Numurkah Lawn Tennis Club was a hive of activity at the weekend for the 91st annual Australia Day tournament.
With blue skies overhead and the grass courts in magnificent condition, players from across the region and Victoria battled it out for bragging rights.
Tournament numbers were down on last year, however, the quality was still present in all participants.
Numurkah gun and four-time club champion Nick Fenaughty fought off a gallant David Lo to claim glory in the men’s A singles.
It was Fenaughty’s eighth win in the event which cements his spot as one of the region’s top players.
Numurkah tasted success in the women’s A singles, with Raiders skipper Caitlyn Price the last player standing.
Price saluted after defeating Ella Rohde in a tiebreaker and accounting for Hannah O’Brien.
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Focused: Hannah O'Brien. Photo by Rodney BraithwaiteImage 2 of 8
Big effort: Chandler Zahra. Photo by Rodney BraithwaiteImage 3 of 8
Whack: Ella Rohde. Photo by Rodney BraithwaiteImage 4 of 8
Ready and waiting: Angela Rigoli. Photo by Rodney BraithwaiteImage 5 of 8
Eyes up: Palmira Rigoli. Photo by Rodney BraithwaiteImage 6 of 8
Volley: Luke Turcato. Photo by Rodney BraithwaiteImage 7 of 8
Slam: Will Rohde. Photo by Rodney BraithwaiteImage 8 of 8
Up at the net: John Zahra. Photo by Rodney BraithwaiteIn the men’s B-grade singles, it was a ‘‘Battle of the Bennetts’’, with Yarrawonga president Daryl Bennett defeating son, Fraser, 8-6.
The last time the duo played each other the youngest Bennett saluted for the first time, however, Daryl exacted revenge in the final.
In the women’s B-grade singles, Lalor’s Katerina Piromalis was a class above.
Piromalis only lost five games in her five sets.
Palmira Rigoli also had a good tournament, winning three sets.
On Sunday it was time for the doubles action, with John and Chandler Zahra tasting success after multiple second place finishes in the men’s A-grade doubles.
Shepparton pair Luke Turcato and Will Rohde finished runners-up.
In the men’s B-grade doubles, another father and son combination got the job done.
Will and Mick Clurey were largely untested throughout the day and won the final 8-3.
Local pair Andrew and Hudson Storer also had a good tournament, winning two out of their three sets.
Despite losing their first set, the Shepparton combination of Ella Rohde and Emily Turcato finished strongly to finish one game ahead of Kyabram pair Hannah O’Brien and Rhiann Eddy in the women’s doubles format.
Numurkah president Nick Ludington issued a big thank you to long-term greenskeeper Geoff Sutcliffe for his tireless work and meticulous preparation.
News photographer Rodney Braithwaite attended the event and captured plenty of action.