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Town take out 3 of 4 age groups

March 10, 2010: The Town Junior team (pictured) took out 3 of the 4 age groups contested on a beautiful day at Asburton last Sunday. Country were decisive winners of the 12's grade with Town being equally as decisive in the 10's and 16's grade. The 14's grade went reight down to the wire with Town winning 3 of the 4 mixed doubles matches to take the contest 9-7.

Comeback of the day went to Sumner's Tiger Houston at No 4 for Town in the Boys 10's. 8-1 down in his match to 9, he fought back against Mid Canterbury's Connor Brosnahan to force a tie-break at 8 all and took the tiebreak 7-3.

Many thanks to all the parents and supporters who travelled from all over Canterbury for this fixture. Any photos taken on tha day would be welcomed by Canterbury Tennis please email Rob Wilkinson rob.wilkinson@canterburytennis.co.nz

Town Junior Teams for Town vs Country

March 4, 2010: Canterbury Tennis has named the Town team to play Country in this year's annual fixture to be played at the Ashburton Trust Tennis Centre on Sunday, March 7th. The teams will play doubles, singles and mixed doubles starting at 10am. The Town team features players from 10 different clubs. This fixture was unfortunately rained out in 2009 so everyone is crossing their fingers for Sunday. Click here for the complete team »

Tennis Open Weekend was a Hit!

Febuary 19, 2010: The Christchurch weather turned on a great day for the National Tennis Open Weekend in Christchurch on Feb 13th & 14th. A total of 17 local tennis clubs opened their doors and encouraged budding tennis players to come along and give tennis a go at their local club.

Our newest affiliated club to the Canterbury Tennis family, Riccarton Domain, participated in the event and they had a positive response to the day (top two photos below). Visitors both young and old and of varying abilities took to the courts with club members to have a hit and make the most of the Open Day. As a result of the initiative this small club attracted 12 new members on the day with a further 2-3 likely to sign up in the near future.

South Brighton Tennis Club coach Hiro Yahata was on hand to give pointers to visitors and to encourage those who were returning to the game or looking to get into tennis to sign up for an Easi-Tennis course at the club. A ball machine was set up feeding balls to junior visitors who had come along for the afternoon to experience tennis. (Final photo below.)

Interestingly, Hagley Park Tennis Club attracted people from a cruise ship that had docked in Lyttelton for a couple of days, to come and play tennis at the club. Somehow a flyer must have made it onto the ship!

Cashmere Tennis Club President Guy Armstrong led by example at their club open day. Guy was out on court actively coaching and putting a small group of visitors, adults and children, through their paces for the afternoon. The group thoroughly enjoyed their visit and were ready to sign up as members by the afternoon tea break!

Overall the participating clubs are enthusiastic to see the Come Play! Open Day happen again in 2011! Many thanks and congratulations to all participating clubs on a successful and rewarding Open Day for 2010!

Competitive showing from Juniors

Febuary 10, 2010: Canterbury Juniors produced some sterling performances at the National Hardcourt Championships held in January 2010. The region had players win 3 of the 12 titles up for grabs. Pang Suwanaposee won the 14's Girls Singles and Doubles with her partner Shaani Te Mata-Frost, and Connor Heap and Kai Lee took out the Boys 12's Doubles title in Hamilton. Many other Canterbury players peaked for good placings.

Pang Suwanaposee

Connor Heap and Kai Lee

Doubles proved happy hunting ground with Maddie Clarke and her Nelson partner Ashleigh Calder being runners up in the 16's Girls held in Christchurch, Gabby Coates and Olivia Smith were beaten finalists in the Girls 12's in Hamilton as were Finbar Argus and his Auckland partner in the Boys 14's.

Maddie Clarke and Ashleigh Calder

Gabby Coates and Olivia Smith

Canterbury players to make semi finals of doubles event were plentiful with the unseeded duo of Katie Hartland and Michal Matson making the Girls 12's semis after knocking out the No. 2 seeds, defending Girls 14's Doubles Champs Brogan Maoate and Beth Williamson were knocked out at this stage as were Benji McGillivray and Alex Hunt of Nelson in the Boys 16's.

Pang Suwanaposee's success in the Girls 14's was backed up by finals appearances by Finbar Argus (Boys 14's) and Connor Heap (Boys 12's). Argus and Heap both came up against strong opponents in their finals, Finbar lost to his doubles partner Cameron Norrie and Heap to standout Boys 12's winner Kyle Butters who turns 13 shortly and won't qualify to play in the 12's Nationals which will be held in Christchurch in April.

