Young guns fired up

Club Championships

The final weekend of Parkes Tennis Club Championships played in warm Summer conditions.

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It saw the young brigade fire come up and show the more experienced players they can compete.

Phoebe Potts and Ben Evans were the stars on the day.

They took out their first Club Championship doubles events with Hannah Potts and Jake Magill respectively and then combine to upset defending champions Luke Evans and Helen Magill.

The day began with the Potts twins blasting away to convincing 6/2 first set win against the old war horses Helen Standen and Helen Magill who have won this event for a record 11 years in a row.

The Helens changed tact and came back to take the second set 6/4.

Phoebe and Hannah once again stood tall and set up a 4/0 lead in the final set but the Helen seems to produce a perhaps ‘third wind’ and came back to 4/5.

Hannah serving and made some excellent first serves under pressure to secure the win after an epic more than two and a half hours on court.

Meanwhile the men’s A grade doubles final was played and finished in half the time although the ‘senior’ combination Gary Morgan and Drew Hayne pushed Ben Evans and Jake Magill in the second set but Ben and Jake seemed to take their foot off the pedal while Drew and Gary continued in overdrive.

The final score 6/1, 6/4.

The B grade Men’s was a three way final between Harry Dawson and Lachy Tassell along with father and son duos Phil and Cody Kirk and Brendon and Ethan Hunt.

All three matches were hard fought and the younger Ethan surprised his older opponents with his developing skill.

Phil and Cody Kirk would come out victorious defeating Harry and Lachy 9/4.

The A grade Mixed was probably the event of the day with all three combinations keen for supremacy.

As the temperature hit 33 degrees it was Helen Magill and Luke Evans taking on Phoebe Potts and Ben Evans in the opening match.

Ben put in a superlative performance and showed his extended skill set of drop shots, angled volleys and power hitting forehands which the older pair found difficult to contain.

Phoebe made some excellent returns to keep Luke at bay around the net and Helen struggled with Ben’s pace of shot.

Ben and Phoebe would win after more than an hour of play 9/7.

Losing the toss it would be Luke and Helen to back up and Helen’s 50+ years fitness level would be tested.

Fresh faced Jake Magill and Hannah Potts strolled onto the court full of confidence but Luke would lift and Helen would keep the ball in play as often as possible to frustrate the younger combination and the more experienced couple would win in another long match 9/6.

The final match was a test of guile, competitiveness and mental skill.

Jake and Hannah led 6/2 and looked like they would send overall results to a count-back but Ben and Phoebe settled and showed why they are the most improved juniors in our Club this year.

It would again be Ben who hit his straps with his big forehand and Phoebe complementing him with her sharp volleying skills.

The match would go to a tiebreaker and Ben and Phoebe would finish Champions of the A grade mixed doubles with Luke and Helen runners-up.

Thanks to everyone who played over the two weekends and provided plenty of entertainment for those on hand.

Junior Tennis

Bokeyar Cup

The annual Bokeyar Cups will be held this Friday afternoon and run as a twilight event.

With a 4.30pm start divisions will include Red ball for any juniors aged 5-7 years.

Orange ball for those 8-9 years, ten and under using green balls as well as 12 and under, 14 and under and 16 and Under.

It will be singles only and all players are local and this is a good introduction into match play tennis.

Finish time is approximately 6pm for Red and Orange ball while the other divisions may finish a little later depending on entries.

Players will enjoy a barbeque tea utilising our new outdoor recreation area.

Names can be placed on the clubhouse noticeboard by Thursday, December 14 or let Helen know.

Bathurst JT

Helen Magill will be travelling with a group of juniors entered for the Bathurst JT event running from this Saturday through to next Tuesday, December 19.

Hannah and Phoebe Potts, Abbey and Molly Kennedy, Ellen Dolbel, Jake Magill, Ben Evans and Ethan Hunt will all be competing in their tournament.

It is a Gold ranking event and has very strong entries with qualifying in the 12s and 14s.

Junior Programs

All junior tennis programs in Parkes have finished for the year with the exception of Wednesday squad and sporadic lessons for those going to Bathurst this weekend.

ANZHotshots has been another huge success and will recommence in February.