TENNIS:The winter tennis season has just begun, and for the first time the club's low-cost subs have been extended to apply to all membership categories. Examples are: For the six months' play between May 1 and October 31 the senior sub is only $50, and for juniors only $22.50.
All winter
members have full playing rights, and are welcome to attend any of the organised club days which continue thoughout the year. * * * * *
The Wanganui club's mixed doubles championships were held on Saturday, when the first round losers competed for the B grade title.
Top seeds in the main event were Susie Snell and Ivan Southon. However, they were beaten 9/4 in the final by Tineke Hesseling and Michael Smyth. Nola Fraser and David Dent won the B grade competition.
* * * * *
Further proof of the success the club's juniors are achieving is evidenced by the current national computer points ranking of the following: Under-18 girls ? 2nd Emma Hayman, 8th Trelise Graham, 17th Andrea Lange. Under 18 boys ? 23rd Matthew Powdrell, who is also ranked 19th in the under 16 boys. Under 12 boys ? 24th Lachie Watson.
* * * * *
Tennis New Zealand is soon to introduce a new national grading system called "Topdog," which should be fully operational for the start of the 2005/06 season. Topdog is a grading list of all competitive tennis players in New Zealand regardless of age, with separate lists for males and females. Topdog also calculates doubles gradings from doubles results.
Gradings are based on results from head to head matches in all interclub competitions or tournaments, and a player will gain or lose points depending on the relative grading of the opponent.
Topdog will encourage more competitive play, reduce mismatches in interclub competitions, and assist locally, regionally and nationally with seedings in tournaments and in team selection. For more information contact Di Watson ph. 348 4498.
