A smashing success
Last weekend, more than 120 players flocked to Tennis Sydney’s Mardi Gras Championships to celebrate its 21st year.
Held over three days at the Illawarra Tennis Centre, the tournament held 145 games with several interstate and international guests.
Tennis Sydney president Brendan Moore declared the day a success, adding it was an exciting milestone for the club.
“For over two decades this Tennis Sydney event has been providing GLBT tennis players plus family and friends, a competitive, social and fun tournament,” he said.
“The championships have become Tennis Sydney’s largest and most prestigious tennis event.”
The final of the open grade was between Sydneysiders Ben Tari and Mikey DeCourtney Feeney (pictured).
“Feeney was a wild card entry, where he met the third seed in the first round, winning in straight sets, which was the major shock on the first night,” Moore said.
Feeney beat the second seed in the semi-final and then went on to win the final in three sets.
Tennis Sydney is an incorporated, non-profit organisation that aims to promote and facilitate gay and lesbian tennis in Sydney.
In recent years, the group joined the Gay and Lesbian Tennis Alliance (GLTA), which has exposed the group and its championships to an international level.
“The GLTA is the international organisation that manages and sanctions the gay tennis circuit around the world. There are 40 gay and lesbian tennis clubs around the world that comprise the GLTA,” Moore said.
“With over 39 annual GLTA-sanctioned tournaments internationally, the GLTA is the fastest growing gay sports organisation. This year’s Mardi Gras Championships was a GLTA-sanctioned event.”
Tennis Sydney’s Mardi Gras Championship’s Results
Open Singles Winner: Mikey DeCourtney Feeney
Open Singles Runner-up: Ben Tari
Open Doubles Winner: Greg Westwood & Craig Hunt
Open Doubles Runners-up: Geoffrey Daus & Hoshio Kaneko
A Grade Singles Winner: Troy Warner
A Grade Singles Runner-up: Byron Watson
A Grade Doubles Winner: Troy Warner & Shane Goodwin
A Grade Doubles Runners-up: Tyrone Andres & Mark Andres
B Grade Singles Winner: Brian Heavin
B Grade Singles Runner-up: Steven Philpot
B Grade Doubles Winner: Andrew Klusman & Darren Marsh
B Grade Doubles Runners-up: Ed Wong & Bill Spence
C Grade Singles Winner: Rob Laus
C Grade Singles Runner-up: Hendry Lukman
C Grade Doubles Winner: Rob Laus & Phil Moore
C Grade Doubles Runners-up : Ray Lance & Sam Lie
D Grade Singles Winner: Steven Thorne
D Grade Singles Runner-up: Kevin Thompson
D Grade Doubles Winner: Steven Thorne & Kate Still
D Grade Doubles Runners-up: Kevin Thompson & Johhny Esber
Women’s Doubles Winner: Michelle Schilg & Kerri Matterson
Women’s Doubles Runners-up: Leanne Spencer & Elena Sarno
Mixed Doubles Winner: Stephen Clarke & Liz Yeo
Mixed Doubles Runners-up: Darren Marsh & Elena Sarno
Masters Doubles Winner: Rob Ferguson & Craig Hunt
Masters Doubles Runners-up: David Bourke & Nick Cole
Veterans Doubles Winner: Yann Albert & Michael Heath
Veterans Doubles Runners-up: Neil Birks & Carl Copas
Consolation Group A Winner: Owan Ratsoongnoen
Consolation Group B Winner: Matus Rajnoha
Consolation Group C Winner: Jo Rinaldi
info: Tennis Sydney holds Sunday social tennis every week at the Parklands Tennis Centre, Moore Park, between 1pm-5pm. Visit www.tennissydney.org.au
Yes it was a wonderful weekend and congratulations must be extended to the new Committee for their work in re-establishing the event to it’s former glory days of the mid 1990s when Peter Deacon presided over the club.
It’s also worth mentioning that Tennis Sydney also run a Thursday night competition for those players who like to compete regularly. All grades are catered for so get in touch with the committee if your interested.
I started off the Thursday night competition back in 1995 when we had just 16 players but now it’s closer to 80! So well done once again to Tennis Sydney and it’s great to see so much interest again.
Cheers
Craig
Congratulations on your hugely successful event; due to the poor scheduling of MG this year many sports clubs events clashed in dates & times and I could not come down to enjoy the action.
Tennis Sydney has obviously been infused with new blood, and an excited, motivated leadership team will continue to see the club’s success multiply. It is good to see you guys on the horizon – for far too long it has been Rugby and Volleyball, a smattering of Frontrunners and Dance making the sports pages.
Well done committee; I completely appreciate the HUGE amount of work it takes to conduct such an event; and am very impressed with the outcomes. I hope your tournament fees provided just enough income to provide a bottle of bubbles to the hardworking team who put the event, draws, prizes, referees, and presentations together.
Hugs,
Wally Salinger
Freezone Volleyball
Team Sydney Sports Council.