Over The Hill Tournament 2017

Martinborough Lawn Tennis Club hosted the 23nd “ “Over The Hill” tennis tournament over the weekend. The annual lawn tennis tournament, attracts players largely from out of the region to attend the popular country club.
This year had a strong mens draw with current interclub players squaring off against former regional representatives from Wairarapa, Wellington, Auckland and Christchurch.
The volunteer run committee worked hard to attract players and drew up 30 mens pairs and 12 womens pairs on Saturday and 34 combined pairs for Sunday’s play.
There was an upset in the women’s draw with both top seeds knocked out in the first round relegating them to the plate draw. Leonie Campbell (Lower Hutt/Kapiti Mana Vets) and Judi Williams (Lower Hutt/Kapiti Man Vets) were victorious over sisters Felicity Steel (Vogelmorn Club) and Jo Steel (Elmwood Club, Christchurch) in the Plate Final. The Womens Championship Final was won by Vicky Wutzler (Karori Lawn/Kapiti Mana) and Maree Horne (Upper Hutt), defeating Diana Maunder (Kilbirnie Club) and Michelle McKibbon (Stokes Valley).

The mens Championship was a strong draw with finalists Luke Atkinson/Bruce Hollebone and Phil Wright/Simon Osbourne fighting hard for the Tim Pickering Memorial Cup. Local players Luke Atkinson and Bruce Hollebone both former team mates of Tim Pickering, were delighted to win his memorial cup in a hard fought game eventually winning 9 games to 7. Luke Atkinson a former top Wairarapa player, was supported on the sideline by his daughters Georgia and Sade, both top players themselves, Sade in New Zealand for the Christmas break heads back to the USA this week where she is on a tennis scholarship at Tulane University, New Orleans. Georgia also a Wairarapa double representative in Cricket and Tennis and recently named in the Central Districts Under 18 Cricket team.
Sunday’s fixture of Combines Doubles, was a full draw also and strong competition was evident to the very end of play. The championship final saw new-comers Daisey Leckie who recently immigrated from the UK, teaming up with Andrew Taylor (Karori United), who waged a taxing campaign all day to triumph in the final over strong tennis couple Jo Steel and Phil Wright from Christchurch, 9-4.
Players travel from afar to enjoy the unique tournament, several pairs traveling from Auckland and Christchurch to attend. Some players using this tournament as a warm up for the NZ Seniors National Individual championships to be held later this month at Wilding Park, Christchurch, also a grass court venue.
The Over The Hill tournament is brought to the Martinborough community by Porters Pinot and Pain & Kershaw. The Martinborough Tennis Club is very grateful to the many sponsors and friends of the club who provided invaluable assistance, both financially and in kind. The annual fixture is a major fundraiser for the volunteer run club, who have just completed a large capital project upgrading two astro court surfaces and installing lights to make the club a multi purpose community venue, including training for hockey and Netball court, the first full size astro court in Martinborough.
Photo caption: Men’s Pairs senior winners Luke Atkinson & Bruce Hollebone in action
Photo courtesy Celia Jaspers

Mens Doubles
Championship Winners
Luke Atkinson, Bruce Hollebone
Championship Runners up
Phil Wright, Simon Osbourne
Plate Winners
Jeff Lummis, Chad Parsons
Plate Runners up
Derek Murray, Ramon Supit
Consolation Plate Winners
Nick Green, Tom Green
Consolation Plate Runners up
Campbell Venning, John Kirkup
Special Plate Winners
Lee Axton-Rice, Richard Braakhuis
Special Plate Runners up
Makem Albert, Glenn Japeth

Womens Doubles
Championship Winners
Maree Horne, Vicky Wutzler
Championship Runners up
Diana Maunder, Michelle McKibbon
Plate Winners
Leonie Campbell, Judi Williams
Plate Runners up
Felicity Steel, Jo Steel
Consolation Plate Winners
Jo Harlen, Deanne Ives
Consolation Plate Runners up
Anna D’Shea, Christina Mansell
Special Plate Winners
Sharon Marenzi, Meiko Nishimura
Special Plate Runners up
Kirsty Alexander, Kieryn McMahon

Combines
Championship Winners
Daisey Leckie, Andrew Taylor
Championship Runners up
Jo Steel, Phil Wright
Plate Winners
Estelle Marshall, Terry Connelly
Plate Runners up
Sharon Marenzi, Geoff Melvin
Consolation Plate Winners
Jacky Albert, Tony Horne
Consolation Plate Runners up
Diana Maunder, Graham Alderton
Special Plate Winners
Kirsty Alexander, Jeff Lummis
Special Plate Runners up
Lee Axton-Rice, Michelle McKibbon