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The 38th annual Lower Northland Masters Tennis Tournament was held at Warkworth on May 13.
A total of 14 women’s pairs and just seven men’s pairs competed in the top division together with the ladies’ C grade at the Warkworth courts. While at the Mahurangi East courts, the men’s B and C grade and the ladies B grade competed.
Players came from as far away as Whangarei and the Waikato. This year there was only one pair from last year who were defending their titles, Jane Ioaba and Hana Ruzickova.
In the top grade ladies, we saw some excellent matches with many going down to the wire. Top seeds Lyn Duncan and Helen Litt survived a big scare in the semis, winning in a nail biting tie breaker of 7/5.
They then faced Craigie McCulloch and Fiona Wikaira in a tough encounter which had all the hallmarks of a great final. As the other matches finished, the crowd gathered round the court to witness an absorbing doubles match unfold. It was anyone’s match to win, and after some excellent tennis from both sides, McCulloch and Wikaira proved worthy winners.
Local performances to finish well were Rachel Iverson and Annabelle Armstrong, and Katie Searle and Maayke Reidsma.
In the men’s A grade, the title went to Jeff Crichton and Craig McPhail and our best performers from Warkworth were Michael Campbell and Jono Boundy.
In the C grade men’s, the local players of Jacques Oliver and Jonny St George won a very closely fought last two matches 11/10,11/10 to take the title.
Ken Taylor and son Andy won the B grade consolation championship. Shaun Kingi and Jeremy Saunders were plate winners, while Lew Hood and Rick Notley won the consolation plate in the C grade.
The tournament was once again very fortunate to have the major sponsorship from Pascoes together with Warkworth businesses Hart’s Pharmacy, New World Warkworth, Warkworth Glass and Pizza Hut.
