The 2024 Collaroy Club Championships are off to a brilliant start, with matches on the first weekend played in wonderful spirit under cloudless skies. We have more entries than ever this year, with no less than 24 pairs entering the Open Mixed Doubles alone!
The first weekend saw the opening Men’s, Mixed and Ladies’ Doubles matches, with a total of 46 fixtures scheduled across Saturday and Sunday. A whole different vibe settled over the Club, with matches drawing big cheer squads and the players responding with some awesome points and outstanding winners. Even members who weren’t drawn for matches or hadn’t entered the Championships, turned up to spectate alongside others waiting to play, creating a real social atmosphere… yet with an edge in the air.
Also in the air was the aroma of Kenny's spectacular home-made pizzas. A regular feature at the Club, these were our very own 'Chef' de Mission's best of all time, feeding a hungry crowd across two sittings on both Saturday and Sunday. (Thanks heaps Kenny!)
Former Club Singles and reigning Ladies Doubles Champ. Eri, found some fans who joined her and other spectators watching Sunday’s matches.
Several of the doubles teams got into the spirit of things by donning matching colours, à la the Grand Slams. A classic example were Ladies teams Anna G. and Kim (‘The All Blacks’) and ‘The A-Team', Anna C. and Anita – both teams looking every bit the part when taking to Court 6 for their first-round match.
This was one of many close contests across the weekend, with ‘The A-Team' eventually prevailing. The girls in blue then made it two from two when they next took on Samantha and Felicia and won a titanic struggle 6-4. The match point that ended this thriller was an amazing rally lasting more than 30 shots! (Unheard of at Collaroy!)
Other highlights across the weekend included the number of first-time entrants such as Tom, Brady, Maria M., Felicia, Cathy T., Annette, Pam, Fiona K. and the Woods family (Lauren, Bill and Rob), plus the return of defending Champs. Kelly G. and Michael B. (Mixed) and Jan and Rob (Men’s), and the injection of quality junior members Maiia, Sky, Kona and Harrison. It was wonderful to see new members who have only recently joined the Club, as well as some of our best juniors, all joining in the fun.
And a shout out to the many Club stalwarts who support the Club by entering the Championships for the sheer fun of it (too many to list here). A classic example was the Ladies Doubles match between Club Legend Ros, partnering our illustrious Club Secretary Kate, who fought out a titanic struggle against Michela and Barbara. This match see-sawed back and forth throughout, before ‘The Internationals’ eventually triumphed 6-5 in a nerve-tingling Tiebreaker.
The involvement of members in this annual event who otherwise play socially mid-week and each weekend, is just as important a component as is watching the top players go around. Congrats. to all for participating and giving it a red-hot crack in every match you played!
Newly minted member Tom made an immediate mark, teaming with Chris E. to comprehensively win their first two Men’s Doubles matches. A former full-time Coach in the U.K., Tom has an excellent all-round game and will provide stiff competition for our recognised ‘gun players’ in the singles draw.
And ‘pocket rocket’ Maiia, just 13, is something else! The young lefty terrorised opponents playing with Sky in the Ladies’ Doubles and Harrison in the Mixed. Both these combos. are real title chances in their respective draws.
Wonderful to see Father/Daughter combo. Sky and AJ playing together along with Father and Son, Greg and Michael Bourke, back for their yearly tilt at the trophy. The latter pair was involved in what many consider to have been the match of the day, late on Saturday, against Damian and Stuart.
A raucous group of spectators gathered to bathe in the afternoon sun behind Court 2, (perhaps fueled by a refreshing beverage or two), and cheered on a match that looked like going the way of Damo and Stuart early on, as they surged to a 3-1 lead.
But the father and son team roared back into contention, Greg turning back the clock with a classic couple of shots while Michael covered the court like a man possessed, hurling himself into the air to counter opposition lobs and across the court to cover for his slightly less mobile dad.
Eventually, Stuart served for the match at 5-4… a game in which his opponents came out swinging and incredibly won to love!
A tense tiebreaker ensued, the score going point for point from team to team, the crowd cheering every winner and the Bourkes looking like they might take out the match. But Damo and Stuart rallied when it counted and finally won the tense encounter 6-5, the crowd going wild!
It was like we were watching a Final, rather than a match on the first weekend of the Round Robin section of the Championships and further evidence that Collaroy is one of Australia’s most vibrant tennis clubs. If this was a taste of the competition to come, bring it on! We eagerly look forward to next weekend’s matches. Go Collaroy!
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