Local sport

Tennis friendship extends across the net at San Lameer

The hope is to grow the event and attract an international team next year.

International Club (IC) tennis came to the South Coast last weekend, with players enjoying a fantastic time of fellowship and fun on the four courts at San Lameer.

Yes, San Lameer has four courts, quite superb they are, with two near the 16th green and a further two a short walk through the forest and across a wooden bridge.

IC events are reserved for players who have represented South Africa, but can also be open to guests, where required, to balance numbers.

The players took the opportunity to honour some of the past SA players who did not play namely Ralph Burls and Gules Salattolo.

Enjoying the tennis are the women (clockwise from front) Sharon van der Schyff, Ronel Botha, Cathy Kirton, Sharon Coetzee, Jilda Manson, Zelda Smook, Roseanne Duke and Hanlie Nagtegaal. The men are (from back) Geoff Borchers, Demetri Caripi, Richard Laing, Johan van Niekerk, Wally Booth, Ian Ackerman, Duard Botha and Martyn Nagtegaal.

They also invited Mark Hooper, a man whose name has been synonymous with South Coast tennis for many years, but whose health now sadly prevents him from playing.

The women players were, in no particular order, Zelda Smook, Roseanne Duke, Sharon Coetzee and Cathy Kirton, Sharon van der Schyff, Hanlie Nagtegaal, Ronel Botha and Jilda Manson.

Men were Martyn Nagtegaal, Ian Ackerman, Demetri Caripi, Wally Booth, Duard Botha, Richard Laing, Geoff Borchers and Johan van Niekerk.

Ian Ackerman goes cross-court with a crisp forehand shot.

Deanne Purtell-Massyn was thanked for handling much of the logistics and organising, supporting Martyn, Duard and Sharon is bringing this event to the coast.

The basic theme is friendship across the net and by all accounts, it seemed the players really enjoyed the event.

There’s talk it will return bigger and better, with the strong possibility of international visitors next year.

* In other tennis news, the Ugu Tennis Association playoffs take place at Uvongo Tennis Club on August 29.

The gold medal match between Salt & Twitters and Smash Masters will be great to watch.

The Dirt Trackers and Surf & Volley teams will play for the bronze medal.

In the B section playoffs, the gold final is between Kiss My Ace and Ball Boys.

Bronze will be between Net Ninjas and Aces & Laces.

Baseline Bandits and Lord of the Strings play the third-placed qualifiers match.

Martyn Nagtegaal displays his touch on the backhand.

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