15 February 2019 | Tennis Victoria

Tennis Victoria Country Week 2019 has drawn to a close. Greater Shepparton City Council played host to a fantastic week of tennis, fun, friendships and community.

On the final day there could be only 23 winners. In Women’s A Grade, Tandara took the title for a fourth time in a row defeating Officer 2-23 – 1-13.

In the Men’s A Grade final, last year’s winners, the Nar Nar Goon Bags returned under the new name of Beveridge and went back to back taking the A Grade title for a second time. Captain Aiden Fitzgerald said the team will be back in 2020 and representing a new town.

Jenny Reid (Tongala) and Yvonne Child (Tongala Green) had a very special week. On Monday they were named Country Week Legends. They rounded out the week with grand final appearances today, playing with their daughters. Jenny and daughter Lisa got the win in Special C1 while Yvonne and daughter Sharynlee were runner up to S.A Seniors in C1.

Local lady, Dorothy Brown of the Kialla Park Burratons, while runner up today, was a winner in everyone’s eyes. Dorothy is the most senior player of the tournament at the ripe age of 82. Dorothy was meant to fill in for one day of play but ended up playing all five. What a star!

The Gilchrist/Pearce Cup was won by the Grade C5 Broadford Bluebells , an award for the best performing overall team.

The ladies from Swan Hill Go Girls have some extra luggage to take up the Murray Valley Highway. After 12 attempts at Country Week playing together, they finally nabbed the win today in Special C3.

Dubbo Demons in Special B1, who arguably have the longest trip to make, were the first to arrive at Country Week this year and the last to leave. They have definitely won the unofficial stayers award.

By the numbers:
1237 players (715 women and 522 men) took part in Tennis Victoria Country Week 2019.
192 teams competed.
There were 23 grades contested over the week.
Over 4660 eight game sets were played.
2304 Dunlop tennis balls were used.
96 pristine grass courts were curated and prepared by Greater Shepparton City Council, Shepparton Lawn Tennis Club and Mooroopna Lawn Tennis Club.
96 tennis nets were produced by Henderson’s of Bendigo. The temporary court nets are then available for purchase by participating teams to take home to their clubs.
864 lines were marked using 160 litres of line marker.
38 racquets were restrung over the week and not one was broken.
5 participants were named Country Week Legends – Graeme Barned, Yvonne Child, Jenny Reid, Chris Rye and Greg Tarrant.
Over 50 hardworking volunteers from a collaboration of local community clubs including Mooroopna Lawn and Shepparton Lawn Tennis Clubs helped put on this great event.
Shepparton teams had the shortest drive to get to Country Week. Others had a bigger trip with players travelling from as far as the United Kingdom, Darwin, Tooraweenah, Brisbane, South Australia and Dubbo.
Dorothy Brown (Kialla Park Burratons) was the most senior player of the week at the ripe age of 82.
Jess from Allambee-Mirboo Gatha Girls was the youngest player at 13.
E.J. Whitten Foundation, Fight MND and Beyond Blue joined Country Week this year to help spread awareness for their great causes with the Country Week community.

The greatest community sporting event may have come to an end for another year but we know it will be back again in 2020 from Sunday 9 to Friday 14 February when it heads to Wodonga.

Click here for photos from the today: