16 August 2010

Tennis Valley wins Ladies Badge Club of the Year… again!

For the sixth year in succession, Tennis New South Wales has again pronounced Tennis Valley the Ladies Badge Club of the Year!

With teams entered in 5 divisions, we returned the outstanding results of two winning teams, one runner-up and two teams who finished just outside the semis.

Congratulations to our awesome teams in Division 1.1 and 1.2, neither of whom was ever threatened for the title. Our top team, captained by our Ladies Badge Captain, Sue Deller featured the big guns in their 5-2 Final win over Parklands 1… Nicole Nissen, Bree Calderwood, Lucia Gonzalez and Stephanie Bengstrom. The team was simply unstoppable.

The 1.2 team captained by Elise Taylor and featuring Stephanie Asprey, Tracey Garrett, Simone Massie, Robyn Rickard and Kaye Nealon were under-graded. They should have been competing in the top grade but instead, simply coasted through the comp. without ever being challenged… in fact Tracey never lost a set until the Final, which the team won 5-2 against Royal Sydney!

We had a second team in 1.2. that contained players of the future in Alix Ho (16) and Rebecca Jones (14). While not finishing in the money, they were competitive against most teams in the grade and the teenagers are definitely better players for the experience.

Our 1.3 ladies made a late run and only just missed out on a semi-final berth and our 1.4 team were also unlucky to finish just outside the top four. In Div 2.2, Louise Dortman’s team (Louise, Penny Reid, Celine Paillart, Joanne Pickhaver, Corinne Court, Serena Potts and Jane Conner) played gallantly all comp. gutsing out an incredibly tight semi-final win against Neutral Bay before falling in the Final to Beecroft.

Congratulations to all our ladies on a sensational effort once more. Tennis Valley’s reputation continues to be enhanced by your efforts.

30 June 2010

Tennis Valley junior Ben Wagland into 3rd Wimbledon round

17 year old club member, Ben Wagland has won his first two rounds at this year’s Wimbledon Boy’s Championship.

Ben faced a difficult opponent first up in the shape of 10th seeded Austrian, Dominic Thiem, but emerged triumphant from a thrilling match, 7/5, 6/7, 7/5. The win was all the more meritorious considering Thiem has previously won three Grade 1 events this year and reached the semis of the prestigious Grade A Trofeo Bonfiglio in May.

Ben's next opponent was Brazil’s Guilherme Clezar, whom he defeated 7/5, 7/5 with Aussie legend John Newcombe an interested spectator - Ben is occasionally coached by Newc’s son, Clint.

Ben recently made it to the semi-finals of the 21st Mitsubishi-Lancer International Juniors Championships and back in 2007 was a member of Australia’s victorious, history-making 14/U World Junior Tennis Team.

Ben is one of four Aussies in the Boys Championships this year. The others are Ben Mitchell, 8th seed James Duckworth and the Top Seed Jason Kubler. We wish all the boys every success… (but especially Ben!)

30 June 2010

James Stormon named NSTA 'Sportsman of the Year'

Long time Tennis Valley member and current Club Tournament Director, James Stormon, has been named Northern Suburbs Tennis Association ‘Sportsman of the Year’.

As published in the NSTA’s official newsletter:

"No-one can argue that James is not a popular and obvious choice for our Sportsman of the Year. For many years he has been a member of Tennis Valley and always participates in NSTA competitions and tournaments.

"James never fails to display great sportsmanship and total enjoyment of the game. He is a great asset to tennis in this district and to tennis Valley in particular – a great example to fellow members of any age."

Congratulations James from your fellow members!

7 February 2010

Tennis Valley hosts major Celebrity Tennis Day!

The NSW Corporate Games Celebrity Tennis Day was held at Tennis Valley in February to raise much-needed funds for Diabetes Australia-NSW.

The event also served as a media launch for the 2010 NSW Corporate Games, which is wholly owned by Diabetes Australia-NSW and serves as their largest annual awareness event.

Despite dodgy weather, which had the event in doubt until 7:30 on the morning of the event, the decision was made to go ahead and we were blessed with playable conditions for most of the day.

16 celebrities braved the conditions and turned up on time to take their place in the Celebrity Fun tournament...as did their partners including Tennis Valley members Tony Vaccher, Kim and James Rowland, Angelo Rozos and Kit Myers who all placed the winning bids in an online auction to play with their favourite celebrities.

Kit partnered the vivacious Nici Andronicus (former World No. 2 Triathlete); Kim chose Guy Leech (former World Ironman Champion); James went for height and played with former Australian Netball Captain Liz Ellis; Angelo went for beauty with Channel 9 Sports Commentator Stephanie Brantz; while Tony followed the smart money and partnered Fox Sports football commentator and keen tennis player, Simon Hill.

