This year’s annual prize giving was recently completed at the club. The details of the junior prize giving have already been provided on the club’s Facebook page, but what was not relayed was the extraordinary amount of work done by the club’s hard working secretary, Amy James. She not only revived the club’s junior membership, but also resurrected the junior prize giving, which had not been held for a number of years.
The senior prize giving incorporated the Social Tournament, the Club Championships, the Club awards and a number of long standing achievement recognition.
The Social Tournament winner results are:
Mixed doubles:
Susie Burns and Kaiwa Kirimaua
Women’s doubles:
Amy James and Parul Sheopuri
Men’s doubles:
Will Flavell and Andrew Ritchie
Women’s singles:
Amy James
Men’s singles:
Will Flavell
Club Championships results are:
Mixed doubles:
Winners - Alesi and Gavin Molotii
runners-up - Rob Gilfillan and Steph Morpeth
Women’s doubles:
Winners - Shin Song and Alesi Molotii
runners-up - Steph Morpeth and Amy James
Men’s doubles:
Winners - Will Flavell and Vaun Johnston
runners-up - Rob Gilfillan and Eddie Stevens
Women’s singles:
Winner - Alesi Molotii
runner up - Steph Morpeth
Men’s singles:
Winner - Gavin Molotii
runner-up - Vaun Johnston
Club awards:
The Newcomer of the year: Parul Sheopuri.
This award was a slam dunk, given the contribution Parul has made to the club. She was not only an enthusiastic and consistent social night attendee, but also became an inter-club player, as well as a club sponsor.
The Max Tipa Award for most improved player: Shin Song.
Together with her game improvement, her temperament and the distance she travelled to attend social night tennis on a consistent basis made her an easy and worthy recipient of this award.
The Mana Whakatipu (Leadership) Award: Amy James.
As was mentioned at the prize giving, leadership is determined by deed rather than by title. The difference and effort she has made in the club’s junior programme, augmented by the tireless work Amy continues to provide the club in her role as club secretary, is appropriately recognised by the award.
The Isobel Baker Tuimanako (Clubmanship) Award: Dan Baker
Similarly, as with Amy, Dan has continued to be a club stalwart as a social night attendee, inter-club player and organiser, and a willing coach. While mention was made (in an unkind but friendly manner) that his club involvement was an offset of his domestic responsibility, there is little doubt that his reliability of performance has been to the club’s considerable advantage.
Long standing achievement awards, in the form of court naming signage were made to Isobel Baker, Beryl Devery and Max and Dave Tipa. Their contributions will be the subject of a separate posting.
All in all, it was an extremely successful day, particularly for the award recipients, but it did highlight the access issues that the club will need to consider, in the future.
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