The Birchip Tennis Club hosted its annual Club Championships Day on Sunday, marking the biggest turnout in the club’s history.

Thirty matches were played across the afternoon, in glorious Autumn sunshine, which provided great viewing and entertainment.

“A” grade

In the men’s draw, Dale Hinkley secured his first “A” grade title in a hard-fought final against Jon Haslam. The section featured eight players, with Jon overcoming Robbie Lee and Josh Hamilton to reach the final, while Dale triumphed over Dave Ferrier and Russell Christie. In a gripping final, both players showcased skill and determination, with Dale narrowly edging out Jon, 8-7, in a contest filled with intense rallies.

In the women’s division, Fiona Best and De Ferrier faced off in a familiar grand final showdown. Fiona advanced by defeating Julie Coffey and Carling McEvoy, while De earned her spot with victories over Kelly Haslam and Steph Coffey. Fiona staged a remarkable comeback from 2-7 down, fighting point by point to close the gap. However, De remained composed under pressure, ultimately securing the title with an 8-6 victory, dethroning the defending champion in an exciting finish.

“B” Grade

Blake Lee emerged victorious in the men’s “B” grade final, defeating Des Coffey 8-2. Earlier in the day, Des secured wins over Matt Rickard and Ben Samuel, while Blake overcame Eddie Rickard and George Addis in well-contested matches.

The women’s “B” grade final saw Asha Lee take on Beau Haslam. With only four competitors in the section, Asha was victorious against Georgie Warne, while Beau defeated Zoya Rickard. Asha claimed the championship with an 8-5 victory over Beau.

“C” Grade

The boys’ “C” grade section featured a round-robin format with three players. Archie Tyler demonstrated his skill, defeating Sammy Ferrier and Oscar Sharp in matches filled with long rallies, earning him a promotion to “B” grade.

The largest division of the day, the “C” grade girls’ section, saw seven competitors battle it out. Sienna Richmond defeated Lucy Coffey to earn her spot in the final, while Frankie McClelland was victorious against Ari Richmond and Gemma Tynan. In a tightly contested final, Frankie McClelland overcame Sienna Richmond in a thrilling tiebreaker, 6-5.

Acknowledgments

Following the day’s matches, players and supporters gathered for a barbecue before club president Robbie Lee delivered his closing remarks.

He thanked the club’s dedicated volunteers, highlighting the efforts of selectors, Steph Coffey and Fiona Best, who did a great job in selecting two very even teams; secretary Georgie Warne, who secured significant funding for the club; vice president Tim McClelland, and treasurer Julie Coffey. Special thanks were also given to Russell Christie for maintaining the courts, Jon Haslam for lining the courts, Kelly Haslam for organising the drinks each week, as well as the volunteers who put in countless hours of work to ensure the success of social events.

A bright future for Birchip tennis

Robbie emphasised the importance of junior participation, celebrating the club’s family-friendly environment and inviting new members to join.

“The future of tennis looks bright in Birchip with our large number of junior players,” he said. “If you have young children, the Birchip Tennis Club is the place to be.”

The Club Championships capped off a highly successful season for the Birchip Tennis Club, which saw both teams reach the finals and the Birchip team progress to the grand final. Off the court, the club also hosted popular events, including the Italian Dinner and Quiz Night, further strengthening its vibrant community spirit.

See all the pictures in the issue.
This article appeared in The Buloke Times, 28 March 2025.