DESPITE sweltering heat and little breeze, a merry band of Thursday night women’s tennis players, from as far south as Nambucca Heads and north as Woolgoolga, recently celebrated a great season of social tennis with some bubbles and canapes at Westside Tennis Club.

The Coffs Harbour and District Tennis Association (CHDTA) has been running the interclub competition, also known as the ‘social competition’, since 1999.

“It (tennis) is a great sport because it gets your heart rate up and it gets you moving, but it’s also good because all levels can play,“ Anne Hellou, Treasurer and Secretary of CHDTA told NOTA.

“We’ve got levels from Group A to F each week.

“The ladies are always supportive.”

Currently there’s a mixed competition on Tuesday evenings which attracts around 90 players.

Needing more numbers for the ladies competition this year, some gentlemen have participated, too.

They have enjoyed being included and report that it is a different style of tennis, with longer rallies than in the mixed competition.

Being an interclub competition, the ladies play at Coffs Harbour (TieBreak Tennis Academy), England’s Park (Jetty Tennis), Westside Tennis Club and Sawtell Tennis Club.

The highest score in the recent Thursday night competition belonged to Talia Donovan with a whopping 123 points.

Judy Thorn was runner up with 117 points, with special mention going to Steve Newberry, who had the highest average score of 16.8 points (out of a possible 18 points).

The Association told NOTA that none of this would be possible without the tireless effort of recorder Lady Hernandez.

Lady manages to organise draws and venues, keep the scores and play each week too.

She can often be seen laughing, singing and dancing on the court too.

In 2024, the Association hopes to acquire some sponsors.

Anyone interested in sponsoring the competition should call Anne on 0409536349.

If you would like to play or if your club would like to submit a team or individual players, contact Anne.

By Mary KEILY