The Doug Philpott Inner City Children’s Tennis Fund ladies team tournament was organized by the Toronto Lawn Tennis Club during the last week of January. Teams competed in various divisions over three days and the event culminated in a buffet lunch and silent auction held at the Toronto Lawn Tennis Club, where Doug Philpott was an active member.

Thirty-two teams from twelve clubs participated in the event. Teams from the Badminton and Racquet Club took top honours in the Yellow, Orange and Blue divisions this year. The Red division was won by the Boulevard Club, the Green division by the Cricket Club, the Purple division by Lambton Golf and Country Club and the Pink division by the Granite Club. Other clubs represented at the event were Greenwin, Donalda, Waterside, Thornhill, Queens and of course the Toronto Lawn. There was also the team from Winnipeg who make the trek to Toronto for this event each year. Everyone who participates seems to appreciate the excellent tennis, good company and being part of such a well organized event.

The biggest winner at these events is the Philpott Fund. This year $30,000 was raised to support the tennis camps that introduce tennis to close to 2000 kids at nine sites around the city each summer. These youngsters would probably not have the opportunity to be exposed to this great and accessible sport if it were not for the Philpott Fund and the efforts of the volunteers who support the venture.

Special thanks go to Bridget Jory and her team of volunteers and Simon Bartram and the staff at the Toronto Lawn for making this, the 21st running of the event, such a success.

The first two stops of the Wilson/Mayfair Senior Circuit were played in January. This is the fourth year of this hugely successful Senior Circuit.

More than 90 players entered the first stop, which was played Jan 7-9 at Mayfair West and Mayfair Lakeshore. In the Men`s over 35 final, Karl Hale defeated #1 seed Andrew Sznajder 6-3, 3-6, 6-3. Hale kept Sznajder off-balance for most of the match with his dominating serve and change of pace game.

Marianne Groat, the #2 seed, proved too tough for a very competitive field in the Women’s Over 35 singles event. She dropped only one set all weekend long in the semi-finals against #3 seed Julie Staples. Groat then defeated top seed Erin Boynton in the final. Newcomer to the Wilson/Mayfair Circuit, Sue Rosenthal, proved too strong for the Over 45 Women’s Singles field defeating Yolanta Czarnogorski in the final.

The Men’s Over 45 Singles event was won by 2004 Circuit Champion, Abbas Khiltash(see picture right), who defeated Keith Porter(picture left) 6-2,6-3 in the final. The Men’s Over 55 Singles event was also won by a 2004 Circuit Champion, Terry Redvers, who defeated formidable 2nd seeded John Payne in three tight sets. The Men’s Over 65 singles final featured two old adversaries, Jack Wear and Leslie Zold. Wear proved too strong this time, winning 3-6,6-0,6-2.

The Rogers Cup Rookie Tour was launched on the very snowy weekend of Jan 22nd, 2005. More than 90 Ontario entry-level juniors participated in round robin play at Mayfair East and Mayfair Lakeshore. Everyone was guaranteed three matches and the over-all winners and finalists received prizes from Rogers and beautiful trophies.

The winners and finalists were as follows:- Boys Under 10: Norbert Kapa, Alejandro Tabilo. Boys Under 12: Brayden Schnurr, Matthew Cohn. Boys Under 14: Thomas Wasiuta, Andrew Zhu. Boys Under 16: Riley Doolittle, Paolo Vergara. Girls Under 12: Gabriela Luchetta, Milicia Tanic. Girls Under 16: Julia Kamchnitchenko, Jennifer Kern.

All players received T-shirts and other exciting prizes including VIP passes to the Rogers Cup to be held August 13-21st, 2005.

A second event on the Rogers Cup Rookie Tour was held January 29-30th at Niagara Academy of Tennis. The next event will be held on February 12-13 at the Royal City Tennis Club in Guelph. Entry details can be found at www.tennisontario.com

The bilateral government grant that was approved last month required that Flora Karsai, Tennis Pathways Manager, spring into action to get the Floor Tennis program up and running before Spring. In January four regional presentations were made for the Toronto Catholic School Board, attended by the athletic representatives of 176 schools. The program received an enthusiastic response and all the athletic representatives expressed interest in adopting the program.

Later in January, a series of workshops were held to teach the teachers. At these training sessions teachers were able to collect the Floor Tennis equipment and materials for use with their pupils at their home schools in the gym. They received racquets, foam balls, mini tennis sets and a mini tennis curriculum and video. Additional support will be given by professional tennis coaches who will be on hand to assist the teachers at their initial lessons. Teachers will also be given access to instructor certification and other ongoing support.

It is estimated that at least 5,000 youngsters in grades 5 to 8 will be introduced to tennis in the Floor Tennis program by the end of March 2005.

The second stop of the Wilson/Mayfair Senior Circuit was played January 28 - 30 at Mayfair East and Mayfair West with more than 100 players entered. Matthew Akman won his first ITF Men’s Over 35 Senior event by beating Brian Draxl 1-6, 7-6, 6-2 and saving a match point in the second set tie-breaker. This exciting final featured three sets of contrasting styles, with the big serve, penetrating ground-strokes and intimidating net play of Draxl pitted against the graceful, controlled strokes of Akman.

