DESPITE impending rain on its way, the Kerang Lawn Tennis Club was able to complete their Easter Tournament and finish off what was a fantastic weekend of tennis.
Club treasurer Kellie Crellin said the club had planned for the inclement weather, played more matches on the Sunday.
“We were very lucky that we got it finished,” she said.
“We pushed through some extra events on Sunday and they ended up playing under lights up until 8pm.”
“A couple of games on the Monday were played in a bit of drizzle and we managed to finish about lunchtime.”
Despite the rain cutting short the tournament, Crellin was still happy with how the tournament went.
“It was great, we were very happy with the tournament overall,” she said.
“The entry numbers we were really happy with, they were slightly down on last year, however last year was a record year coming out of COVID.”
The event had plenty of support from locals as well as people from further south including a contingent travelling from Melbourne.
“I saw a comment on one of our Facebook pages that someone had been coming for 48 years,” Crellin said.
“We had a sheet going around over the weekend for people to put their name down for 25-plus years.”
“There was a fair few names put down on that over the weekend.”
Despite being a competitive tournament, there was a lot of emphasis on the fun side of the event and making it as social as well as competitive.
“We get whole families coming and it is really a family atmosphere,” Crellin said.
“While the competitiveness is still there, it has got the fun light heartedness and entertaining side of it as well which is great.
“There is a range of events to cater for everyone.”
In addition to the usual events there was also a father and son doubles category as well as a parent and child doubles category.
The event also wraps up the season for the Kerang Lawn Tennis Club, with all hands on deck.
“It is a pretty massive event for us all, but it is the main fundraiser for the tennis club and it allows us to raise the funds to cover the running costs for the following year,” Crellin said.
“The event also had a massive impact on the local economy with the nearby caravan park and motel booked out all weekend with tennis players.
The local pubs also had an increased trade over the Friday and Saturday nights before the tennis club held their major evening on the Sunday with a live band playing at the courts.RESULTS
Open Mens Singles – Jason Daye
A Grade Mens Singles – Joshua Fairhurst
B Grade Mens Singles – Joshua Fairhurst
C Grade Mens Singles – Kia Jordan Coatsworth
D Grade Mens Singles – Kia Jordan Coatsworth
40 & Over Mens Singles – Marco Bragagnolo
16 & Under Boys Singles – Oscar Whitmore
14 & Under Boys Singles – Oscar Whitmore
12 & Under Boys Singles – Eli Kingma
Open Womens Singles – Sophie Christie
A Grade Womens Singles – Melissa Harrison
B Grade Womens Singles – Chloe Jean Hecker
C Grade Womens Singles – Taylah Pratt
D Grade Womens Singles – Wendy Caddy
40 & Over Womens Singles – Wendy Margaret Harrison
16 & Under Girls Singles – Ayla Kingma
14 & Under Girls Singles – Coco-Bella Crellin
12 & Under Girls Singles – Chloe Lee Meehan
Open Mens Doubles – Matt Donald Gravina & Rhyse Mazza
A Grade Mens Doubles – Mark Carter & Silas Kingma
B Grade Mens Doubles – Rennie Gilchrist & Tom Murray
C Grade Mens Doubles – Robert Datson & Stuart Mcewan
D Grade Mens Doubles – Mitchell Byrne & Kia Jordan Coatsworth
Father & Son Doubles – Eli Kingma & Tim Kingma
40 & Over Mens Doubles – Stuart Mcewan & Andrew Cameron Stewart
Open Womens Doubles – Jane Murray & Gemma O’Farrell
A Grade Womens Doubles – Melissa Harrison & Wendy Margaret Harrison
B Grade Womens Doubles – Eliza O’Farrell & Penny O’Farrell and Kate Buttifant & Laura O’Farrell
C Grade Womens Doubles – Jane Mcadam & Taylah Pratt
D Grade Womens Doubles – Jess Connor & Caroline Edwards
40 & Over Womens Doubles – Wendy Margaret Harrison & Jane Murray
Open Mixed Doubles – Huw Gatford & Gemma O’Farrell
A Grade Mixed Doubles – Joshua Fairhurst & Marsha Kagan
B Grade Mixed Doubles – Samuel Hecker & Chloe Jean Hecker
C Grade Mixed Doubles – Ryan Byrne & Jessica Byrne
D Grade Mixed Doubles – Jak Caddy & Wendy Caddy
40 & Over Mixed Doubles – Ian Parker & Ann Marie Johnston
Parent & Child Doubles – Eli Kingma & Mariah Michelle Kingma
16 & Under Doubles – Patrick Flood & Thomas Flood
14 & Under Doubles – Lily Wise & Chloe Lee Meehan
12 & Under Doubles – Eli Kingma & Chloe Lee Meehan