Local tennis stars were amongst the winners of the McDonalds Armidale Junior and Open Tennis tournament held from October 19-21.
Kirk Carrington Hastings of Armidale defeated number 1 seed Ciaran Lavers in the Men’s Open event in three sets 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 for the $500 prize and his name on the prestigious trophy.
Gaby O’Gorman beat NEGS player Kayla Wicks in the Women’s Open Championship 7-6, 6-4. However, Kayla then beat Gabby in the Under 18 Girls’ Singles 6-0,6-4,6-0.
Lachlan Apps of Armidale and Marlon Saunders of Tamworth won the B Grade Men’s Doubles and his brother Angus Apps took out the Under 12 Boys’ Singles against Alex Furst 6-2, 6-2.
Justin Sherriff and B grade mixed doubles partner Sahra Dennehy were unfortunately defeated in the final by Angela George and Geoff Blank 8-6.
In the Over 35 Doubles, Armidale players Ed Fulloon and John Cameron won against Rowan Butler and Geoff Blank.
In the 10 and Under Boys’ Singles, the national number 1 seed Alex Furst won the event; and Sahra Dennehy of Armidale won in the Under 10 Girls’ Singles. Sahra also won the Under 12 Girls’ Doubles with her partner Elle McNaught of Walcha.
In the Under 16s, TAS student Eric Cheung defeated Matt Williams of Armidale 7-6, 6-4 in what was a very close match. In the Under 16 Girls’ Doubles, Claire McDonough of PLC and partner Kendall Watson won; and in the Under 18 Singles, Ciaran Lavers defeated Armidale’s Josh Stevenson 6-1, 6-3.
Josh then teamed up with fellow TAS student Will Waterson to win the Under 18s Boys’ Doubles against Mat Ellis and Andrew Lemin 8-5.
A special thank you should be given to all the Sponsors of the tournament who helped to make it such a success: McDonalds, Precision Motors, New England Mutual, TWM, Pembroke Tourist and Leisure Park, Sportspower, 2AD Radio station, Scott Waterson Coffee Cart, The Whitebull Hotel, Roberts and Morrow, Kids Boots, and The Armidale Business Centre Physiotherapy.
