Handicap tournament means chance for all

Members will be celebrating the Selwyn White Memorial Handicap tennis tournament. Photo: Allied...
Members will be celebrating the Selwyn White Memorial Handicap tennis tournament. Photo: Allied Press file

The popular Selwyn White Memorial Handicap tennis tournament will be held on Sunday at Taieri Tennis Club.

The tournament, which pays tribute to former Otago tennis champion Selwyn White, will be part of the opening day of the Festival of the Plains.

Tournament director and club life member Lindsay Connor said visitors and spectators were welcome to watch.

Mr White was a former Taieri Tennis Club life member and stalwart.

The tournament will be played near the Selwyn White Pavilion, which was named in his honour.

The event was to be predominantly played in the morning so participants and spectators could take part in other festival activities later in the day, Mr Connor said.

The festival runs until Saturday, March 4.

It was the eighth year of running the tournament after Mr White died in 2004.

"[The event provided] a way for club members to celebrate a very significant contribution over a couple of decades," Mr Connor said.

Along with being a life member of the club, he had also contributed as a top player and in many other roles.

"[He was a] club administrator, and staunch advocate of junior player development", Mr Connor said.

The tournament was open to the club’s senior members, and top juniors are also invited.

Every player, male and female, received a points handicap from Mr Connor, based on playing level.

"This effectively means every entrant has an equal chance of winning the tournament and makes for some very close tennis matches."

The tournament was usually a round-robin format in which every pair played every other pair in timed doubles matches.

Sixteen players are expected to participate in the popular tournament.

Mr Connor said the event provided one of the "rare opportunities" for males and females to play side by side.

It was also anopportunity for players of all ages, from the youngest top juniors, perhaps aged 15, to play people who were in their 70s, he said.

The tournament was played at the club complex, at 10A Wickliffe St, Mosgiel, from 9am to 12.30pm, on Sunday.

SIMON.KNYVETT@alliedpress.co.nz

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