JIM Myers returned to Tamworth for the West Tamworth Tennis Club’s 15th Seniors Tournament on the weekend.
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Originally from Barraba, Myers, now retired in Newcastle, has not missed a West Seniors Tournament either.
“I’ve been to every one since they started,” Myers said on Sunday.
“It’s a great little tournament too.
“I used to win a few early on but still come up and have a hit.”
As a younger man he played tennis all through the region and “played a lot of tennis in Tamworth”.
He also racked up some interesting opponents.
“I played against Lew Hoad and Adrian Quist in my younger days,” he said of two of the nation’s great tennis players.
He was a NSW Country champion at age 15 and enjoyed many tournaments over the years. These days his tennis playing is limited by his age.
“I can’t move as quickly as I used to,” he said.
65 seniors turned out for the weekend tournament, West president John Ball said.
Rain played havoc with Saturday’s matches but the tournament was back on track Sunday and finished by 5pm, he said.
He was also the tournament organiser.
“We were pretty lucky,” Ball said.
“The mountain looked pretty high there at one stage. I didn’t think we’d climb it for a while but we got there.”
There were plenty of winners too.
The Saturday morning American style doubles were the first event decided, with coastal player Jo Clark winning the A Women’s doubles from Taree’s Wendy Blackford while Tamworth’s Jenny Nay prevailed in the B Ladies Doubles from fellow West Tamworth club member Jean Holder.
Dubbo’s Glen Armstrong won the A Men’s Doubles on Saturday morning from fellow Dubbo player Craig Taylor while Manilla’s Peter Maunder won the B Double men from Tamworth’s Brian Guest.
Saturday afternoon’s Ladies’ Doubles were won by Brooke Francis and Kerry Sanson (35-49), Helen Burge and Wendy Izzard (50-64) and Lorraine Bryant and Di Steepe (65+).
Glen Armstrong and Craig Taylor teamed up to win the Men’s 35-49 Saturday afternoon men’s doubles while Rod Ball and Aaron Ferries won the 50-64 and Col Hoade and Graeme Manson the 65+.
Sunday’s 100-110-120 women’s doubles had two pools, with West Tamworth’s Di Steepe and Sue Chillingworth winning one and Myra Renneberg and Christine Johnson the other.
The men’s 70-80-90 went to Bob Haling and Albie Barwick, the 100-110-120 was won by John Ball and son Rod while Jon Seckold and Aaron Ferris won the 130+.
The Sunday afternoon combined mixed doubles 100-110-120 went to Kylie Fairlamb and Jon Seckold while Rod Ball and Brooke Francis made it seven straight when they prevailed in the 70-80-90 mixed doubles.
