SOME of the nation’s best senior tennis players will compete in Ulladulla this weekend.
Approximately 200 players from around the country will take part in the Milton-Ulladulla Tennis Club’s 14th annual seniors’ tournament this Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
The event is being sponsored for a second year in a row by BIG4 Bungalow Park in Burrill Lake.
The men’s and women’s singles will be contested on Friday followed by the men’s, women’s and mixed doubles on Saturday and Sunday.
Competitors taking the court this weekend will include former squash world champion Heather McKay, who is currently boasts a national No. 1 ranking in the Over 70s women.
Other top female competitors will include Laura Schofield (No.8 in the Over 35s), Alison Radford (No. 12 in the Over 40s), Anne Rouse (No. 15 in the Over 45s), May Howard (No. 3 in the Over 55s) and Peg Hoysted (No. 3 in the Over 75s).
Leading the way in the men’s events will be David Rouse (No. 36) in the Over 40s), Hugh O’Brien (No. 15 in the Over 45s), Phil Higgs (No. 7 in the Over 65s) and Ian Roberts (No. 23 in the Over 70s).
Play will commence at 11.30am on Friday and at 8am on Saturday and Sunday and will continue through until approximately 6pm on all three days.
All 12 courts will be used at the Ulladulla tennis centre as well as the two courts in Croobyar Road, Milton.
Val Crook from the Ulladulla Tennis Club said 195 people had entered this year’s tournament with competitors ranging in age from 37 to 81.
Most of them are travelling to the region with only 10 local tennis players taking part.
Others will be travelling from Sydney, Canberra and many NSW regional centres.
There will also be entrants from Victoria and even one from the United States.
Mrs Crook said the Ulladulla tournament was one of the most popular on the seniors’ circuit.
She said it was probably the third biggest in the state behind tournaments in Merimbula and Foster.
Mrs Crook said the prize money was nominal and the tournaments were primarily about social interaction.
Nevertheless she said the standard of tennis was still very high – particularly in the younger age divisions.
BIG4 Bungalow Park is a major supporter of tennis in the Milton- Ulladulla region.
The park also sponsors the annual South Pacific Open Tournament in November each year.
Besides providing prizemoney for the seniors’ tournament, BIG4 Bungalow Park also offers players a special accommodation deal and provides a major raffle prize of seven days’ accommodation at the park for six people.
Tennis fans are invited to catch some of the action over the threeday tournament.
Entry to the tennis centre is free of charge and the canteen will be operating.
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