On Saturday, April 13, Busselton Tennis Club's president Barry House welcomed a large crowd of guests, visitors, current and past members to the very last presentation/sundowner evening at the current club. Those present including past club champion Neil Honey and his wife Jan, and past president and singles champion John Shortill and wife Jenny, have many enjoyable memories of time spent at their much-loved club.
Popular BTC patron Libby Mettam assisted club captain Allison Hutchison to present awards to players who achieved at the Club Championships conducted over three weekends in March. All Championships had a high standard of play.
Louise Braddock played well to win the Women's Doubles Championship with partner Tracy Adams. Merryl Peet and Sandy Sigelski were awarded the runner up trophies. Louise also was rewarded for winning the Women's Singles for the third time. Alison Kirk was runner up Singles Champion (having previously won 13 Singles Championships). Sue Thomas was ecstatic to win the Consolation Award after nearly three years of battling shoulder problems.
Men's Doubles Championship went to an exuberant Paul Collins and Clifford Hoult who had a fabulous three set match against Ben Priest and Richard Kim 6/3 1/6 6/3. The Men's Singles Final is yet to be played (Sat, May 4 at 3 pm between Cliff Hoult and Brycen Godfrey). Paul Collins won the Singles Plate from John McCallum 6/2 and Justin Chandler the Singles Repechage from David Triffitt 6/5 (8-6).
The Mixed Doubles was won by Alison Kirk and Cliff Hoult, with the runner up trophy going to Sandy Sigelski and David Triffitt. Sandy lost two partners during this series of championships but fortunately managed to find talented players to replace them. Repechage winners were Tracy Adams and Richard Kim. Cliff Hoult won 6/3 against Patrick Mulhern in the Men's Handicap Singles final.
The Captain's Award was presented to Merryl Peet for her tireless effort and contributions to the club on many levels together with her valuable assistance to the Match Committee.
The summer season is nearly at an end but there's still a lot of tennis to be played before the exciting move to the brand new Busselton Tennis Centre at Barnard Park, due to open officially in October for the start of the 2019/20 tennis season.
Visitors to Busselton for Easter and the school holidays are invited to join in for social tennis on Saturdays - first set at 2pm and Wednesdays - first set at 9.30am. The Ladies 2019 Sanderson Cup competition entries close soon so those intending to play should contact competition co-ordinator Merryl Peet as soon as possible.
