Tennis: Tauranga seniors scoop triple crown

David Hawkes has now won 39 national senior titles. Photo / File

Tauranga senior players enjoyed a successful week at the National Individual Championships held at the Forrest Hill Tennis Centre.

Tauranga Lawn players Sue Jamieson, David Hawkes and Quentin Maisey all won the triple crown of singles, doubles and mixed doubles titles.

Tup Cox, 75, took home another two titles and now has 49 national titles to her name. She is easily the most successful women's senior player, while Hawkes has the most senior men's titles with 39.

Hawkes, 69, was particularly pleased to beat his doubles partner Steve Molner in the singles final 6-1, 3-6, 6-1. It was his first major title since open heart surgery to replace a damaged heart valve in October 2012 and a hip replacement operation. "I've lost a few times to the guy that I beat while I have been suffering from my heart," Hawkes said. "He had been out-lasting me really so that's why it was quite pleasing to beat him. It was a topsy-turvy game and I thought after I lost the second set I was probably going to lose the third but it didn't work out like that."

New Zealand seniors tennis has been in operation for 41 years and originally the age eligibility was 45 and over when Hawkes started. In recent years the age was reduced to 40 and is now 35, which gives future players more time to win titles.

But the records set by Cox and Hawkes look set to last for many, many summers yet.

National Individual Championships

Forrest Hill Tennis Centre, January 21-25
Western Bay players results: Three titles, winners in singles, doubles and mixed doubles: Sue Jamieson, Dave Hawkes, Quentin Maisey.

Placed in all three events: Tup Cox (1st, 1st, 2nd), Mike Callard (1st, 2nd, 3/4), Larry Seales (1st, 2nd, 3/4).

Other winners: MD50 Mike Callard; MS60 Quentin Maisey; MD60 Quentin Maisey/Larry Seales; XD60 Quentin Maisey/Sue Jamieson; WS60 Sue Jamieson; WD60 Sue Jamieson; XD65 Dave Hawkes; MS70 Dave Hawkes; MD70 Dave Hawkes; WS75 Tup Cox; WD75 Tup Cox.

Placegetters: Janis Smith, Mike Callard, Jill Gordon, Marion Mills, Marietta Duffy-Burgess, Larry Seales, Sylvia Wilmshurst, Larry Seales, Tup Cox.

*Otumoetai Tennis Club is celebrating its 25th silver anniversary over Waitangi Weekend with a seniors (over-35) tournament. Men's and ladies doubles are on today with the mixed doubles played tomorrow. Play starts at 9am both days.