The 99th Māori Tennis Championships took place last week.
The recent 99th Māori Tennis Championships held in Rotorua produced some fantastic matches, with at least one that “stole the show”.
Twelve-year-old Wellington-based Henry Swinton-Robertson (Whakatōhea) took on Aussie-based 50+ Joshua Tuhoro (Ngāti Awa) with Tuhoro just managing to overcome his much younger opponent 6-3 7-6.
The tournament took place last week at the Rotorua Tennis courts and Rotorua Girls’ High School, and began with the traditional Te Arawa pōwhiri led by Colin Bennett welcoming Kiingitanga kaumatua Rahui Papa, Te Makau Ariki Atawhai on behalf of Aotearoa Māori Tennis Association (AMTA) patroness Te Arikinui Kuini Nga Wai hono I te po, and Māori tennis players from across the motu, including Australia.
Living Māori and NZ tennis legend, 89-year-old Dame Ruia Morrison (Te Arawa) was also in attendance for the pōwhiri.
Two local tennis identities, Geoff and Leona Kaye were presented with life membership of the Aotearoa Māori Tennis association for their support of Māori tennis.
After the ka hākari, kaumatua from Te Arawa, Waikato Tainui and an executive from the association were treated to the opening singles matches – including the match where Swinton-Robertson and Tuhoro had spectators on the edge of their seats.
The two open supreme winners were:
Men’s singles – Jessie Galvin (Te Arawa)
Women’s singles – Tara Purcell (Whakatōhea)
The AMTA will celebrate its 100 rautau (100 years) at Waikato Tennis Centre in December this year.
Open men’s singles
Winner: Jessie Galvin
Runner-up: Nikau Going
Result: 7-5 6-4
Open men’s doubles
Winners: Nikau Going/Teiki Sydney
Runner-up: TBC
Open women’s singles
Winner: Tara Purcell
Runner-up: Mahinarangi Warren
Result: 6-4 7-5
Open women’s doubles
Winners: Alex Howe/Tara Purcell
Runners-up: Skyla Petri/Mahinarangi Warren
Result: 8-6
Open mixed doubles
Winners: Jack Hansen-Ratter/Baylee Hill Wihape
Runners-up: Nikau Going/Daniella Daniel
Result: 7-3
12 mixed singles
Winner: TK North
Runner-up: Hugo McCulloch
Result: R/R
12 girls’ singles
Winner: Matilda Tapp
Runner-up: Hers Lyndon
Result: 9-6
14 boys’ singles
Winner: Damian Wheeler
Runner-up: Taane Young
Result: 6-4 6-2
14 boys’ doubles
Winners: TJ North/Misiviliamu Warren
Runners-up: Taane Young/Kahukura Robinson
Result: 9-6
30-49 men’s singles
Winner: Eddie Sykes
Runner-up: Mark Ratana
Result: 6-1 6-1
30-49 men’s doubles
Winners: Mark Ratana/Eddie Sykes
Runners-up: Joseph Hayes/Ben Howe
Result: 4-6 6-4 10-4
30-39 women’s singles
Winner: Aliya Edwards
Runner-up: Laura Buckthought
Result: 6/2 6/1
30-49 women’s doubles
Winners: Leona Kaye-Ivitu/Aliya Edwards
Runners-up: Renae Anderson/Dorothea Collier
Result: 9-3
30-49 mixed doubles
Winners: William Flavell/Aliya Edwards
Runners-up: Joseph Walsh/Brenda Smith
Result: 7-1
50-59 men’s singles
Winner: Dean Roia
Runner-up: TBC
50-59 men’s doubles
Winners: Carlo Paul Roia/Dean Roia
Runners-up: Adam Whauwhau/Maurice Fearon
Result: 6-4 5-7 6-2
50-69 women’s doubles
Winners: Tracey Lucas/Brenda Smith
Runners-up: Leisa Hart/Lisa Sosich
Result: 7-6
50-59 mixed doubles
Winners: Wayne Thompson/Fiona Wikaira
Runners-up: Adam Whauwhau/Treacey Lucas
Result: 9-8
60-69 men’s singles
Winner: Ray Short
Runner-up: Jeremy Wichman
Result: R/R
60-69 men’s doubles
Winners: John MacDonald/Moses Harvey
Runners-up: Ray Short/Jeremy Wichman
Result: 7-4
60-69 women’s singles
Winner: Leona Kaye-Ivitu
Runner-up: Brenda Smith
Result: 6-0 6-0
60-69 mixed doubles
Winners: Ray Short/Leona Kaye-Ivitu
Runners-up: Dave Brake/Christine Brake
Result: 7-5
70+ men’s singles
Winner: John Hetet
Runner-up: David Goldsmith
Result: 6-1 7-6
70+ men’s doubles
Winners: David Goldsmith/John Hetet
Runners-up: Richard Collier/Whare Wharepapa
Result: 9-4
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