Other celebrities included Seven Time World Surfing Champion (and Tennis Valley member) Layne Beachley; Melbourne Cup winning jockey Corey Brown and his friendly rival, bush legend Allan Robinson; Australian cricketer Trevor Chappell; Sharks and Souths NRL hero David Peachey; Beach Volleyball Olympic Gold Medalist Kerri Pottharst; Socceroo Goalkeeper Mark Bosnich; North Sydney Bears legend and one time leading NRL point scorer Jason Taylor; Three Time Miss World Natural Figure Champion, Lindy Olsen; and even some international stars in current World No. 5 Beach Volleyball team Angie Akers and Tyra Turner.

Star of the hugely successful TV series Underbelly Simon Westaway (Mick Gatto) made a brilliant M.C. keeping the crowd of around 200 entertained from kick-off 'til the final ball was hit.  The State Member of Willoughby, Gladys Berejiklian MP officially opened the event, while the Mayor of Willoughby Pat Riley and 5 of his fellow Councillors attended, as did both the President and CEO of Tennis NSW, Steve Healy and Glenn Tasker.

Nickleodeon's Active Kidz provided entertainment for the little ones, while sponsor Crazy John's mascot roamed the club, sparring with Barnaby Bee (the Diabetes mascot) to the delight of the assembled crowd.

There were some great matches throughout the day including a thrilling semi-final pitting husband against wife when James Rowland and Liz Ellis took on Kim Rowland and Guy Leech in an enthralling match that had the crowd cheering every point.  James and Liz won a tight fought tiebreaker to put them into the final against Jason Taylor and his partner from the Cleland Club, Nathan Lowe...for an identical result!

In a nail-biting final played in steadily increasing rain, the former NRL star threw himself around the court like he was still on North Sydney Oval and came within an inch of taking out the event...but the experience of the Tennis Valley player matched the clever angles produced by the netball great to give Liz & James victory in another sudden death tiebreaker.  Layne Beachley and David Peachey teamed up to defeat Corey Brown and Stephanie Brantz in the consolation All Star Showdown.

It was a massive day for the Club and the feedback from everyone involved has been universally positive.  So much so that the celebrities have already asked to be invited to 'the next event' at Tennis Valley.

A HUGE thank you goes out to each and every celebrity who put their hand up to participate and gave up their Sunday to raise money for Diabetes Australia-NSW.  (Many more from Ray Martin to Ryan Girdler and others genuinely wanted to play, but were unable to due to other commitments).

And thanks too to all the court sponsors of the Celebrity Tennis Day - GraysOnline, Crazy John's, The Good Guys Chatswood, NAB North Shore and Star City...and to the many businesses that donated auction and raffle items.  It looks like the success of the inaugural event has all but guaranteed Tennis Valley's selection as the venue for the 2011 NSW Corporate Games launch.

Check out all the photos from this great day in the Gallery.

26 October 2009

New Tennis Valley Web Site goes live

We are pleased to announce the launch of the first ever Tennis Valley web site full of all the club news, events and information on competitions, social play, coaching and court hire for members and friends.

If you have any news, club stories, photos or video you’d like to see added to the site, please e-mail all content to: info@tennisvalley.com.au

13 September 2009

Flushing Meadows meets Tennis Valley on Finals Day…
… and ‘The Champ’ drops in

This year the Finals Day of the Tennis Valley Open Division Club Championships coincided precisely with Finals Day at the U.S. Open on the other side of the world. And the two came together in style on Eastern Valley Way on Sunday September 13.

As you’d expect, the Open Finals featured some of the club’s best players with the top seeds in both singles finals crashing to defeat. The Men’s Singles Final was absolutely absorbing – undoubtedly one of the best ever played at Tennis Valley. In the end, 15 year old Chris O’Connell came from a set down to outlast defending champion, 18 year old Scott Wagland in a thriller.

Stephanie Asprey turned back the clock in a great victory over 20 year old Jenny Alterre. But Jenny didn’t go home empty handed, taking both the Ladies and Mixed Doubles titles with partners Elise Taylor and Nick Johnston respectively.

In the Men’s Doubles, Nick Johnston and James Stormon proved too strong for Duncan Journee and David Litchfield.

But while the tennis was hot, so was the occasion served up by the Club’s social committee. The whole place was dressed in red, white and blue -streamers and balloons everywhere, spectators dressed in the U.S. colours… there was face painting for the kids and a Kids Court with a range of activities for the younger ones.

Another court featured a speed gun for measuring the Club’s big servers, while on one court you were only allowed to play with a wooden racquet. Johnny Walker did a brilliant job as both M.C. and official photographer on the day.

The catering was excellent with an all-American menu of hot dogs, apple and pecan pies and delicious star spangled cup cakes. And the bar served two fantastic cocktails – Manhattans and Bronx Cocktails, which went down a treat on a steaming hot day.

Dignitaries arrived in their droves, from The Mayor of Willoughby, Cr. Pat Riley to Councillor Wendy Norton who’s in charge of the Middle Harbour Ward in which the Club is set. And adding a splash of celebrity to the occasion was none other than Seven Time ASP World Surfing Champion (and club member) Layne Beachley, who presented the winners’ trophies and gave an inspiring speech to our juniors about pursuing their dreams.

More photos