Ballarat snaps 47-year Hopman Cup drought

IT’S taken nearly half a century, but Ballarat is finally again basking in the glow of Hopman Cup division one title success.

The Ballarat Squash and Racquetball Centre’s top team broke a 47-year cup drought, finishing top of the standings in the annual regional teams tournament in Melbourne.

What would have been a remarkable double just eluded the Ballarat club, with its division two team finishing runners-up behind East Gippsland.

The division one win was Ballarat’s first since 1979, the second-leg of back-to-back cup triumphs in the top tier.

Under the Hopman Cup format, mixed teams comprising three each open men and women and one each male and female junior players compete in round-robin action.

Ballarat was represented in division one by Elijah Rolls, Darren O’Donnell, Marc O’Brien, Dan Rolls, Lachlan Tobin, Tina Ma, Darcie Blaber and Sharyn Trezise.

The division two team comprised Seth Adams, Chris Rounds, Michael Boatman, Cooper Watts, Maddie Rolls, Cass Landy, Sue Landy, and Eadie Blaber.

Ballarat boasted plenty of familial links with Dan Rolls the father of Elijah and Maddie; Sue and Cass Landy mother and daughter; and Darcie and Eadie Blaber sisters.

Club stalwart and a member of the division two team Sue Landy was thrilled to see the club’s top division curse lifted

“The last few years we’ve been lucky enough to have two teams entered and we’ve gradually crept up to division one, but this year we finally got the win and broke the drought,” she said.

“It’s a great social event and good to play teams from other towns.

“We play a lot of tournaments that have a lot of Melbourne players, but this one is country. A really good weekend and lots of good matches.

“We didn’t quite get the double; we did a couple of years ago. We were in division two and three and won both and once you win, you go up a division.

“It took us a couple of years to win it after getting back to division one, but we’ve finally done it.”

Landy insisted the sport of squash was in a healthy position in Ballarat.

“We got a new centre manager Jessica Parker in about three or four years ago and she has really got the place going. She’s been sensational,” she said.

“We have got great staff and great members and everyone seems to enjoy the social side of it as well as the competitions. It’s great to see.

“Breaking a 47-year drought is fantastic.”