Record results for Ace Girls
Melbourne lesbian tennis team the Ace Girls took home a record number of winners’ trophies at their recent campaign at the Easter lawn tennis championships in Shepparton.
A team of 18 travelled to the northern Victorian town to compete with some 500 other tennis enthusiasts and this time the Ace Girls topped their previous performance, winning three singles finals and a doubles final.
Ace Girl coach TJ said she was pleased with the results.
“Ten years ago we were all knocked out on the first day,” she said. “How things change.
“Most of us were in action on the final day, booking berths into a record seven finals.”
Top players during the tournament included Nadine Maloney who won the Ladies Plate singles, and also scooped the A-grade doubles with partner Leona Knapman.
Displaying her solid racquet skills, TJ took out the B-grade singles final despite adverse weather (the game was delayed twice due to rain).
Following her singles success, TJ was runner-up in the B-grade doubles with partner Tasha Marquez. The pair were pipped at the post by local opponents who proved too strong with the added help of a hometown court advantage.
Topping off a busy weekend, TJ was also runner-up in the over-40s singles match.
Further down the ladder, Ace Girls teammate Rae Moran won the D-grade singles title while Georgina Holloway came runnerup in the C-grade singles.
The Ace Girls was established following the Sydney Gay Games in 2002 to offer lesbian and bisexual women a friendly environment. The group plays tournaments around Victoria and trains on Mondays, 7-9pm.
INFO: www.acegirls.org
Photo: Maloney (left) and Knapman win the A-grade tennis doubles.