Finbar Argus

Connor Heap

Gabriela Coates continued her development with a semi final loss in the Girls 12's, Coates like Connor Heap, will be eligible for the 12's in April which will be missing outstanding Whanganui junior Paige Hourigan, who like her cousin Kyle Butters turns 13 shortly.

Canterbury region players who made quarter finals were numerous with Elliot Darling and Beth Williamson in the 14's, Kai Lee and Chanistha (CT) Ampornachariya in the 12's and Ashleigh Calder, Artem Vassiliev and Elliot Darling in the 16's.

Canterbury Top Junior Region

Febuary 10, 2010: Canterbury has been confirmed as the top junior region after the recent National Teams Events. A gold medal winning performance by the Girls 12's team along with silvers from the Boys 12's and Girls 14's and a Bronze from the Boys 14's was enough to give Canterbury the title by just 1 point from Waikato-Bays and Auckland.

Pictured below checking out thier Gold medals are the 12's Girls team of Natasha Dickison, Jess Shaw, Gabby Coates, Olivia Smith and CT Ampornichariya - well done girls!!!!

The Anthony Wilding Story

Febuary 8, 2010: Over 8,000 people have attended The Anthony Wilding Story during the past 12 days. This one man play performed by Matt Chamberlain proved to be a huge hit with the Christchurch public as the tennis community celebrates 100 years since local hero Anthony Wilding won the first of his four consecutive Wimbledon singles titles. The play was part of the Christchurch City Council's Summertimes programme in conjunction with Canterbury Tennis.

New York for Rosemary

February 5, 2010: Local official Rosemary Hargreaves is off to New York shortly to attend a 3-day ITF Level II (White Badge) Referees' Course. Here's how the trip came about:-

"Who'd have thought 3 months ago that I would be off to New York this month? What a journey so far -so many thanks to so many people. I will be attending a 3 day ITF Level II (White Badge)Referees' Course 22nd - 24th Feb 2010 at Flushing Meadow New York USA.

"Mid November Tony Glentworth mentioned the course to me. Following this up on the internet, I received backing from my husband for this once in a lifetime opportunity. Applications closed on 13th Dec. I completed the application form, and Tony and I put together thoughts for Tennis New Zealand's letter of support. Acceptance was received on 23rd December with much excitement. The next step was to make application to SPARC for a Prime Minister's Scholarship. With immeasurable guidance and support from Aidan O'Rourke the application was strongly supported and willingly submitted through Tennis New Zealand to SPARC. On 2nd February SPARC confirmed that the scholarship had been awarded to the full value requested - so I am off to New York.

"This course is specifically a referees' course. ITF courses in the Southern Hemisphere are rare and focus on chair umpiring. My goal is to focus on refereeing, and this course offers the opportunity for this. 16 officials were selected for the school, and I am the only candidate from outside of North America.

"I am looking forward to increasing and confirming my knowledge and skills. I will be extending my knowledge of the interpretation and application of ITF rules, and on site and on court management. Attendance in the USA will further expose NZ Tennis officiating to international trends, practices and applications.

"My constant companion currently is the ITF Rules of Tennis, Duties and Procedures for Officials, and the Pro Circuits Rule Book. Who'd have known there was so much to learn? Then Ireceived my reading material from the course, 6 more books of 100 pages each. Thank goodness for the long plane trip. I am working with New Zealand Tennis Umpires' Association and other ITF qualified officials in New Zealand to prepare for the course.

"Information gained in New York will be shared with officials and the wider tennis community. I cannot say thank you enough to Aidan O'Rourke, Pat O'Rourke, Tony Glentworth, Tennis New Zealand, New Zealand Tennis Umpires Assn and SPARC. And thank you to all for your bestwishes. I will be doing my best for New Zealand.

'If I can make it there, I can make it anywhere'.

Rosemary Hargreaves
Referee

ASB Tran-Tasman victory to Canterbury

January 26, 2010: The Canterbury team recaptured the ASB Trans-Tasman Trophy last evening with a comprehensive but exciting win over Queensland in front of a near capacity crowd.

