THE Gannawarra Shire was treated to a tennis takeover over the Easter long weekend, as lawn tennis clubs in both Kerang and Cohuna hosted Easter tournaments.
More than 450 players hit the grass for Kerang’s Easter Carnival, competing in 54 events from under-10s to over-50s.
Kerang Lawn Tennis Club president Zak Taylor said the event “went about as good as could possibly be expected”.
“The numbers were exactly where we wanted them to be, the tennis has been really good and the weather has been sensational,” he said.
“We see the same faces coming back, there’s an old fella here who has come back for 56 years now.
“They all make comments that coming up for this tournament is their favourite weekend of the year. They’ve been really good at supporting us.
“It’s fantastic to see it continue to go so strong.”
Taylor said the event benefitted both the region and the club economically, and was a highlight of the town’s year.
“I’s the best weekend to be in Kerang – as a local I’m never going anywhere over Easter,” he said.
“I assume it generates a lot of money for the town, much like the races.
“We all try to work with and alongside each other to make it a successful weekend in town. The turf club gave us some of their extra things.
“This is what allows us to have 18 beautiful grass courts down here at our club. It’s the success of this tournament that goes back into our local tennis.”
Taylor said volunteers and a strong tournament director ensured the tournament would go from strength to strength.
“We’ve got a pretty small committee here, so it can be a lot of work for the ones that are here,” he said.
“But we make it work, because this is too good of a thing to allow not to happen.”
Just 30km away, more than 180 players were taking part in the Cohuna Lawn Easter Tournament.
Tournament director Jason Hensley said the weekend had been “terrific”.
“We had 182 players in over 340 events,” he said.
“The weather has been magnificent, if not a touch too hot at times.
“It’s all about enjoying some tennis, no matter what standard. We’ve got some people here who only ever pick up a racket around Easter time.
“We had first timers who were telling us that they would be back every year, we had families who have been returning for three or four generations and are still coming.
“For a number of the family groups in attendance, this is what Easter means to them.”
Hensley said that for the Easter long weekend, club members and visitors became family.
“I see many people I have met through running the tournament, who I count as friends even though I might not see them until next Easter,” he said.
