6 January 2026 | Tennis Victoria

The Wangaratta Lawn Tennis Club proudly hosted the Inter-Regional Country Championships from Friday 2 to Sunday 4 January, welcoming an impressive 255 players for what is the largest teams event in Victoria. This prestigious tournament showcased talent across all levels, featuring divisions from 12/u juniors to Open categories and even 50+ age groups, highlighting a true celebration of tennis across generations.

Thanks to the support of the Rural City of Wangaratta, the championship was a resounding success. With strong community backing and enthusiastic participation, the Inter-Regional Country Championships continue to cement their place as a cornerstone event.

Players competed in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles, delivering high-quality tennis and thrilling contests throughout the weekend. The atmosphere was electric as nine country regions came together, the highest representation in recent history, with a warm welcome back to North East and East Gippsland.

A special thank you goes to the Wangaratta Lawn Tennis Club and its dedicated committee for their tireless efforts in organising and running the event. Their hard work ensured smooth operations and an exceptional experience for players and spectators alike. The courts and facilities were in outstanding condition, providing the perfect stage for competitive play.

President Wangaratta Lawn Tennis Club, Sam Allen, said “Wang Lawn couldn’t be more pleased with the amount of people here at the event and the quality of tennis being played on our courts. The courts are performing really well with all the tennis being played”.

After two days of intense competition, finals day on Sunday brought excitement and drama. Mixed doubles winners were crowned in the morning, followed by gendered doubles and singles events. The Women’s and Men’s Open singles finals were played early in the afternoon, producing two first-time champions.

In the Women’s Open, top seed and first-time Open entrant Willow Kelly from Loddon Campaspe defeated South West’s Eloise Swarbrick 6-3, 6-2, continuing her success rate from the 16/u girl singles in Creswick last year. In the Men’s Open, Goulburn teammates Jack Bassett and David Poole battled it out, with Bassett claiming his first title in a thrilling 3-6, 6-4, 10-6 victory over the 2022 champion Poole.

Special mentions go to Asha Taylor Duncan (12/u) and Amra Fleming (14/u), who achieved the rare feat of winning singles, doubles, and mixed doubles in their respective age groups.

After three days of competitive tennis, points from all events were tallied to determine the overall regional champion. Barwon claimed the title for the third consecutive year with a dominant performance across multiple divisions. Goulburn earned the “Most Improved” award after bouncing back strongly from a challenging 2025 campaign.

Tennis Victoria CEO Kim Kachel said “Wangaratta delivered an exceptional weekend that truly showcased the spirit of country tennis. With nine regions coming together and competing with such pride and camaraderie, the Championships highlighted everything that makes regional tennis so special. The Wangaratta Lawn Tennis Club’s outstanding work created a fantastic start to the 2026 Victorian tennis calendar.”

Final Standings:

1. Barwon – 315 points
2. Loddon Campaspe – 294 points
3. Goulburn – 280 points
4. South West – 215 points
5. Wimmera – 187 points
6. Central Highlands – 186 points
7. Mornington Peninsula – 160 points
8. North East – 131 points
9. East Gippsland – 47 points

Tennis Victoria looks forward to announcing next year’s event location and dates soon.