Tennis
11 December, 2025
Junior tournament a building block for Haven Tennis Club
Haven Tennis Club welcomed 98 players for its Wimmera Regional Junior Points Tournament on Sunday, December 7.
Haven Tennis Club welcomed 98 players for its Wimmera Regional Junior Points Tournament on Sunday, December 7.
Club committee member Adrienne Wyrzykowski said it was great for Haven to hold such a successful tournament, their first since before COVID.
“It was our first tournament since pre-COVID, so we were pretty pumped with how it went afterwards, particularly because this is the first one we’ve run, including Matt Hobbs, our president,” Wyrzykowski said.
“We were very lucky to have the support of Brendan Nitschke from Central Park.
“He helped facilitate the online program that they use and trained Matt how to use it, so we are very grateful for the investment of Brendan's time.”
Wyrzykowski said part of their success was the marketing and outreach to several clubs, with players coming from places like Warrnambool, Hamilton and South Australia, as well as several local juniors.
“We had 99 registrations from Horsham, but also further afield, because we contacted as many clubs as we could in Victoria,” Wyrzykowski said.
“I think that was really the reason behind a lot of our success in terms of registrations.
“A lot of the local players go up against the same competitors regularly, and a lot of the feedback from the juniors was that they loved competing against someone different.
“It was just really fun to go up against players with different talent, different skills.
“That's where I think our tournament was a little bit different, potentially from some of the others, because we really made a big effort in trying to get as many clubs there as possible.”
The tournament comes as the committee works to make upgrades to the club, with Wyrzykowski believing it can help grow participation and boost future events.
“We’re very passionate about getting more kids involved in sport, and if we can get upgrades to the club, that helps it,” Wyrzykowski said.
“We share a coach between the clubs, but the big problem with that is we can’t offer the facilities to train all-year round, particularly because we don’t have lights.
“A bigger and improved complex allows us the opportunity to run much bigger tournaments, and benefits the region by getting people in accommodation and restaurants."
Haven Tennis Club is also promoting inclusivity, with club legend Sue Exell introducing opportunities with students from Horsham Special School.
“We’re really trying to promote inclusivity,” Wyrzykowski said.
“Sue Exell, who’s been with the club most of her life and is just the backbone of it, has started doing some work with the kids from Horsham Special School.
“Sport is very competitive in the country, so these kids don’t necessarily get included and all supported, so to see them out on the court, have a hit and have fun, it’s the best ever.
“If we can get the upgrades, we could actually put on tournaments for people with disabilities.”
In the tournament, Central Park’s Harry Allan took out the under-18s boys and girls singles competition as he defeated Frazer Shurdington in the final.
In the other singles competitions, Archer Reading won the under-14 boys, Daniella Gillespie won the under-14 girls, Davey Toet won the under-12 boys, Olivia Robertson won the under-12 girls, Dustin Smith won the under-10 boys, and Maya Smith won the under-10 girls.
In the under-18 doubles competition, Harry Allan and Adele Joseph defeated Frazer Shurdington and Yassasri Sumanapala in the final.
In the other age groups, Nixon Beattie and Nicholas Gillespie won the under-14s boys doubles, Daniella Gillespie and Charli Pietsch won the under-14 girls doubles, Todd Clark and Davey Toet won the under-12 boys doubles, Ava Ladlow and Emily Liston won the under-12 girls doubles, and Zac Liston and Rafferty Shurdington won the under-10s doubles.
