Sign In / Register
The 37th annual Lower North Senior Tennis Tournament was held in Warkworth on May 14. Eighteen pairs competed in the first division played at the Warkworth courts, while 16 pairs competed in the second and third divisions played at the Mahurangi East Tennis Club. Players came from throughout Auckland, as well as Tauranga, Whangarei and Kerikeri.
In the top divisions both last year’s men’s and women’s winners were dethroned.
Northland’s Raewyn Heywood and Maryanne Rogers-Benton, who have won the title multiple times, lost a thrilling semi-final (11-10) to the eventual winners, the South Auckland pairing of Jane Ioaba and Hana Ruzichova.
In the men’s top division, Auckland duo Grant Waller and Peter Stokes lost their title to a classy Auckland combination of Andrew Craven and Michael Cozier, in a match which featured many fiery volley rallies.
Locals Keiko Pogoni and Kat Kayll were the runners-up in a closely fought final, pushing the winners all the way and Jono Boundy and Warren Burton were the A Section Plate winners in a strong men’s field.
Local players featured on the prize lists much more in the second and third divisions.
Alex Schwab and Oliver Jordan won Section Two, and Greg Rees and Shaun Kingi were second. Judging by the noise generated at the evening prize-giving, the most popular result of the day was the second placing achieved by Siobhan Jordan and Jodie Hanna, in the women’s second division.
An impressive prize pool was offered thanks to major sponsor Pascoes, as well as Warkworth businesses including Warkworth New World, Brendon Hart Pharmacy and Fire and Living.
Warkworth results:
Women’s doubles A – runners up: Kat Kayll & Keiko Pogoni; plate winners, Rachael Iverson & Annabel Armstrong. Men’s A: Plate winners – Jono Boundy & Warren Burton
B women’s runners up – Siobhan & Jodie Hanna; champ consolation – Mel Fergusson & Coral Hammer; plate winners – Maayke Reidsma & Katie Searle; consolation plate – Edith Short & Laurie Farr. B men’s winners – Alex Schwab & Oliver Jordan; runners up – Greg Rees & Shaun Kingi. C men’s runners up – Eric Thompson & Jason Magerkorth; plate – Jacques Oliver & Jonny St George.
