Women’s 40+ and 60+ National Championships
The weather was spring-like and the ladies showed there was still a lot of spring in their step as they competed for the Women’s 40+ and 60+ National titles.

Helen Garrett and Sandy Simmers once again claimed the Women’s 60+ National title despite strong competition from some new teams. This was their 5th gold in a row and their 6th as a team. In a rematch of last year’s final, they defeated Louise Cash and Mary Fenton by the score of 6-2, 6-7, 6-4. Other winners were: Winnie Hatch and Courtia Worth, 3rd place; Ginny Sniatkowski and Ruth Weil, 5th place and Sharon Hummers and Hope Kerr, Last Chance winners.

An exceptionally strong field in the Women’s 40+ event led to some exciting matches. Continuing their title run, Cynthia Dardis and Amy Shay defeated Bobo Delaney and Tonia Mangan to win their first National title. Liz Jaffe and Sue Tarzian topped Robin Fulton and Betsy Heidenberger in the battle for 5th place and Donna Charlton and Janet Faig finished 9th, ahead of Darlene Finnegan and Susan Penney. Lamia Beydoun and Debra LaMountain claimed the Consolation crown and Anne Delaney and Amanda Dolan won the Last Chance battle.

Women’s 50+ National Championships
Frigid temperatures did not deter the enthusiasm of the 23 teams participating in the Women’s 50+ National Tournament at Fox Meadow Tennis Club on January 14. Given the caliber of the teams involved, it was not surprising that there was some incredible platform tennis played that day. The team of Bobo Delaney and Sarah Krieger, newcomers to the 50+ tournament, lived up to expectations. The number one seeds had no trouble reaching the finals where they played the unseeded team of Janet Faig and Donna Charlton who also had little trouble reaching the finals. The match was played on January 15 at the Center Court Tennis Club in New Jersey. Given that all four participants were from New Jersey, there was a great turnout to watch the finals where Delaney and Krieger beat Faig and Charlton 6-0, 6-4. Congratulations to both teams and to all the participants. It was an exciting tournament and one that is expected to get bigger each year as more paddle playing women reach the magic age of 50!

Submitted by Judy Luskin

Women’s 70+ National Championships
The Women’s 70+ National Championship was played at Fox Meadow Tennis Club on January 14, 2009. The day had a very low temperature, but a very high spirit and performance. The first seeds, Sharon Hummers and Ann Moriani, lost in an exciting first round 3 set match to Hope Kerr and Betty Michinard. Kerr and Michinard went on to win the tournament with two more 3 set matches. Gingie Greene and Lynne Verna in the semis gave them a fight with the score 7-5,1-6, 6-3. The fmals were also exciting. They played the second seeded team, Nancy Libby and Margot Turk, 6-4,6-7,6-2. They all played beautifully. It was a proud day for all the 70+ women who participated.

Submitted by Ann Brown

Gray skies and 30-degree weather opened up the Women’s President’s Cup Competition but, by mid-afternoon, the skies had cleared to reveal some much needed sun. The three main courts of the New York Athletic Club were surrounded by plywood sheets to protect player’s feet from the mud created by the melting snow.

What was perhaps most notable, however, was the way the Region 4 Women’s team melted away the competition. Comprised of Heather Prop, Lynne Schneebeck, Jenny Kelly, Sherri Wilson, Nancy Budde, Chris Underwood, Sandra Odenbach, Ann Turner, Karen Henke and Nathalie Lemieux, the team worked hard to win the President’s Cup and enjoyed drinks and dinner at the awards ceremony in the New York Athletic Club’s main dining hall.

As for the other teams present, all played exceptionally against very evenly-matched competition. Louise Cash of Allendale, New Jersey, played on the Region I team, which tied for third place out of six regions. Cash said the team won the President’s Cup three years ago and the competition in this year’s tournament was very even.

“Everybody seems to be very equal. There were many, many tiebreakers,” Cash said. “It was all tough competition, but all equally matched. We’ve done better this year than the past two years.”

Region VII was represented this year, but combined with Region VI.

The Women’s event was followed by Friday’s Men’s President’s Cup Competition, which featured simultaneous matches on the nine courts of the historic Fox Meadow Tennis Club in Scarborough, New York. Six of seven regions were represented this year, and Region 2 came out victorious – a first for New England.

Region II team is comprised of Jerry Albrikes, Lennart Jonason, Bill Power, Leo Power, Jim Greenho, Jeff Morneau, Rob Pierce, Greg Bennett, Geoff Cartier and Mike Fried.

The first National Champions of the season were crowned at Fox Meadow Tennis Club, the first club to have platform tennis courts.

They came from California and Georgia, from Vermont and Pennsylvania, from Albany and Long Island and Westchester, NY, from Connecticut and Massachusetts and New Jersey. Only Region 5 was not represented at the Women’s 50+ and 70+ National Championships!

With many assists from Hope Kerr, the Women’s 70+ doubled its size from the two previous years. Nine of the 16 participants were new this year! [enlarge image to read full report]

The events were held at Fox Meadow Tennis club in Scarsdale, NY. [click image at left to enlarge]

Men’s Senior 50+:
Hodges-Irvine defeated Baird-Hayes 6-4,6-1

Men’s Senior 60+:
Graham-Opdycke defeated Holmes-Anderson 6-1, 7-6

Men’s Senior 70+:
Bascome-Leroy defeated Nelson-Piccoli 6-3, 6-3.