Paul Bedard also won his first Men’s Over 45 ITF Singles crown defeating Abbas Khiltash 6-4, 6-1 in the final. Bedard received a little bit of revenge in the semi-finals by defeating Keith Porter, who had defeated Bedard in the first stop of the 2005 circuit. Terry Redvers had to work extremely hard to win his second consecutive Over 55 Men’s Singles title. He had three tough matches including a three-set final win over John Payne 6-7,6-3,6-4 and a 2-6,7-6,6-1 semi-final victory over Derek Thomas from London. Unseeded Gus Villanueva, a rookie to the Men’s Over 65 category, downed Leslie Zold 6-1, 6-2 in the final. Villanueva had defeated top seed Jack Wear in one semi, while Zold defeated Richard Armata in the other.

In the Women’s Over 35 event, perennial champion, Rene Simpson, played an error free and dominating game to defeat Marianne Groat in the final (see photo). Top seed, Sue Rosenthal, won her second consecutive Women’s Over 45 title, but not before a three-set battle with 2nd seed Rudite Loze 5-7, 6-0, 6-0. Loze fought hard but ran out of steam as she had just finished a four hour marathon semi-final match with Yolanta Czarnogorski winning 6-4, 6-7, 6-3.

The next and third stop in the Wilson/Mayfair Senior Circuit will be held at Mayfair West and Mayfair East on February 18-20.

A Wheelchair Tennis Instructor course will be delivered on February 19 at Niagara Academy of Tennis in Vineland. The course will run from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. The course cost is $75 which includes lunch, course manual, court time and the certificate. Anyone can register for the course, but only those who have current Tennis Canada certification will receive the certificate.

On February 20, there will be a wheelchair camp from 10 a.m. to Noon followed by wheelchair games from 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. Any tennis athlete who wishes to enjoy a recreational day of Wheelchair tennis is encouraged to register. All participants must be members of the Ontario Wheelchair Sports Association. For further details on this event weekend, including how to register for the course or camp/games, please visit www.ontwheelchairsports.org

On March 4 - 6, 2005 an NEC ITF Futures Tournament will be held at Parkside Tennis Club in Windsor. This event is part of the Scotiabank Canadian Tour The Windsor Classic Indoor Games - ITF Futures will also include the Windsor Classic Camp on March 4 from 4 to 7pm. Competition will be held in men`s open main, second and B divisions and women`s open main division. For more information please check the tournament website at www.wcigonline.com or contact Tournament and Camps Director, Frank Peter Sr. or at 905-664-9526

For more information on wheelchair events please contact Janet Petras, Manager, Wheelchair Tennis, Tennis Canada or visit www.tenniscanada.com or www.ontwheelchairsports.org

The photo is of Sarah Hunter, one of Canada`s top wheelchair athletes, when she was competing at Stoney Creek Tennis Club last summer.

Tennis is just one of the sports that are included in the Senior Games at a district, provincial and national level. The purpose of the games is to stimulate healthy lifestyles for over 55 year olds or YAHOOs (Young At Heart Older Ontarians). Although provincial and national senior games are only held every other year, many districts run games every year.

For example, the North York Senior Games schedule for 2005 has been set and the tennis competitions will be held in April this year between April 17 and April 25 at the Oriole Park Community Centre Bubble on Don Mills Road. These games are ideal for recreational tennis player who would like to enjoy some good friendly competition. There are events for different age categories and events, including mixed doubles. If you are a true YAHOO you may also want to enter one of the other 18 activities and sports that are offered as part of the games.

For more information on the North York Senior Games and the tennis competition please contact the tennis convenor, Helen Trainor at 416 444 5723.

Three communities in Ontario will receive Tennis Canada Building Tennis Communities grants for 2005. Danielle Smith of Hillcrest Tennis Club, Jamie Grieve of Thunder Bay Tennis Club and Rob Clarke of the `Y` in Chatham will receive financial help totalling $9300.

This month we have chosen to put the spotlight on Bridget Jory. Although Bridget probably deserves this honour solely for her recent role in organizing the Philpott Fund ladies team tennis tournament. Bridget is not new to the organizing events around tennis since she, often ably assited by Ellen Wright and other ladies from the Toronto Lawn Tennis Club, has organized many successful events at the club to support the Philpott Fund over the years.

Bridget was also active on the committee of the Toronto Ladies Tennis League serving as Social Secretary in 1993-4 and as President from 1995 to 1999. This league, founded in 1921, provides competitive tennis for ladies both for daytime and evening play in summer. In 2004 there were more than 80 teams participating in this league.

In 1981, Bridget and Michael Jory co-authored Love of Tennis: A History of the Toronto Lawn Tennis Club.

Thank you Bridget for your enthusiastic and enduring support of tennis.

The Ontario Tennis Association (OTA) welcomes articles and ideas for the our e-magazine. Simply send email to the editor - Pam Olley to contribute.

If you do not wish to receive the OTA e-magazine please contact OT e-magazine editor with the "EXACT" e-mail which you subscribed with.

2005 Ontario Tennis Association (OTA)