Skybridge Tennis Seniors NSW State Championships 2011

Skybridge Tennis Seniors NSW
State Championships 2011
Cloudy skies and a strong, gusty wind on Friday saw many competitors facing unwanted
challenges, but all matches from 8.00 am were completed. Saturday saw a drop in the wind, which
was still cold and gusty, but matches progressed to the semi-finals in most cases. The
temperature had dropped to less than 15 degrees and it felt like winter again! Sunday was looking
fine, but cloudy until we arrived at the courts, and then “down it came!” The weekend that has
been “dogged by rain” every year since 2007 did not escape the inevitable.
When play resumed at 1pm, competition was fierce, with matches reduced in order to get through
the tournament. Singles was in many cases just 2 sets and a match tie-break and Doubles was
first to 9 games (a “pro set) with a tie breaker at 8-all. All the matches were completed under lights.
Combined events and the Mixed had to be abandoned, which was most unfortunate.
Two newcomers battled it out for the 35MS, Alex Bijkerk defeating Ian Choat 6/1 6/4, in the 40s
Martin Richards held out against 50-year old Neil Smith 6/4 3/6 6/3. It was “tooth and nail” in the
45s with Robert Kilborn victorious over defending champion Simon Arms 6/2 5/7 6/3, and Peter
Doohan lost his first set of the tournament against Eddie Myers, to win 5/7 6/3 6/4. Wayne Pascoe
was untroubled in the 55s against Russell Rumery winning 6/0 6/2 whereas Geoff Walsh had a
battle in the 60s, Geoff taking it out against #1 seed Peter Jenkins 2/6 6/2 6/3.
Two mates played again in the 65s, with Alan Walsh defeating Ian Davis 6/1 6/4, and in the 70s it
was #1 seed Don Biddle victorious over #2 seed Peter Froelich in a nail biting 3-setter 6/4 2/6 6/2.
Cam Dezarnaulds won all his matches in the 75+ Round Robin while Roger Frankenberg lost a
close tie breaker to Cam as his only loss.
There were only three women’s Singles, with Karen Kleverlaan #1 seed, defending her title in the
35s, this time over Joanne Walter #2 seed, 6/1 6/2 with some stylish and accurate groundstrokes,
while Ros Balodis, seeded #1 also defended hers in the 45/50s against ACT’s Narelle Raftery in
her first visit to our Championships, seeded #2, with the score 6/0 6/3. Helen Worland won all her
matches in the 55-65s Round Robin, to take the winner’s prize from Suzy Ellis who only lost 1
match (to Helen).
The Doubles matches were mostly exciting affairs with Eddie Myers pairing with Chris O’Mara to
defeat Paul Kleverlaan and Martin Richards 7/6 6/4, Robert Kilborn and Neil Smith easily
defending their title against Simon Arms and Bruce Ferguson, when Simon took off for Victoria
before their scheduled match time.
Tony Golding and Brett Roddy had a tough time against Dubbo’s “twins” Glenn Armstrong and
Wayne Dickinson 5/7 6/2 6/3 and it was #1 seeds victorious over #2 seeds in the 55/60s when
Col Holgate and Rick Genge held out against Geoff Walsh and Greg Scott 6/7 7/6 6/3, in a match
that seemed to “go on forever”. Alan Walsh and Ian Davis won the 65s over Mike Pyne and Bruce
Burns 6/4 6/3, while Don Biddle and Peter Froelich took no time in winning the 70/75s over
Gordon Waygood and John Davis 6/1 6/0.

The Women’s Doubles 35-50 was won by Kathy Eldridge and Nicole Nissen (who won their event
last year, and had had a 3-set thriller with Elise Taylor and Wanda Clothier in their semi). They
defeated Kaye Nealon and Ros Balodis (who had fought out their semi-final in 3 sets, with Kerry
Ballard and Sue Woodward) with the Final score being 6/2 6/1. The 60-75WD was a Round Robin,
with Julie Pratt and Mary Gordon having “sweet revenge” after last year’s loss to Kim Blackburne
and Bev Eddington, 6/3 6/2. The tournament was all “wrapped up” by 4.30 with the Singles
winners having been presented with their prize money (thanks to our NEW sponsor Jason Birch
CEO of Skybridge Financial) at 12.30 by Jackson Hills of Tennis New South Wales and our
President Mick Bruton.
Our grateful thanks must go to the staff and volunteers at Eastwood Thornleigh District Tennis
Association, headed by Dave Cochrane, who managed to have the courts playable so soon after
the dumping of rain on Sunday, and to the catering volunteers who worked ALL weekend (even at
the bar tent in the rain)! The food prepared in the kitchen as well as at the barbecue was superb,
especially those fresh scones, Barb! And thanks to Mary and Gerry again for keeping us all
hydrated and well-fed. It was much appreciated.
Last, but not least, we must thank the players, especially those from interstate who help boost our
numbers each year in spite of the threat of rain!
Results
Event Winners Finalists
35MS Alex Bijkerk Ian Choat 6/1 6/4
40MS Martin Richards (SA) Neil Smith 6/4 3/6 6/3
45MS Robert Kilborn Simon Arms (VIC) 6/2 5/7 6/3
50MS Peter Doohan Eddie Myers (VIC) 5/7 6/3 6/4
55MS Wayne Pascoe Russell Rumery 6/0 6/2
60MS Geoff Walsh Peter Jenkins (VIC) 2/6 6/2 6/3
65MS Alan Walsh Ian Davis 6/1 6/4
70MS Don Biddle Peter Froelich (QLD) 6/4 2/6 6/2
75/80MS R/R Cam Dezarnaulds (4 wins) Roger Frankenberg (QLD) (3 wins)
35WS Karen Kleverlaan (VIC) Joanne Walter 6/1 6/2
45/50WS Ros Balodis (ACT) Narelle Raftery (ACT) 6/0 6/3
55/65WS R/R Helen Worland (4 wins) Suzy Ellis (3 wins)
35/40MD E Myers (VIC) C O’Mara (QLD) P Kleverlaan (VIC) M Richards (SA) 7/6 6/4
45MD R Kilborn N Smith S Arms (VIC) B Ferguson (VIC) W/O
50MD T Golding B Roddy W Dickinson G Armstrong 5/7 6/2 6/3
55/60MD R Genge C Holgate (ACT) G Walsh G Scott 6/7 7/6 6/3
65MD A Walsh I Davis M Pyne B Burns 6/4 6/3
70/75MD D Biddle P Froelich (QLD) J Davis G Waygood 6/1 6/0
35-50WD K Eldridge N Nissen R Balodis (ACT) K Nealon 6/2 6/1
65-75WD R/R J Pratt M Gordon (4 wins) K Blackburne B Eddington (3 wins)
Mixed and Combined Doubles were abandoned due to Sunday’s heavy rain.

Photos
Photos of some of the winners from the 2011 NSW Seniors Championships, flanked on the left by
Jackson Hill from Tennis NSW and on the right by Mick Bruton, President of Tennis Seniors NSW.
Alex Bijkerk
Martin Richards
Robert Kilborn
Peter Doohan
Karen Kleverlaan
Ros Balodis
Helen Worland
Wayne Pascoe

Don Biddle and Peter Froelich
Roger Frankenberg and Cam Dezarnaulds