Dent tops 70-and-overs

DEBUTANTE: On tournament debut Lynn Dent teamed with John Williams to win the Fred Sedon Memorial Trophy at the Wanganui Tennis Club yesterday. PHOTO/BEVAN CONLEY 170315WCBRCTEN03

LYNN DENT can thank her clubmates for the chance to win the coveted Fred Sedon Memorial Trophy at the Wanganui Tennis Club yesterday.

The annual event is for club players over the age of 70, an age Dent turned just recently.

This year the event was held a tad earlier to allow Dent to compete before returning home to her native South Africa for a holiday on Saturday.

In cold, blustery conditions yesterday, Dent teamed with John Williams to edge out Kathy Raisin and Ewan Johnstone in the final to claim the trophy named in memory of popular court regular Fred Sedon.

It has been organised by club stalwart Les Wright since its inception in 2003 in memory of Fred Sedon who passed away several years earlier.

"This year we held the tournament a bit earlier to allow Lynn to play," Wright said.

"She and her husband have been in New Zealand for about 10 years, but are going back to South Africa for a holiday this Saturday. This was the first time Lynn has been able to compete because she has only just turned of age."

This season 16 players took part compared to 12 last year.

"We wait until the morning of the event and draw names out of a hat to see who partners who."

Last year Wright was partnered with Anne Rowe and they won the Fred Sedon Trophy.

"Sometimes I play and sometimes I don't. This year I didn't, preferring to organise it, while Anne drew Leon Carter.

"Unfortunately, they were bundled out in the quarter-finals.

"We have a very strong senior membership here at the Wanganui Tennis Club and most can be seen playing week in, week out," Wright said.