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99th annual Benalla Lawn Tennis Tournament draws huge numbers as century nears

By Alexander Dabb

Jan 7, 2025

Nicholas Vicary claimed a second consecutive Open Men’s Singles crown at the 99th annual Benalla Lawn Tennis Club Tournament. Photo by Karl Phillipson

The 99th annual Benalla Lawn Tennis Tournament has been run and won, with more than 200 competitors battling it out in scorching conditions from January 3 to 5 to be crowned champion.

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Despite the deep field, there would be no stopping 2024 champions Nicholas Vicary or Savannah James, with the duo going back-to-back in the men’s and women’s open singles, respectively.

Benalla Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club president David O’Donoghue hailed the weekend as a huge success, with participation numbers through the roof compared to recent years.

“It was probably one of the most successful tournaments we’ve had for 15 years, it was great,” he said.

“We had 220 individual players play over the three days, last year we (had) about 145 I think, so up probably 33 per cent on last year, which is a big jump.”

With temperatures hovering in the mid to high 30s across the weekend, the heat caused minor disruptions to the schedule, with finals abandoned in a number of sections, although play was able to continue as planned for the most part.

"It wasn’t too bad, we didn’t play too many finals,” O’Donoghue said.

“We just reduced the time of play a little bit especially on the Saturday, it was pretty hot, and then Sunday was even hotter, but we’d finished by about lunchtime, so it wasn’t too bad, we’ve got plenty of shade down there.”

Even with the heat-affected schedule, the feedback from participants was overwhelmingly positive, O’Donoghue said, with the opportunity to play on lawn courts a real highlight for many.

“Oh yeah, they were great, (the feedback) was all positive,” he said.

“It’s just a real fun tournament, a lot of people, most of them come up from Melbourne to play on the lawn, which they love playing on, which is good, and the feedback was great.”

With the 99th edition done and dusted, attention now turns to the century celebrations next year, with plans already being made to ensure it’s the biggest and best tournament yet.

“We are certainly going to have some sort of gala night on the Saturday night, just more as a ‘back to’ for anyone who has been part of the club,” O’Donoghue said.

“We’ve got a bit of work to do between now and then obviously, but we are planning a big night for the past players and even the present players are at the tournament as well, so we’ll just see, but we’ll definitely be doing something.”

2025 Benalla Lawn Tennis Tournament Champions

Singles Competition – Friday, January 3

• Men’s Open Singles

Nick Vicary defeated Bruce Ferguson 8-3

• Ladies Open Singles (round robin played)

Winner: Savannah James (won all her three sets)

Runner-up: Abbie Allen

• Men’s A-grade Singles

Connor Ferris defeated Marcus Frajman 6-2

• Women’s A Singles

Winner:Marja Wondergem

Runner-up: Meg Cooke

• Men’s B Singles — Group A and D

Winner: Julius Bernaudo

Runner Up: Ryan Behr

• Men’s B Singles — Group B and C

Winner: Adam Needleman

Runner-up: Andrew Macneill

• Women’s C Singles (round robin) — Group A

Winner: Holly Stute

Runner-up: Ava Macneill

• Women’s C Singles (round robin) — Group B

Winner: Giulia Franceschi

Runner-up: Danielle Lawrence

• Men’s C Singles (round robin) — Group A

Winner: Tomislav Razumic

Runner-up: Brad Buss

• Men’s C Singles (round robin) — Group B

Winner: Dion Belbruno

Runner-up: Lachlan Tesmer

• Boys Under-10 Green Series

Group A – Ernie Buerckner

Group B – Aimkhant Kyin

• Girls Under-10 Green Series

Winner: Ella Forde

Runner-up: Maisie Fitzpatrick

• Girls Under-12 Singles (round robin)

Winner: Tilly Forde

Runner-up: Taylah Chessels

• Boys Under-12 Singles (round robin)

Winner: Joseph Dorrington

Runner Up: Noah Percy

• Boys Under-12 Singles (round robin)

Winner: Claye Corcoran

Runner-up: Jaydon Yap

• Boys Under-14 Singles (round robin)

