Tennis: Masters in good nick

Bruce McIntosh attempts a lunging shot in the final of the Kamo Masters Tournament on Saturday. Photo / John Stone

For now, Whangarei's Todd Morgan and Paul Sykes have claimed bragging rights in Northland tennis circles after taking out the men's A grade title at the Kamo Masters Tournament.

Morgan and Sykes pipped Roger Turner and Bruce McIntosh in two sets 16-14, 16-14, on their way to the title, making them top dogs as they look ahead to the next masters' tournament in just under a month.

However, while Turner and McIntosh made the final, Merve Tane and Phil Malloy finished as runners-up after Turner and McIntosh failed to win a set in the final.

Turner, who was also a co-organiser of Saturday's tournament, said it was a top day despite the loss and encouraged more Northlanders to get off the coach and play tennis at any level. "There was awesome weather, great comrade, and everyone had a good laugh," Turner commented, adding that the tournament had 52 entries. "Hopefully it'll encourage people to come out of the wood work and participate.

"It'd be nice to have people patronize the masters' tournament. No matter how good or bad you are there's a place to play, no one gives a rats bum if you miss a ball, it's more about the camaraderie."

He explained that Northland Tennis masters' tournaments were played with a first-to-16 style which saw sets completed with 20 to 25 minutes.

"You'd call it an extended tie breaker. [You get] four serves each, first to 16 [wins], and sudden death at 15-all, there were a few of those on Saturday. It's cut throat.

"A grade is fairly good standard, the B grade is like reserve players, [and] C grade is social where they're there to have a few laughs and a lot of fun."

In the ladies' A grade, winners were Judy Hill and Raewyn Heywood while Ollie Smith and Jacque were runners-up. In third place was Janet Agnew and Shelley Heywood.

Meanwhile, in the men's B grade, Hayden Craven and Stu Peters took top honours with Chris Miller and Dave Cavaye finishing runners-up. Taking third spot was Sam Johnson and Neil Smith.

In the ladies' B, Luana Telfer and Julie Taylor were too good for Fiona Moselen and Pat Smith in the final while Fiona Whitaker and Sarah Ridings came third.

Winners of the C Grade men's were Shane Cavaye and Kyle Araapa. James Miller and Brian Whitaker were runners-up while Paul Ridings and Bruce Finlayson finished third.

Turner said if you were interested in joining a club, go to Tennis Northland's website and join up before either the Waipu Masters Tournament on November 16 or the Mairtown Olly Batger Doubles Tournament over the November 23 weekend.