Nor'West News: August 23, 2016

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Harewood, Burnside, Bishopdale, Bryndwr, Fendalton, Merivale, St Albans, Mairehau, Papanui, Casebrook, Redwood, Regents Park, Styx Mill, Northwood, Belfast, Strowan
Davis Cup event returns to Christchurch
The New Zealand Davis
Cup team are heading back to
Christchurch to take on Pakistan in
the Asia-Oceania Group 1 second
round playoff. The Tie is being
held from Friday 16 September to
Sunday 18 September, indoors at
Z Energy Wilding Park.
Kiwi Olympians Michael Venus
and Marcus Daniell ranked 41
and 58 respective in the world
for doubles have been named
alongside Finn Tearney ranked
381, Rubin Statham at 444 in
singles. If Statham takes the court
he will beat Onny Parun’s New
Zealand Davis Cup record of the
most ties played for his country of
25 ties.
It is likely Pakistan will select
their doubles expert Aisam
Qureshi who is 36-years-old and
ranked 48th in doubles. Aqeel
Khan is another likely veteran
who should be selected.
New Zealand lead Pakistan
3-1 in head-to-head clashes. The
last time the two sides clashed it
was a 4-1 win for New Zealand
in Myanmar in 2013 which was
abandoned.
Christchurch has been the home
of Davis Cup ties since 2014, with
a win against Chinese Taipei in
2014 and a close 3-2 loss to India
in the 2015 semi-finals. Tennis
Canterbury is extremely excited
to host yet another Davis Cup tie
for the third consecutive year. This
is a return to the glory days that
has seen Tennis Canterbury host
numerous Davis Cup ties against
some of the superpower of world
tennis.
Z Energy Wilding Park is one
of the oldest sport venues still in
operation in all of Canterbury.
It has played host to Davis
Cup matches as far back as the
1910’s and 20’s. Much like many
of Christchurch’s other most
important sporting facilities
Wilding Park was severely
impacted by the Christchurch
Earthquake impacted in both
September 2009 and February
2010.
The rebuilding process has
been a long one. Mixed emotions
were felt at the demolition of the
iconic Memorial Stands, host to
numerous Davis Cup Tie and other
International Tennis Federation
events. However it was also the first
bit of tangible progress in relation
to the redevelopment of Wilding
Park and proved to generate
some real excitement amongst the
tennis community. Strengthening
work on the facility’s structural
steel and refurbishment of the
administration and function
space erased any signs of the
earthquake damage and provided
the wider community with some
great function space.
The final stage of development
will see the reinstatement of
six additional outdoor courts,
the development of a grassy
embankment for spectator viewing
and social spaces, including a
barbeque area. The facility will
continue to be available to the
local communities, including
school, charitable organisations
and, in some cases, other sports
outside of normal hours. The
final stage of development work
is scheduled to be gin in the
coming month with a completion
date of mid November, just in
time for the Summer of Tennis.
This development will allow
Canterbury to again host National
Age Group events, International
Events and, of course, future
Summer Davis Cup ties.
This year’s Davis Cup tie is a
three day event. Two singles will
be played on Friday, doubles on
Saturday and the two reverse
singles on Sunday. Matches are
the best of five sets. Tickets and
Corporate Boxes are available.
Please go to www.tennis.kiwi for
further information and pricing.
Like you, we love to serve.
For over 20 years, ASB has been an enthusiastic sponsor and partner to
Tennis Canterbury. You’ve given us a lot of proud moments and in return we
have tailored banking packages to meet members’ specific needs.
To set up the right banking match for you, visit any ASB branch or call
Warren Oliver, ASB Canterbury mobile lending manager on 027 338 0977.
Succeed on.
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