What a year for Collaroy Tennis Club… and what a week of celebrations!
Following on from Presentation Day on Saturday 10 December to mark the culmination of this year’s Club Championships, we celebrated all over again on Saturday 17th, having been announced ‘Most Outstanding Tennis Club’ at the 2022 Australian Tennis Awards earlier in the week.
Finals Day
While Finals Day itself was dealt a blow when illness forced former Club Champ. Michal Korecky to withdraw from the three Open Finals he was set to play, there was still some exciting tennis on display. Reigning Men’s Singles Champion, Chris Gillis and top junior Kona Derrick played an enthralling exhibition match, the young gun taking it to Chris before experience prevailed.
The Ladies Singles Final was the ultimate cliffhanger, with Eri Fawcett finally triumphing over Sarah Downes in a 3rd set Match Tiebreaker. Sarah won the first set and Eri the second in a hard-fought clash full of twists and turns that had a healthy crowd cheering from the sidelines for both players. There was nothing between the finalists in terms of shot-making, with Eri’s fitness probably the deciding factor in the end.
Other winners on the day included Scott Fletcher and nephew Jamie Thompson in the Open Men’s Doubles, Scott and niece Elise Thompson in the Open Mixed, Ros Ode and Rosie Steindl in the Open Ladies Doubles and Aiden Nitch who defeated Nick Ashton in a thrilling Boy’s Singles Final.
Maria Ramos and new member Stuart Sangster won the Ladies and Men’s Plate events respectively.
Centenary Fundraising Raffle & Celebration BBQ
On the same day, the winners of our Centenary Fundraising Raffle were drawn, with the big winners Greg Boston, Sarah Downes and Wil Jauco who shared the major prizes. The raffle raised over $3,000 to go towards the re-surfacing of Courts 2 & 5 in the New Year. Thanks to everyone who purchased tickets.
And then to Saturday’s party, organised by our ever-willing Club Secretary, Fiona Bevan… a Full House of Club Members was joined by Tennis NSW Director, Wayne Swaysland, there to congratulate the Club on taking out the big award in Melbourne. A tennis pro. for more than 30 years, Wayne joined members on court for a good natured hit and stayed on for Part 1 of the celebrations before heading off to other commitments.
Tony Bevan cooked up a storm on the BBQ and Anna Cosio, cheekily convinced some lucky members to try her trademark celebratory Jelly Shots, cleverly presented in the Club’s colours of Blue and Green. (The standard of social tennis after that went up a notch!)
Wil gathered everyone on court for celebratory photos and President Vito Cincinnato thanked everyone for their contributions across such a big year for the Club. In Vito’s own words: “To officially win the title of Most Outstanding Club – Australia is a perfect way to end Collaroy Tennis Club’s Centenary year for. I can’t thank enough the proactive Committee, whose efforts were the driving force behind achieving this award. Over half of the Committee is made up of members who have been at the Club for less than 10 years. The quality of the Committee reflects the capability and enthusiasm of our members.”
After the formalities finished, Vito and Wil joined ‘stayers’ including Ros, Lynne and Clarrie, Rob and Sue (aka ‘Tim and Tam’), Simone Doherty, Damien, Dave, Gareth & Anna Grant, Carmen, Garry, Glenn and others, as we settled in for some refreshments inside a warm clubhouse on a cold evening.
Rob annoyed everyone with photos of his pending Caribbean Christmas holiday, while Simone replayed an interview with ABC Radio’s James Valentine regarding the Club’s success at the Newcombe Medal Presentation.
TV Coverage
There was more media exposure, courtesy of Channel 10’s ‘Studio 10’ program, with three live crosses from the Club on Tuesday morning. For those who missed it, check out the ‘Studio 10‘ segment on ’10 Play’ later — Episode Tue 20 Dec.
It was a fitting, full-of-laughs end to a wonderful Centenary year for our Club.
Season’s Greetings to everyone and here’s to more success and even more fun in the New Year!
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