Karen Herrick, defending her women's singles title. PHOTO/FILE
Karen Herrick, defending her women's singles title. PHOTO/FILE
MATT Spooner isn't completely sure how many Wairarapa closed championship men's singles regional one titles he has won.
The Carterton player thinks it could be five and, if that is the case, then number six looks very much on the cards when the 2016 edition of the event is playedat the Masterton Tennis Centre tomorrow and Sunday.
Based on interclub results, Spooner is clearly the man to beat.
He is yet to taste defeat in singles play and with last year's champion, Jono Hurley, now living in Australia, it's difficult to imagine any of his opponents having the game to upset him. The big question then is to predict who will meet him in the final with the most likely prospects being Chris Davidson (Opaki), Chad Parson (Masterton) and Spooner's brother, Cory, also from the Carterton club.
There are just three entries in the regional one women's singles, Karen Herrick (Carterton), Rhona Lovell (Martinborough) and Finola O'Boyle (Opaki).
Herrick took away this title last year and should be the leading contender again although the experienced Lovell has beaten her in the past and is quite capable of doing so again. Their clash should be a cracker.
In the men's regional one doubles, the two Spooners will be hard to bowl with the main opposition likely to come from Jon McNab and Duncan Oakley, of Opaki.
The appearance of former Australian Open semifinalist Belinda Cordwell is the major talking point in the combined doubles.
She is partnering David Heard, of Greytown, and they will start favourites. However, they won't have it all their own way as the husband and wife pairing of Bruce and Rhona Lovell can never be taken lightly.
The regional two men's singles will also be of interest with Lochie McNab (Gladstone) the top seed.
