Club Championship Results!!

The Stratford Tennis Club has been holding its 2009 Club Championship tournament over the last 2 weeks. Wednesday night was the singles finals in 4 categories and what a night it was. Over 50 spectators were treated to the finest men's and ladies 'A' finals in the history of the club. Both the men and ladies championship matches went the distance, ending in tie-breakers in the third set. The calibre of play started at a high level and never diminished. It was an amazing finish to a great two week tournament.
The Men's 'A' final was a match up of the club's top two players over the season. 6 time champion Bob Tamblyn faced 2 time defending champion Max Besworth. Tamblyn took the first set 6-3, Besworth took the second set 6-4 leading to the drama of the third and deciding set. Besworth faced 2 match points when trailing 4 games to 5 but held them off to continue the match. Tamblyn held off a match point of his own when down 6 games to 5. Eventually the set went to a tie-breaker where again Tamblyn faced a match point. A big serve had the match continue. Finally Tamblyn converted his third match point opportunity to win the tie-breaker 8-6, taking the match and the championship. The 2 hour 45 minute final was the longest in club history and the highest calibre of play. The best men's final in club history!
The Ladies 'A' final was also a long and dramatic affair. Victoria Garcia, a three time champion, faced Krista Plociennik, the two time defending champion. Garcia fell behind 4-1 in the first set but rallied to send the set to a tie-breaker where she prevailed 7 points to 1. Plociennik dug in and took the second set 6-3. On to the third set for the ladies. Garcia trailed 5-4 but won her service game to stay in the match. Plociennik won her serve to take a 6-5 lead, putting the pressure on Garcia's serve again. Another service win lead to the third set tie-breaker. Many great rallies and great shots throughout the match continued in the tie-breaker. Back and forth it went. Garcia finally got her opportunity and took the championship by winning the tie-breaker 7 points to 5. The woman had matched the men in providing the best singles final in the history of the club.
The Ladies 'B' singles final was a battle between 2 first time singles finalists. Nikki Bowman faced Edda Lang. After a long and dramatic first set (that went to a tie-breaker) Bowman was able to prevail. The final score was 7-6 (7 points to 5), 6-0 as Bowman took the Ladies 'B' championship.
The Men's 'B' singles final saw the tradition of an up and coming junior winning the title continue. Under 16 champion Nathan Walsh added the Men's 'B' singles title to his seasons accomplishments. Walsh downed Paul Menary 6-1 , 7-5 in the final.
It was an amazing night at the Stratford Tennis Club. The 2009 club championship tournaments, which had the largest number of entries in memory, had finished with the best finals in history. A truly memorable night of tennis in Stratford.

Picture 1 - Nathan Walsh (Men's 'B' Champion)

Picture 2 - Nikki Bowman (Ladies 'B' Champion)
Picture 3 - (L to R) Bob Tamblyn (Men's 'A' Champion) + Victoria Garcia (Ladies 'A' Champion)

JR Club Championship Wrap Up

This weekend the Stratford Tennis Club completed its annual club championship tournaments by crowning its junior champions. Krista Plociennk was the big winner for the girls, winning 6 titles. The boy with the most championships is Nathan Walsh who took 5 titles.
The Girls Under 18 event was dominated by Plociennik. Krista won the Under 18 singles title, for the second straight year, downing Claire Scott 6-1, 6-2 in the final. Plociennik teamed with Danielle Chisholm to take the doubles crown 6-4, 7-5 over Scott and Olivia Kramer. The mixed doubles final saw Plociennik and Walsh defeat Scott and Mike Rheaume 6-1, 6-2. Rheaume took the Boys Under 18 singles championship with a 6-1, 6-4 victory over Walsh. Rheaume and Walsh teamed to take the boys doubles over Travis Hiller and Jeremy Chisholm 6-1, 6-4.
Plociennik also swept the Under 16 triple crown. She won the singles event for the 4th year in a row when she edged Scott 6-4, 6-4 in the final. Plociennik and Chisholm again faced Scott and Kramer in the doubles final and again held on to win 7-5, 6-4. The mixed doubles final had Plociennik and Walsh winning their second age group as they beat Scott and Hiller 6-2, 6-3. Walsh took the boys single title (for the 3rd time) 6-3, 7-5 over Cael Wishart. Walsh completed his sweep of the Under 16 events when he and Wishart took the boys doubles over Tyler Kocher and John Fischer 6-1, 6-3.
Travis Hiller was the big winner in the Under 14 division. Hiller repeated as the boys singles champion, 6-3, 6-4 over John Fischer. The boys doubles final was the best final of the junior events. Hiller and Josh Johnson held on the edge Fischer and Andrew Hancock 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7 points to 4 in the tie-breaker). Hiller completed his sweep teaming with his sister Marley Hiller to win the mixed doubles event with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Fischer and Vanessa Kramer. Sonja Andrekovic won the girls Under 14 singles title 6-0, 6-0 over Hiller. Andrekovic and Caitriona Buckley defeated Siobhan McCarroll and Alex Baker 7-6 (7 to 1 in tie-breaker), 6-3 to win the girls doubles.
Alexandra Andrekovic and John Fischer were the big winners in the Under 12 events. Alexandra won the girls singles 6-4, 6-4 over Caitriona Buckley. Alexandra and Caitriona took the girls doubles 6-0, 6-1 over Clodagh Weber and Amy Kocher. John Fischer took on his brother Luke in the boys singles final. The 3 set affair eventually went to older brother John with scores of 6-1, 4-6, 6-3. This is the second year in a row that John has won the boys Under 12 singles. John and Andrew Hancock won their second straight Under 12 doubles crown by downing Aidan Buckley and Luke Fischer 6-1, 6-3. Alexandra and John completed their triple crown by teaming together to win the mixed doubles. Alexandra and John downed Caitriona and Luke 6-1, 6-0 in the final.
The 2009 Club Championships at the Stratford Tennis Club had the highest participation in many years. Each age group had many great matches. The juniors next event is the final leg of the Royal LePage Hiller Realty Grand Slam. The 'US Open' will take place on Saturday , September 12.


Picture - (L to R) Front Row - Alexandra Andrekovic (Girls Under 12 singles, doubles and mixed champion)
Second Row - Andrew Hancock (Boys Under 12 doubles champion)
John Fischer (Boys Under 12 singles , doubles and mixed champion

Third Row - Caitriona Buckley (Girls Under 14 doubles and Girls Under 12 doubles champion) Sonja Andrekovic (Girls Under 14 singles and doubles champion) Marley Hiller (Under 14 mixed doubles champion)

Fourth Row - Josh Johnson (Boys Under 14 doubles champion) Travis Hiller (Boys Under 14 singles, doubles and mixed champion)

Fifth Row - Nathan Walsh (Boys Under 16 singles, doubles, and mixed champion; Boys Under 18 doubles mixed champion) Krista Plociennik (Girls Under 16 singles, doubles and mixed champion; Girls Under 18 singles, doubles and mixed champion) Mike Rheaume (Boys Under 18 singles and doubles champion)

ABSENT - Danielle Chisholm (Girls Under 18 and Under 16 doubles champion)
Cael Wishart (Boys Under 16 doubles champion)