Winner: Harry Wren

Runner-up: Thomas Lawrence

Mixed competition — Sunday, January 5

• Mixed Open Doubles

Ashley and Abbie Allen, Matt and Mandy Allen, Laura McDonald and Josh Bennier. Very competitive competition so three winners were awarded, all on same set numbers

• Mixed B Doubles

Winners: Patrick Neilson and Simone Weston

Runners-up: Lachlan Tesmer and Sue Piper

• Mixed C Doubles Group A

Winners: Andrea Continetto and Giulia Franceschi

Runners-up: Henry Russell and Lia Curcio

• Mixed C Doubles Group B

Winners: Michael and Janet Crisfield

Runners-up: Grigore Olaru and Dana Visescu

• Mixed C Doubles Group C

Winners: Christopher and Treena McNair

Runners-up: Andrew and Ava Macneill

• Mixed D Doubles

Winners – Danielle and Thomas Lawrence

Runners-up: Bill and Holly Wilson

• Mixed Under 14 Doubles

Winners: Harry Wren and Billie Buerckner

Runners-up: Noah Percy and Taylah Chessels

Doubles — Saturday, January 4

• Women’s Open

Winners: Abbie and Robyn Allen

Runners-up: Ashleigh Hasler and Tamara Jungwirth

• Women’s A Grade

Winners: Sheryn Long and Karen Ranson

Runners-up: Bronte McGregor and Meg Cooke

• Men’s Open

Winners: John Brunner and Matt Allen

Runners-up: Andrew Caldwell and Joel Compagnino

• Men’s A Grade Group A

Winners: Marcus Frajman and Geoff Rosenberger

Runners-up: Dave Postlewaite and Ash Weston

• Men’s A Grade Group B

Winners: Matthew Chard and Oscar Paxton

Runners-up: Cameron Bayne and Benjamin Tole

• Men’s A Grade Group C

Winners: Brad Hasler and Sanjeet Mihiripenna

Runners-up: Michael Kelly and Bede Redfern

• Men’s B Doubles — Group A

Winners: Paul Henshall and Jim Long

Runners-up: Mark McDonald and Colin Robson

• Men’s B Doubles — Group B

Winners: Ryan Behr and Adam Needleman

Runners-up: Carmine and Matthew Adamo

• Men’s B Doubles — Group C

Winners: Todd Finn and Justin Hunter

Runners-up: Esala Gunatilake and Ralph Turco

• Men’s B Doubles — Group D

Winners: Dion Belbruno and Henry Russell

Runners-up: John and Jack Forde

• Women’s C Doubles

Winners: Giulia Franceschi and Mary Thornton

Runners-up: Briana and Treena McNair

• Men’s C Doubles — Group A

Winners: Adam and Jarrah Wight

Runners-up: Brad Buss and Alex Robertson

• Men’s C Doubles — Group B

Winners: Leigh Corcoran and Shaun Reynolds

Runners-up: Andrew and Michael Crisfield

• Women’s D Doubles

Winners: Melissa Crisfield and Holly Stute

Runners-up: Ava and Kathryn Macneill

• Men’s D Doubles

Winners: Chris Lindsay and Dale Stratton

Runners-up: Andrew and Connor Macneill

• Under-10 Boys Doubles

Winners: Aimkhant Kyin and Beau Lawrence

Runners-up: Patrick Delany and Alex Manning

• Under-10 Girls Doubles

Winners: Lily Johnston and Wren Manning

• Under-12 Boys Doubles – Group A

Winners: Cassius Khalil and Jaydon Yap

Runners-up: Claye Corcoran and Spence Reynolds

• Under-12 Boys Doubles — Group B

Winners: Archie Delany and Alastair Ross

Runners-up: Henry and Noah Walker

• Under-12 Girls Doubles

Winners: Ella and Tilly Forde

Runners-up: Annabelle Buerckner and Charlotte Wren

• Under-14 Boys Doubles

Winners: Thomas Lawrence and Tague Saunders

Runners-up: Taylah Chessels and Patrick Stratton

By Alexander Dabb

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