Forster Tennis Club (FTC) juniors were excited to compete at home and followed up from the charge of Brenton Chambers and Laia Pasini in the Australian Money Tournament (AMT) open events.
Brenton played his best to secure the men’s open singles, men’s doubles open and was a semi-finalist in the mixed open.
Brenton’s mum ,Sharon Chambers held back a few proud tears as she said, “I’m thrilled for him.”
“We drove by the club one day when he was seven and he looked at the courts and said he’d like to have a go at that.”
Inspired by Kyah Stewart, another local talent at the time, Brenton got stuck into lessons with Jaime McDonagh and junior tournaments to take him to where he is today.
Who would have thought 14 years later Brenton would become the NSW Country champion.
Laia Pasini battled through the draw to earn the spot of runner up in singles, defeated by her doubles partner, Krystal Clarke of Laurieton.
Together these two captured the AMT women’s doubles title.
Other Forster competitors playing in the AMT and under 18 events included Logan Paulson, who went to the round of 16 women’s singles, and Sam Gibson playing in the under 18 singles to the round of 16 and became a semi-finalist in the 18 doubles.
Congratulations from all of us at the FTC.
With the first three days done and dusted under brilliant blue skies and perfect tennis weather it was the under 10 to under 16 plus odd age events taking to the courts in Forster, Tuncurry, Taree and Wingham.
There was a strong showing of FTC Dynamic Tennis Academy players who took to the court, including Finn McDonagh, Charlie Gibson, Eliza Shotton, Reeya Joon, Stevie McDonagh, Kirra Cremin, Jade Cremin, Ausha Paulson, Logan Paulson, Sam Gibson, Eli Worldon and Antonia Amato.
Finn McDonagh was a quarter finalist in the boys under 10 singles, a semi-finalist in the under 10 boys doubles, and came out a winner in the under 10 doubles with Nathan Hayman.
Stevie McDonagh was happy to get back to competing after a knee dislocation representing her school at Aubury. She made the round of 16 in girls 12 singles and was a semi-finalist in the under 12 mixed doubles.
Kirra Cremin was runner up the 11 girls event, and her older sister Jade reaching the semi final of the under 15 girls singles.
Ausha Paulson made it to the quarter final of the under 13 and 14 girl’s singles and was a semi-finalist of the under 14 girls doubles. Sister Logan was a runner up in the under 15 girl’s consolation and was a quarter finalist in the under 16 girl’s consolation.
Sam Gibson, growing in match strength after taking up tennis later in his teens showed some determined performances over the course of the tournament.
Sam made the semi final of the under 17 boys singles and was a winner in both the 16 and 18 mixed doubles.
Eli Worldon was a quarter finalist in the under 17 boys singles and played to the round of 16 in the 16/18 mixed.
Some of FTC’s youngest players in the under 9 hit the courts to play in the softer orange ball division with Charlie Gibson placing second in his pool, and Eliza Shotton and Reeya Joon placing third in their pools.
Eliza and her mum, Sally were the winners in the thrilling and captivating adult and under 9 doubles red ball event.
Head professional, Jaime McDonagh was proud of his players and how they competed to the best of their abilities.
Tournaments are not done for the year yet though, with the FTC 2018 seniors age 35 plus event which will run from Friday, August 3 to Monday, August 6.
Once again a huge thank you to the volunteers from the club who help make these events what they are.
The word around the courts was that the egg and bacon rolls are the “best ever.”
