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<Date:%A, %B %d,Wairarapa %Y> Wairarapa Times-Age Wednesday, November 6, 2019 Midweek
CELEBRATING 90YEARS
Wairarapa Tennis Association th enters its 90 year with optimism This year marks the 90th anniversary of the Wairarapa Tennis Association. Today six clubs belong to the Association - Opaki, Masterton, Gladstone, Carterton, Greytown and Martinborough. All six are in good heart with thriving Junior player numbers, hundreds taking part in social tennis, and a smaller core dedicated to the more serious side of the sport.
allow tennis to be played under cover on the rebound ace courts at the Trust House Netball Wairarapa Centre in Masterton. “Many of the top tournaments such as the US and Australian opens are played on the same surface.
“This will allow us to play more inter-club competitions at night. Most of our club courts have lights but are at capacity.”
The Wairarapa is lucky to have such great clubs and facilities for playing, says Wairarapa Tennis Association Chair John Kirkup, who is a member of the Martinborough Club.
One of the outstanding features of the Association is the strength of its Junior competition, with excellent coaching programmes.
“It has a good climate for tennis and there are lots of opportunities for people to get out and play.”
Numbers drop off for college-aged students, but John hopes the coaching and development programme being developed by Tennis New Zealand might help increase numbers.
The six clubs are all very sociable and welcoming, John says. This couldn’t be illustrated any better than with the Club Open Days which each club hosted earlier this season. “The clubs all opened their doors to invite in new members, many organising games and putting on a barbecue.” Each club has its own character, John says. “For instance, Opaki and Gladstone have a rural flavour, reflecting their farming background.” John is excited that the Association has just received funding from the Trust House Foundation for moveable nets which will
Then there are those who just enjoy a friendly game of tennis. To cater for them, each club organises its own in-club “Business House” competition, with anyone welcome to form a team and enjoy the social side of the game. Contact details for all the clubs can be found online and in this feature.
Some clubs host their own unique event such as Martinborough’s
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“At 15 months he would whack a ball suspended in the hallway, with perfectly balanced double-handed forehands and backhands.” Marcus played Junior Inter-Club tennis at age four, played in the Hadlow primary school tennis team from age five, and won both the New Zealand Primary Schools championship and the New Zealand Under 12’s Championship.
Marcus has won a raft of singles and doubles titles on the ATP tennis tour. He won the 2010 Heineken Open doubles title, has reached the doubles quarter finals at The Australian Open and Wimbledon, gained a high of no 34 in the world doubles rankings, played Davis Cup singles and doubles ties for NZ for over a decade, and competed in the Rio Olympics.
Along with the inter-club competitions, players can take part in regional and national tournaments.
Every year Wairere contributes to dozens of community organisations, charities, clubs and individuals.
Marcus Daniell always loved holding a tennis racquet, says his mum Chris.
Well before college age, Marcus was part of the Masterton Tennis Club’s Men’s Senior team, and contributed hugely to their many successes, Chris says. Marcus loved being part of the Wairarapa teams, but ultimately needed to extend his range to inter club in Palmerston North and later Wellington, Chris says.
There has been good growth in Women’s Senior numbers in recent years “with a real increase in women wanting to play competitively.”
“Over the Hill” Tournament which attracts many players from Wellington and the Hutt Valley.
One of New Zealand’s leading professionals played his formative tennis in Wairarapa
8 year-old Marcus Daniell playing in the 12 year singles in Masterton
Between the massive highs and crushing lows of life as a professional tennis player, Marcus loves nothing better than coming home, says Chris - “ especially to the Wairarapa and the White Rock waves.”