Rain-soaked masters tennis

WATER SPORTS: Wanganui's Linda Scott finished out of medal contention during yesterday's rain-soaked NZMG tennis single action at the Bassett St courts. PHOTO/Bevan Conley

Only the hardy were rewarded at the New Zealand Masters Games tennis on Tuesday as rain dampened proceedings at the Bassett St courts.

The rain restricted the singles competition to be played out on the six astroturf courts only after the plexi-pave courts proving slippery and too dangerous to be played on.

Organiser Michael Smyth said just 133 athletes had registered for the tennis, down on the 164 competing at the 2015 games and well short of the 202 in 2013.

"There appears to be a downward trend in recent years. There was only one registered for the A grade 40+ men's division so he had to play on the over 50 grade to ensure a game," Smyth said.

There were six age groups from 40+ to 80+ available but not all attracted entries and the traditional A1, A2, B1, B2 grades also needed rejigging.

Winner of the 40-50 age group men was the probable pre-post favourite Sean Edmonds from the Wanganui Tennis Club. Edmonds has played managerial roles with Wanganui Christie Cup teams and is a talented player in his own right.

Edmonds won gold ahead of Ross Clayton from Waipukurau who claimed silver, while Ivan Southon from Wanganui bagged the bronze.

Wanganui's Lee Wainhouse won gold in the 40+ B grade, while Ormond Torr, also from the River City, won gold in the 65+ B grade.

The 70+ A grade was an all hometown affair with Tony Rutledge winning gold over Relwyn Hooper.

The 65+ A grade gold went to Kevin Wilson from Wellington, while Neville Hopkins from Wanganui took silver ahead of Wellington's Brian Macey.

Brian Boyd from Waipukurau took gold in the 50+ B division ahead of Wanganui's Robert Scott.

Other Wanganui winners included Pat McNamara in the 60+ B grade.

Shigeru Yokoyama from Japan may have won the furthest travelled prize, but had to be content with silver in the 50+ B grade men behind gold medal winner Grant Cameron from Cambridge with Wangnaui's Albert Menehira taking bronze.

In the women's group Wendy Mackevics from Wellington won gold ahead of Anne Dixon from Brisbane and Linda Wynks from Palmerston North in third.