After a fractured COVID stop, limited start, cautious play year of tennis, coupled with untimely late November early December rains, the Busselton Tennis Club finally completed their delayed 2020 Club Championships last week over a record nine month duration.
The annual club competition consisting of ladies, men's and mixed tennis usually played in March was full of exciting play over different stages, especially in the Busselton Toyota sponsored ladies singles tennis where 16 yo stand out junior Hannah Nichols prevailed over number two seed Allison Kirk in the semi-finals to challenge No.1 seed and three times Ladies Champion Louise Braddock for the Ladies Singles title. In the second semi-finals match full of hard hitting rallies, Louise won over Sue Thomas and eventually went on to win the Ladies Singles Comp 6-2, 6-2 after overcoming a strong challenge from Hannah in extremely windy conditions with skillful rallies and serves.
After a rain effected start on November 29, the Men's Singles final was eventually played out on December 3 when Garry Stokes was pushed hard to all parts of the court by Brycen Godfrey before winning 4-6, 6-4, 6-2. In the Mens Doubles Championships, winners Pat Mulhern & Justin Chandler beat Runners-up Ben Priest & Richard Kim 7-5, 6-3
The Ladies Doubles Championships saw young talent Hannah Nichols team up with Sandi Sigelski to win over Karen Stewart and Carman McFaull 6-3, 6-1.
Winners of the Mixed Doubles Championships sponsored by Waroona Auto Service Centre were Brycen Godfrey & Alison Kirk 6-4 6-3. Runners up Zeleika Cahill & Andrew O'Neill.
Plate winners Carmen Atkinson & Paul Collins. Runners up Rob Preston & Bernie Adriens. Repechage winners Simon Chae & Ingrid Windsor Runners up Tracy Adams & Yves Deroche.
The Mens Singles Plate presented lots of talent as Ives Deroche typically gave all his opponents a run for their money. Simon Chae was the winner with four wins (24 games), James McGregor second with three wins and new club member Paul Rutty third with two wins and two tiebreaks.
Carman Atkinson & Grace Bancroft (24 games) beat Runners-up Leonie Don & Grace Bassett (20 games) in the Ladies Doubles Plate.
In the newly created 60+ Round Robin category Fred La Rose & Doug Hutchison (28 games) narrowly beat Alan Robb & Jim Davies (27 games).
Thanks go to BTC Captain Allison Hutchison for organising the extended comp under trying conditions especially recording progressive stop-start scores so that play could continue as smoothly as possible over the irregular period.