Northland tennis stalwart Janet Agnew was once told by doctors she would never play tennis again. But this month the Janet Agnew Carnival Doubles Tournament, which she started in defiance of the medical experts, is turning 40.
Northland tennis stalwart Janet Agnew was once told by doctors she would never play tennis again. But this month the Janet Agnew Carnival Doubles Tournament, which she started in defiance of the medical experts, is turning 40.
“Five years, max!”
That’s how long Northland tennis identity Janet Agnew thought the doubles competition she launched back in 1987 would last.
But, after starting the competition – then the Northland Carnival Doubles Tournament in response to being told she would not play tennis again, after a serious head injury- Agnew is amazed, and proud, that the Janet Agnew Carnival Doubles Tournament (it was renamed in her honour after about five years) will be celebrating its 40th anniversary with the event at the Thomas Neale Family Memorial Park Tennis Centre, in Whangārei on February 14 and 15.
Agnew started the two-day tournament in 1987 after she suffered serious head injuries in a car crash in 1986 and was told she would never play tennis again. Fortunately, the doctor’s initial prognosis proved pessimistic, but Agnew created a doubles tournament that all Northland tennis players could enjoy.
Since then, it’s been a must-do event for many tennis players from across the country, and a chance for talented young Northland players to see some of the best in action in their own backyard.
When asked if she imagined then that her tournament would still be going strong for this long, she was unequivocal: “Hell no! I thought five years would be the maximum. But then it got to 10 years, then 20 years, then 30 and here we are at 40.”
She hopes the tournament will continue for many years and be a place where tennis players could enjoy a good social event, though there was always plenty of competition when tennis players were involved.
“It’s pretty amazing really [that it has gone on for 40 years]. I suppose after 40 years it’s a way of saying to those doctors ‘I proved you wrong’,” she said.
Some of the players come back year after year for the event, with one, Val Higgins, coming from Scotland to play in the 40th, after taking part when she lived in Northland.
It takes a lot of drive and determination to keep a tournament going for that long and Agnew said so many others have been involved along the way, with her long-time friend, and former Tennis Northland chairwoman, Raewyn Heywood, always providing invaluable help.
Janet Agnew and longtime friend Raewyn Heywood have been major players in the annual Janet Agnew Carnival Doubles Tennis Tournament, which celebrates 40 years of competition on February 14-15
She said Tennis Northland gave approval for her idea in 1986, and the first tournament had around 150 entries, which showed just how much the tennis community wanted such a tournament, with tennis ‘buzzing’ in the region back in the 1980s.
“At that stage, Tennis Northland was running at a loss and the courts needed replacing as they had cracks in them, and I thought this might be a money-making venture to help out.“
And the level of support, particularly from sponsors over the years, had made it the event it has become. It has raised more than $100,000 in vital funding over the years.
“From the start, people like Kamo Hardware and Orrs Pharmacy, who have now closed sadly, have been with us throughout and we couldn’t have done it without all that backing,” Agnew said.
Tennis has been a big part of Agnew’s life, since she started as a junior player at the Matarau Club, and she said the sport is such a great social connector in Northland.
Given the event is celebrating its ruby anniversary, a big part will be the past players, organisers and sponsors, who have been sent invitations to help celebrate the occasion.
Agnew said with Whangārei’s first ever Davis Cup tie held in Whangārei and the Janet Agnew Carnival Doubles Tournament , it was wonderful to see tennis in the spotlight so much.
And while the Davis Cup meant her tournament’s usual spot on the first weekend of February had to be given up - “Davis Cup takes priority” - she’s excited for tennis fans being able to see such top-quality sport in the region.
The Janet Agnew Carnival Doubles Tournament caters for A and B grade players in men’s, women’s, and mixed doubles events, with prizegiving on the Sunday. For full details check out the event on social media.
