. Carolyn then teamed with Kelly Brunger to take out the Women’s Open doubles, and Matt teamed with Adam Lasky to take out the Men’s Open doubles titles – and they combined to dominate the Mixed Open doubles too.

David Starling (Goulburn) defeated Rod Wilson (Mornington) in the Men’s Seniors singles final 6/1 6/4, and Julie Golightly (Barwon) defeated Fiona Walker (Barwon) 6/1 6/0 to take out the Women’s Seniors singles final. David teamed with John Evans to defeat Geoff Summers and Rod Wilson (Mornington) in the Men’s Seniors doubles final and Julie teamed with Fiona Walker to defeat Leanne More and Michelle Winchcombe (Loddon) in the Women’s Seniors doubles final.

The host club, Central Highlands had success in the Championships with Ashleigh Joliffe (Central Highlands) winning the Women’s 22/U singles title in a titanic effort. Ashleigh defeated Nicole Mullen (Barwon) 7/5 4/6 10/8 in just over two hours in the final.

The final point standings for the Championships

1. Barwon
2. Goulburn
3. Loddon
4. Mornington Peninsula
5. Central Highlands
6. South West
7. Wimmera
8. Northern Mallee
9. East Gippsland

Northern Mallee won the Cooke Shield for most improved region at the Championships.

Check out the full results