A group of eight adult Suffolk Park tennis players headed south of the border for a grass court tennis tournament in the small town of Tatura – north of Melbourne.
The annual tournament runs each Labour Day weekend in March at Tatura Lawn Tennis Club which features 12 grass and four synthetic grass courts.
The social atmosphere of the tournament caters for all levels. The veterans doubles, junior events and the unique Wooden Racquet Challenge are all very popular.
Dressed in team shirts, the majority of the Suffolk Park players experienced playing on natural grass for the first time, while Ryan O’Hehir competed in his first ever tournament pairing with Cris Servadio in the men’s C grade doubles.
Cris backed up with a local life member, spritely 80-year-old Kaye Pyke-Fernando, for the mixed doubles.
Extra baggage was needed for the flight home as the Suffolk Park team collected a few trophies along the way. The club’s coach Tim Lanyon won the men’s open singles and Ami Shoesmith won the women’s singles.
Lanyon also paired with Ewingsdale product David Duncan to come second in the men’s open doubles.
Suffolk Park Tennis plans on returning to Tatura in 2025 for the third straight year.
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