Tourney attracts big field

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Gisborne Senior Tennis has attracted players from across the North Island to compete in its annual seniors' tournament this year.

Sixty-six doubles combinations are expected to compete in the FMG Gisborne Tennis Seniors Tournament over the weekend. Twenty-one men's pairs, 18 women's and 27 mixed pairs have registered for the event, which will run tomorrow and Sunday.

Tomorrow the men's and women's doubles will be decided, and the mixed doubles will be held on Sunday.

Matches will be played at the Wainui and Gisborne Tennis Club courts, but finals will all be held in town.

Gisborne Senior Tennis president Robyn Tomlinson said several “quite hot” players were registered for the event.

Three-time 45-years-and-over national champion Craig Giddy and Hawke's Bay No.1 women's player Jane Wyllie were among those entered.

Among the 15-strong local contingent are Mark Robertson, Andrew Powell, Masatomo Takahashi and Te Aorangi Harrington. They will want to show the form that helped them become the top team in the Eastland tennis region. Gisborne also lifted the Wilson Shield at the same event this year.

Tomlinson said she expected an incredibly competitive tournament, with close games throughout.

“Once we get past that first round, all the matches will be worth watching.”

Last year's winners will be playing, but in different pairings.

Each pair will play a minimum of three matches.

Second division men's, women's and mixed doubles and third division women's and mixed doubles will play in a round-robin format.

Finals are expected to be played tomorrow afternoon and in the early afternoon on Sunday.