Top season of tennis for Ōtorohanga

It’s been a season of highlights for the Ōtorohanga Tennis Club.

Player numbers were good throughout the season and although some wild weather made playing difficult at times, there was plenty to like about the season.

Players attended numerous tournaments and took part in club competitions that provided plenty of exciting matches.

In the club championships, top female tennis player Luci Barlow was again too strong for the opposition, winning the women’s title ahead of Zoe Clapcott, who played some outstanding tennis en route to the final.

Paul Fleming took out the men’s division ahead of Lance Udy in what was an entertaining final.

The plate sections were won by Holly Carr-Paterson and Ken Phillip.

In the highly competitive doubles divisions, Donna Russell and Fiona Parsons teamed up to outclass the rest of their field, while in the men’s equivalent, Sid Mitchell went on to win the first of four club crowns when he partnered with Ben Carpenter.

The mixed doubles was taken out by Mitchell and Jan Darby.

In a hotly contested battle, Joyce Wong was named most improved player.

Business house tennis is always popular with Rae Udy and Yvonne Le Fleming being the top performers in the 5.30pm division, taking out the grade ahead of Ellen Eyre and Dan Starnes.

Mitchell and Clare Newsom combined beautifully to win the 6.30pm round, ahead of Marcus Paterson and Holly Paterson.

In the final business house division, Mitchell made it a fourth crown this season with victory alongside Jan Derby as they claimed the grade over Lance Udy and Andrew White.

There will be the odd tournament or club event through winter, but otherwise tennis begins again properly in summer when the club would like to see more players turn up with their racquets.