With growing community support, the SASCU Open Tennis Tournament held annually in Salmon Arm keeps getting bigger and better.
Held at the Salmon Arm Tennis Club (SATC), the event had 96 competitors volleying, smashing and backhanding from Aug. 29 to Sept. 1.
“Visiting and local athletes competed at a very high level of tennis to create an excellent and exciting tennis draw in 12 categories over the course of the four days, which made for some very exciting finals in all categories,” organizing directors SATC president Bill Spencer and vice-president Marianne VanBuskirk said in a media release.
They added that feedback from participants praised the excellent site conditions and facility, the camaraderie among participants and spectators, generosity of the sponsors, the great food, and the volunteers, on whom the tournament hinged.
Spencer and VanBuskirk added they were pleased with the success of the event “due to the hard work of many volunteers.” They did everything from prepping the courts, measuring nets, selling 50/50 tickets, setting up and cleaning up, preparing food and much more.
The winners and runners up of the 12 categories were:
Women’s Singles A – Marietjie Bonthuys; Tanya Elliott;
Women’s Singles B – Tahnee Lam; Ruhani Madaan;
Women’s Doubles A – Marietjie Bonthuys & Hayley Lewis; Krista Martens & Supha Wall;
Women’s Doubles B – Maureen Chale & Joanna Douglas; Nicolette Eadie & Terri Mindel;
Women’s Doubles 65+ – Lynda Conway & Debbie Harrison; Carol Ross / Sue Ford / Barb Waring;
Men’s Singles A – James Nearing; West Martin-Peterson;
Men’s Singles B – Sei Okubo; Frank Bencze;
Men’s Doubles A – Shawn Hegan & James Nearing; Jeremy Bell & West Martin-Patterson;
Men’s Doubles B – Frank Bencze & Nick Swank; John Barrow & Alan Harrison;
Men’s Doubles 65+ – Mark Corbett & Barry Nelson; Ron Donatelli & Gord Roberts;
Mixed Doubles A – Eva Koksalova & Cal Benazic; Meryl Ogden & Alan Davis;
Mixed Doubles B – Dale Goodman & Ranjeet Hira; Debbie Harrison & Alan Harrison.