5 January 2017 | Tennis Victoria

The Swan Hill Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club is primed to host the Tennis Victoria Inter-Regional Country Championships for the third time in five years.

The event, in it’s 61st edition, will see the country giants of Barwon Region attempt to win their ninth title in a row.

254 players from nine out of the 11 Victorian Country Regions will take to the grass courts of Swan Hill across eight age groups.

For the first time, 35-49 and 50+ age groups have been added to the program, replacing the 2016 Seniors Event.

“I’m very impressed with the Swan Hill Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club courts and the venue ahead of tomorrow morning,” said Tennis Victoria Tournaments and Events Manager Andrew Reynolds.

“The addition of the 50+ age group has enabled spectators to become players, as many of these entrants have previously watched their peers or family compete from the sidelines.”

The oldest player set to compete is 71-year-old Terry Smith from Loddon Campaspe.

In the junior categories, the youngest players are 10-year-old Isabella Crossman (Loddon Campaspe), Lochlan Borisenko (East Gippsland) and Toby Gedye (South West).

Official proceedings gets underway from 8.00am on Friday, January 6 with over 200 singles and doubles matches to be played.

Saturday will see players taking to the courts in singles and mixed doubles formats before finals on Sunday.