The Star: February 22, 2024

Thursday February 22 2024 The Star
SPORT 23
IN THE FAMILY: Alistair Hunt is relishing playing alongside son Lachie for
Elmwood in the men’s premier tennis interclub competition. ​
‘Real privilege’ to
share court with son;
comp in full swing
• By Diane Keenan
FORMER DAVIS Cup player and captain
Alistair Hunt is loving playing alongside
son Lachie for his home club Elmwood
in the men’s premier tennis interclub
competition.
Hunt, 51, and Lachie, 18, were part of
Elmwood’s close win against Bishopdale
on Saturday, with Lachie back on court
the following day for the Elmwood’s division
1 team, winning both his singles and
doubles where he teamed up with another
Davis Cup veteran Glenn Wilson.
“It was pretty special watching Glenn
coaching and encouraging Lachie, who
is always really open to advice on court,”
said Hunt. He was on the sideline
with his father, and Lachie’s grandfather,
Colin.
Hunt, who at the peak of his career was
ranked 184 in the world, is now based
in Arrowtown and has concentrated on
coaching instead of playing competitive
tennis in recent years.
His son’s enthusiasm for the game has
seen them team up for doubles at a number
of tournaments over summer.
“If I can continue to play well, I would
like to keep competing with him in
interclub and tournaments,” said Hunt,
renowned for his formidable serve and
devastating backhand when he played on
the international tour in the 1990s.
“It’s actually a real privilege to be on
court with Lachie. He got into the game
relatively late which is probably my fault,
but I did not want to be a parent who
put pressure their child to play and succeed.
“It is all coming from him. He’s totally
driven and working really hard.”
Elmwood has home court advantage on
Saturday against Burnside Park, who lost
1-5 to competition leader Cashmere at the
weekend.
For the first time this season all three
Meredith brothers were playing for unbeaten
Cashmere.
Burnside Park’s Emilio Gonzaga, who
won the recent Canterbury secondary
schools’ singles championship, was his
team’s only winner.
Points
Men
Cashmere 56, Bishopdale 39,
Burnside Park 37, Elmwood 35,
Edgeware Waimairi 26, Te Kura
Hagley 11.
Women
Elmwood 56, Te Kura Hagley 41,
Cashmere 39, Bishopdale 37,
Waimairi 25, Shirley 11.
Cashmere this week play on its home
courts against Edgeware Waimairi, who
had the luxury of Paddy Ou and Nic Jenkins
in the top slots last weekend.
Edgeware Waimairi scored maximum
points against Te Kura Hagley, who line
up against second-placed
Bishopdale.
In the women’s competition
Cashmere also plays
at home against Edgeware
Waimairi.
Cashmere’s top player
Ruby Young is in top
Ruby
Young
form, last week beating
Elmwood’s Abby Mason
in three sets in a highly
anticipated match that produced excellent
tennis from both players.
Elmwood remains unbeaten this season
and will play the young Bishopdale team,
who were soundly beaten last week by Te
Kura Hagley, the big mover on the points
table. Te Kura Hagley’s experienced lineup
looks assured of making the playoffs.
It is a reversal of form from the first
round where, with only two of the roundrobin
games played due to cancellations, it
did not make the top four.
Te Kura Hagley’s highly ranked players
took the disappointment in their stride
and captain Beth Williamson is delighted
with her team’s performance this year.
“We are now into the full swing of this
round, all loving our tennis, hitting a lot
more and definitely turning in more consistent
performances,” she said.
Te Kura’s Adele Orangi is close to
achieving her 100th win in premier tennis,
and this week her side plays Shirley away.