Experienced pair win warm-up event

NELSON Mandela Bay's league players received valuable warm-up competition when the Sunridge Park men's doubles tennis tournament attracted a capacity entry at the weekend.

In fact, the organisers received 84 entries but could accommodate only 76 players in an event which had to be played at PE Club to cater for the big field.

With the summer leagues getting under way on February 1, the players gained solid match practice in a tournament which has become increasingly popular over its 21 years.

"It was a great turnout and a great success," tournament organiser Ignis McLaren said. "We would love to have the event at our club, but with only five courts, we can't accommodate all the players. About 10 clubs were represented."

In the top section, proving there is no substitute for experience, the PE Club pairing of Helgard Zietsman and Andrew Stuart took the honours, ahead of Rayno Madatt and Winston Botha.

Another veteran pairing, with more than 120 years between them, in Peter Sale and George Holloway claimed section two, with Hein Sevenster and Frank Laubscher the runners-up.

The section three winners were Clayton and Keith Higgins, who finished ahead of Peter Deacon and Franco Nel.