While Finals Day of the Club Championships had to be postponed a week due to inclement weather, last Sunday, December 8, dawned clear and fine for the 2024 Wheelchair Championships and Official Opening of our newly re-surfaced Court 4.
Isla Gillespie, dual winner (Juniors and Open) at last year’s event, warned us of a likely changing of the guard in the Open ranks this year… and her prediction was spot on. Former New Zealand Wheelchair Champion, Eamon Wood, proved to be a class above everyone, taking out Isla en route to the Final in which he defeated fellow newcomer, friendly giant, Jonti Dimond to win this year’s Singles Title.
Watched by a crowd including his young daughter Ida, and fluffy white companion Samoyed, ‘Doug’, Eamon surged through his opposition using a big serve and forehand and a cunning sliced backhand to create havoc. But his main weapon was undoubtedly his mobility in the chair. Eamon covered the court with amazing skill, turning his chair on a dime and was almost always in position for the next shot. Though focusing more on wheelchair basketball these days, there was a rumour doing the rounds of the Club that Eamon had once faced multiple Grand Slam winner, Dylan Alcott in a tour match… and beaten him! It was easy to believe.
Left to right: Tallow and Eamon, Jonti and Oscar and Doubles winners Isla and Rafferty
In the Doubles, Eamon and Jonti generously agreed to partner juniors Tallow and Oscar respectively, with Collaroy’s world ranked wheelies Isla and Rafferty teaming up and eventually taking the title. Now 18, Isla was ineligible for the Juniors this year, and Rafferty took advantage, comfortably winning the Singles event in this section.
A large contingent of family and friends cheered on the competitors and they were joined by Club members and a list of dignitaries on hand to officially open the newly re-surfaced ‘wheelchair court’.
Northern Beaches Council was represented by both Mayor Sue Heins and Deputy Mayor, Ruth Robins, while former Mayor and now State Member for Wakehurst, Michael Regan was also there, (complete with vintage wooden racquet!). Former Australian Open Champion, Mark Edmondson (whose company GreenSet Worldwide laid the new court) was also in attendance.
After Club President, Vito Cincinnato welcomed all present, Brendan Pomponio, CEO of major Club Sponsor Belle Property, who helped cover some of the cost of the new court, cut the ribbon, officially opening the court for play.
To fully ‘christen the court’, in between the Wheelchair Singles and Doubles events, the crowd was treated to an incredible exhibition of hitting by World-Ranked No. 64, Chris O’Connell, former Club Singles Champion (at 14!) and now up and coming professional, Pavle Marinkov and 17-year-old Josh Hinton, who is currently making his mark on the ITF Junior Tour.
So good to see players of this caliber hitting on our newly re-surfaced cushion acrylic hard court. The good natured trio were so generous with their time, supporting this event, and even staying on to have a hit with Cr. Robins and Michael Regan, (the latter regularly playing ‘cover drives’ with his old-style wooden Yonex blade, perhaps wishing he was facing Jasprit Bumrah in Adelaide, rather than Chris O’Connell at Collaroy?).
Interviewed after their exhibition, the gun players gave a universal ‘thumbs up’ to the new court. “It’s playing great”, said Chris. “It’s now seriously as good as any hard court I play on, anywhere around the world. The old court was wearing down and becoming too slick and quick, but the new one’s perfect.”
Pavle concurred saying “I agree completely with Chris. The new court is playing really well – definitely a bit slower and taking more spin than the old court. And it’s gripping more, giving you a better base before you hit.”
ITF Junior, Josh said: “I really look forward to training on the new court as I continue to play Junior Tournaments, before hopefully graduating to the Futures Tour.” True to his word, Josh was back at Collaroy the next day (Monday), hitting with Chris’s brother Ben O’Connell.
Chris (now 30) has played all the great young players – Alcaraz, Sinner, Ben Shelton – and speaks of the raw power they all possess. “But this is why I play tennis”, says Chris, “… to come up against these guys.” He’s looking forward to getting back into full training ahead of the Australian Summer of Tennis, along with his mates from the Tour, also currently ranked inside the Top 100. Players who train with Chris at Collaroy include Jordan Thompson (26), Max Purcell (89) and Aleksandar Vukic (68).
Chris and Jordan were quoted in a press interview at this year’s US Open saying they credit “… mateship and the good old-fashioned Aussie meat pie” for the stunning renaissance of Australian tennis, which currently sees 9 male players ranked inside the world’s Top 100. “We train at Collaroy when we’re in Sydney and we've got a bit of a routine where we finish our session at the Club, then go across the road to an amazing pie shop and finish off with a swim at Long Reef.”
Jordan was quoted in the same article saying: "That's definitely the secret – a hit at Collaroy, the Upper Crust across the road from the courts for a pie, and then a swim and catching a few waves. It’s a bit of a running joke on tour; we can't wait to get back down there and start training for the AO."
Chris said he’d be training at Collaroy for the next few weeks, then will start his summer tournament season in Brisbane, followed by Adelaide ahead of the AO. Having just graduated to the main Tour, Pavle will play a Challenger event in Canberra before the AO and is hoping to get a wild card giving him automatic entry into the main event. “You really notice the difference moving from the Juniors to the main tour”, says Pavle. “The level of consistency is much higher and every match is really tough.”
We wish ‘the Collaroy Crew’ all the best for some great results over the summer, following on from a fabulous 2024. And thanks for bringing Pro. Tennis to our Club!
Nibbles and drinks, catered by Club member Miles Blackwell, were served in the clubhouse followed by a presentation to the winners and runners up of the Wheelchair Championships to close out the day. Deputy Mayor Robins congratulated all participants and presented the trophies. Many Collaroy members gathered for social play, joined in the applause for the winning wheelies.
All in all, a great launch of our new Court 4 and another wonderful display of skill, tenacity and positive attitude from our wheelchair members.
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