Dave Matthews Seniors Tennis Tournament at Nelson Bay

Ready for a game of doubles Katrina O’Callaghan from the Central Coast, Elaine Brockett from Picton, Dan Allen from Dubbo and Steve Taylor, Tournament Co-ordinator, from Corlette.

The Annual Dave Matthews Seniors Tennis Tournament, played the 1st weekend in December, brought more than 200 players and their support crews to Nelson Bay on the weekend.

The Tournament is one of the largest in NSW, drawing a pool from Seniors players as far away as Queensland and the ACT and all the way in between.

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With six sessions over a three day weekend, the tournament saw 520 matches being played at three venues including Nelson Bay, Shoal Bay, Fingal Bay, Boat Harbour and Soldiers Point.

Attracting players starting from 35 years upwards, it was common for the courts to see a combined age of 100 plus during each match.

Tournament Director Steve Taylor told Bay News Of The Area, “It’s been fabulous, everyone had a great weekend without a single complaint.”

“It’s been wonderful to see so many friendships form in such a great social environment with so many good people from all over the country,” Steve said.

Steve has been organising the tournament for the past three years and wishes to thank the club secretary Cheryl Moss for her unending help and support along with more than a dozen volunteers who gave up their weekends to make the Tournament a success.

Major sponsor of the Tournament was Ryan Palmer as well as Port Stephens and Maitland Toyota and Birling Wealth Management sponsoring the day.

Ryan Palmer wears many hats in our community as the President of the Tomaree Business Chamber and Nelson Bay NOW.

Previously Ryan has also been a world ranked tennis player in both the junior tour and pro tour and now resides in Nelson Bay with is wife and two children.

“I am very proud to sponsor the Dave Matthews Tournament that attracts so many people to our area,” Ryan Palmer told Bay News Of The Area.

“I actually played with Dave Matthews in his last tournament here in Nelson Bay so my heart is really attached to this Tournament,” Mr Palmer said.

The Mantra and Landmark were booked to capacity for this weekend’s event as the Tournament brought a huge influx of much-needed funds into the Nelson Bay Business Area in the lead up to Christmas.

By Jewell DRURY