Katherine Westbury got the evening underway on a positive note with a 6 - 4 win over Queensland's Tyra Calderwood. Michael Look pulled one back for Queensland with a 6 - 3 win over Logan MacKenzie which proved to be Queensland's only win of the evening.

Local hero Ellen Barry recovered from a slow start and a 1 - 4 deficit to win five games in a row and a popular home victory. Rubin Statham kept the momentum for Canterbury beating John Millman in a tiebreaker.

With the team victory already in the bag MacKenzie and Statham entertained the crowd with a thrilling doubles win 6 -4 over Millman and Look.

Teams named for Monday's ASB Trans-Tasman Challenge

January 21, 2010: Fed Cup and Davis Cup players Ellen Barry and Rubin Statham head a solid Canterbury Team for the annual ASB Trans-Tasman match against Queensland.

Ellen Barry made a return to the WTA Women's circuit late last year after a break for a wrist operation and still has a protected world ranking of around 250.

She has played several times previously in the event which will be her last New Zealand appearance before heading away for another year on the circuit.

Rubin Statham is making his first ever appearance in the event which follows his excellent form in making the last 16 at the recent Heineken Open in Auckland.

The number two men's position will be taken by 19 year old Logan MacKenzie who will be making his first appearance in the event. Logan is a product of the Canterbury Tennis elite player development programme and is currently making the transition from the international junior circuit to the senior circuit.

The second Canterbury woman is Katherine Westbury, just 16 years of age and already the 5th ranked woman player in New Zealand.

The Queensland team announced by Troy Ayres, Athlete Development Manager for Queensland Tennis, is John Millman, Michael Look, Alison Bai and Tyra Calderwood.

The ASB Trans-Tasman Challenge is a unique quick fire event developed by Canterbury Tennis seventeen years ago and spectators see five one set matches in just over three hours. For almost all of the seventeen years the event has attracted a capacity crowd and this year is likely to be no different. The event starts at 4.15pm on Monday afternoon, Centre Court, Wilding Park.

National Tennis Open Day 2010

January 21, 2010: The 2010 National Tennis Day will be taking place over the weekend of 13th and 14th February at local participating clubs throughout Christchurch and New Zealand. It's free to participate and the event welcomes all ages and ability of player to give tennis a go!

Clubs will be welcoming visitors onto their courts to experience tennis in a friendly and encouraging environment. Some equipment will be available at clubs for visitors to borrow. Contact your nearest participating club for more information about their Open Day.

Click here to view details and contacts for all participating clubs (updated Feb 11th).

World Seniors Tennis Event for Christchurch

December 16, 2009: The International Tennis Federation has awarded the 2011 ITF World Seniors Team and Individual Championships to Christchurch.

In announcing Christchurch as the location for the 2011 Championships, Francesco Ricci Bitti, President of the International Tennis Federation, said:

"Canterbury Tennis and the Christchurch City Council with the endorsement of Tennis New Zealand submitted a bid for the 2011 Championships and given Canterbury Tennis' excellent track record at running, very professionally, previous official championships the ITF has great confidence in awarding the event to Christchurch".

The Championships for players 35 years and over will run for two weeks from February 21, 2011 and is expected to attract over 700 players and supporters from all corners of the world. It will be based at Wilding Park with some of the teams events during the first week to be held in Ashburton and Timaru.

"We at Canterbury Tennis enjoy hosting ITF events and we are sure that the 2011 World Seniors Championships will create a wonderful festival of tennis for our region" said David Blackwell, CEO of Canterbury Tennis.

Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker has also welcomed the tennis announcement.

"This is another wonderful opportunity to showcase Christchurch as a first class sporting tournament venue," said Mayor Bob Parker. "I am delighted that the International Tennis Federation has chosen Christchurch and Canterbury for this important tournament," said Mr Parker. "We very much look forward to welcoming the participants and their supporters."

Clean Sweep for Elmwood in Senior Interclub

December 14, 2009: Elmwood proved too strong for Cashmere in both the ASB senior men's and senior women's grades held at Wilding Park on Saturday 12th December.

Elmwood won the men's championship 5-1, leading by three matches to one at the completion of the singles. Remi Feneon and Logan MacKenzie had competitive matches before overcoming the Meredith brothers, Tim and Matthew, respectively. The third and fourth singles matches both went to three sets with Andrew Cochrane defeating Johnny McHarg (photo, right) and Tim McHarg putting Cashmere on the board by defeating Brendon Furness. Elmwood went on to win both doubles matches to clinch the title.

