With all pennant competitions on hiatus for the summer break, players have turned their attention to tournaments, and one that players enjoy in particular is Tennis Victoria’s Interregional Country Championships.
Teams consist of players in age groups from 12 and under through to 50-plus with 11 regional teams from across the state competing.
This year players enjoyed the grass at Wangaratta and with 35 players making up almost a full complement of places, Barwon continued its winning form, taking the title of regional champions for the third year in a row.
There were a number of players at their first inter-regionals, including Archie and Azure Shih, Willow Ryan and Molly Geddes featuring in the 12U events, and all winning at least a couple of matches.
Archie was a standout, winning the Boys singles and doubles with brother Azure. Toby Mitchell was a star in the 50-plus doubles winning with Mark Robinson in the Men’s, and then getting through a tough come from behind 5-7, 6-3, 10-7 win with Julie Golightly in an all-Barwon final against Robinson and Jo Puckett.
The junior girls provided a good show winning the 16U, 18U and 25U singles. Tegan Marshall took out the 25U singles and backed up in the doubles with partner Lily Duff.
Matilda Sutherland won the 18U for the second year and added the doubles title with Pearl Thompson while and Lotti McDonald was unlucky not to get a chance at a clean sweep of her 16U events winning the singles, the doubles with Sofia Delgadhino, and falling just short in a tie-break in the mixed semi-final with Zane Ryan.
Nicole Mullen and Olivia Ryan went back to back defending their Women’s Open doubles title and Ryan also showed her prowess teaming with Jamie Heaton to win the Mixed Doubles.
Aflie Oliver and Axel Potter-Ayres rounded out the winners for Barwon in 16U Boys Doubles, and a good showing in all events across the three days, making at least the semi-finals in most events, Barwon took out the overall trophy with 315 points, 21 ahead of Loddon Campaspe.
