7 February 2014 | Tennis Tasmania

After many months of planning, January 12 saw the Australian Seniors’ Teams Carnival kick off with an Opening Ceremony conducted on Centre Court at the Domain Tennis Centre. With flags flying and competitors and friends filling the stadium, it was a fine start to what a became a very successful event all round.

Approximately 620 competitors from Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Great Britain took to the courts during the Teams event. Matches were held at 9 Southern club venues and players and spectators were filled with awe at the various locations of the clubs. As many people quoted “Tasmania is such a pretty place, with a view from just about everywhere!” Might I take another opportunity to thank the clubs who opened their gates and delivered a warm welcome and delicious fare to all participants. Thank you: Sunshine, Kingston, Lindisfarne, Glenorchy, St Therese’s, Domain, Geilston Bay, Taroona and Rosny Park. Your effort and commitment before and during the event was fantastic.

Tasmania fielded teams in a variety of age groups and performed admirably in the often high temperatures. Queensland was the overall winner for the Teams event, but the contests were strongly battled and the elements tested the constitutions of many!

Thankfully the beautiful weather continued into week 2, when the Individual Championships were conducted. With numbers reduced on court, many took advantage of their time off to explore various tourism destinations.  During this part of the event, players from around the globe took part and the flavour was truly international: Bulgaria, Latvia, Austria, Japan, New Zealand, Australia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Sweden, Belgium….Our own Richard Wynwood, Max Byrne, Hans Maas, and Andrew Youl competed during the Individual Championships, with Richard, Hans, and Andrew all finalists in their singles’ events, and Max combining well with his partner to take out the 80+ Mixed Doubles. Well done all round gentlemen!

Overall the events were applauded as “close to, if not the best ever” (as said by Reg Trevaskis, President Tennis Seniors Australia). Events such as these don’t get off the ground without support, and as said, the work of the various clubs was commendable. I would also like to thank those people (and you know who you are) who contributed fabulous support to me personally via : bus driving, ensuring venues were clean, preparing scrumptious food, stocking player event bags, taking umpteen phone calls, preparing trophies, making deliveries, including the delivery of copius quantities of strong coffee to me! Thank you so very much.

Simonne Allwright,

Event Coordinator.