The women's final came down to the wire. Respective Number 1s Robyn Legge-Hunt, of Elmwood, and Jennifer Poskitt, of Cashmere, battled windy conditions as Poskitt prevailed in three sets after Legge-Hunt claimed the first. The three other singles were each won in two sets by Elmwood. Cashmere fought back in the doubles winning both encounters and levelling the score three matches all, but on a countback of sets Elmwood won by eight sets to six to win the women's ASB Premier Trophy.

Canterbury Tennis powered by Kia

December 9, 2009: Canterbury Tennis has announced a sponsorship package with fast-growing car company Kia Motors, to help drive the sport in its region.

Announcing the sponsorship, Kia Motors New Zealand General Manager, Todd McDonald says: "Canterbury Tennis is one of the leading regional sporting organisations in New Zealand and we at Kia Motors are delighted that they have chosen Kia Cars as the 'official vehicle of Canterbury Tennis'".

"Canterbury Tennis' vision 'to be recognised as a world class organisation, developing innovative, quality programmes and events for the tennis community' fits very nicely into the vision we have for the Kia brand" said Mr McDonald.

Kia Motors already have a major role in tennis in Australasia with the Australian Open and the ASB Classic and Heineken Open in Auckland.

"We are delighted to have Kia Motors join our elite family of sponsors here at Canterbury Tennis and the fit between our two organisations seems perfect" said David Blackwell CEO of Canterbury Tennis. "Kia is an active brand commensurate with the healthy Canterbury lifestyle".

In addition to being the official vehicle of Canterbury Tennis, Kia will have naming rights for several of Canterbury Tennis' activities and will become associate sponsor of the ASB Trans-Tasman Challenge.

Swindell, Coates and Argus off to Melbourne

November 19, 2009: A stellar year for three Canterbury Juniors has been capped with naming in the New Zealand teams to compete in the Australian Inter-state Teams Event and Championships to be held at Melbourne Park in December.

Rachel Swindell has rocketed through the ranks in the Girls under 14 grade this season moving from 1380 Top Dog points 12 months ago to 2190 currently to gain her place.



Gabby Coates (centre) secured the Canterbury Primary Schools Girls title with a fighting win over Chezle Phillips at Show Weekend and also performed well at the recent Tennis NZ Masters event to gain a spot in the 3 person Girls 12's team.

And Finbar Argus who narrowly missed travelling with the NZ team earlier this year secured his spot in the Boys 14's team with a solid showing in the Tennis NZ Masters held at Labour Weekend in Auckland. Canterbury Tennis wishes all three best of luck in Australia.

Stoica and Coates take Primary titles

November 19, 2009: Second seeds Edward Stoica (pictured) and Gabby Coates triumphed in the Canterbury Primary and Intermediate Tennis Championships held at Show Weekend.

Stoica won in straight sets over 3rd seed Young Il Baek to take the boys title with Coates coming from being down 0-6, 0-4 to win in 3 sets over top seed, Southbrooks Chezle Phillips.

All 125 players showed great application to deal with tricky conditions with the wind coming from all points of the compass over the 3 days of competition.

Open Doubles winners were the singles finalists in the Boys, Stoica and Baek with top seeds Chezle Phillips and Jessica Shaw taking the Girls title. Attention now turns to the South Island Champs which will be held in Christchurch on the 2nd and 3rd of December.

Open Secondary School Championships winners found

November 12, 2009: St Andrews College took out both Open Singles titles at the recently completed Canterbury Secondary Schools Champs.

Hayden Joblin and Tuscany Hamel (pictured) won their respective finals against Micheal Saunders (Shirley Boys) and Jenny Blackburne (Cashmere HS).

In the doubles Joblin was again to the forefront of the action partnering with Benji McGillivray to win the Boys Doubles for St Andrews over Matthew Parratt and Micheal Saunders from Shirley Boys, with Christchurch Girls' High School's Sarah O'Dell and Hannah Pearce winning the Girls Doubles in a tense super tie-breaker over Rangi Ruru's Brittany Fisher and Brogan Maoate.

Mini Tennis numbers double

November 2, 2009: The new Mini-Tennis competition got underway last Friday night with double the number of teams competiting compared with last year. Lots of parents were involved in supervising these matches for 6-8 year olds with heaps of energy and endevour being displayed.

 

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