Martinborough tennis tourney a success

Former New Zealand Davis Cup representative Brett Hibbert and his daughter Lucy after their combined doubles success. PHOTOS/CELIA JASPERS

MARTINBOROUGH Tennis Club hosted their popular annual "Over the Hill" tournament over the weekend with many of the participants coming from outside Wairarapa.

This year's men's doubles attracted a particularly high calibre of players, including former New Zealand Davis Cup representative Brett Hibbert and some big names from the Taranaki and Manawatu areas such as Michael Fleming, Stephen Scott, Grant Goperth and Frayne Bloor.

Hibbert teamed up with his 15-year-old son Hugo in this section and they won the consolation plate final. The championship decider saw the Carterton brothers Matt and Cory Spooner defending the title they had won over the previous two years but this time they went down in a tightly contested final to Michael Fleming and Stephen Scott. Fleming has been ranked in the top 20 in New Zealand.

The men's doubles drew an entry of 28, with 22 pairs contesting the women's doubles and 38 the combined doubles, making it the biggest overall entry in years.

Defending champions Mareta Randall and Kerry Noble, from the Titahi Bay club, won the women's event from Leonie Campbell and Julie Scott, while in the combined doubles Hibbert teamed with his teenage daughter Lucy and they won an exciting final against Gary Katene and Mareta Randall.

Club secretary Celia Jaspers said the tourney was usually reserved for players who fitted the "over the hill" theme in both age and geography but an exception had been made this year to allow Hibbert the unique opportunity to play with his children.

There was some success for locals too with Martinborough pair John Douglas and Grant Haley winning the special plate final in the men's doubles, while a new member of the Martinborough club in Christina Mansell took out the women's doubles special plate with Anna d'Shea.

Jaspers also noted the outstanding support given by major sponsors Porters Pinot, and Pain and Kershaw, plus others who had provided valuable assistance, both financially and in kind. She said the tourney was a major fundraiser for the club which is 80 per cent through a fundraising drive to replace two ageing astro courts. The Eastern and Central Community Trust, Trust House and the Martinborough Community Board have already given grants to the project, which will see a multisports surface and lights available for community use.

Tournament results:

Men's doubles: Championship: Michael Fleming and Stephen Scott 1, Matt Spooner and Cory Spooner 2. Plate: Makem Albert and Grant Yarrall 1, Brodie Sadgrove and Dominic Vardon 2. Consolation plate: Brett Hibbert and Hugo Hibbert 1, Duncan Oakley and Jon McNab 2. Special plate: John Douglas and Grant Haley 1, Sam Royal and Jack Royal 2.

Women's doubles: Championship: Kerry Noble and Mareta Randall 1, Leonie Campbell and Julie Scott 2. Plate: Sharon Marenzi and Alison Gibson 1, Maree Home and Viv Walker 2. Consolation plate: Margaret Young and Judy Williams 1, Paulina Godfrey and Estelle Marshall 2.

Special plate: Diane Maunder and Michelle McKibbon 1, Anna D'Shea and Christina Mansell 2.

Combined doubles: Championship: Brett Hibbert and Lucy Hibbert 1, Gary Katene and Mareta Randall 2. Plate: Jason Granville and Paulina Godfrey 1, John Allred and Estelle Marshall 2. Consolation plate: Kirsty Alexander and Jeff Lummis 1, Chris Adams and Neysa Albrecht 2. Special plate: Grant Haley and Christina Mansell 1, David Leslie and Meiko Nishimura 2.