On the court for Lalor Cup

ROYAL tennis players from across Australia and overseas took to the Ballarat Tennis Club courts in Canadian last week to try their serving hand at the Lalor Cup.

Hosted by members of the Ballarat Tennis Club for their third year, the three-day event took place between Wednesday and Friday last week.

Organiser, Rod Unmack said it’s a great tournament to hold in the leadup to the Boomerang Cup which began in Melbourne on Saturday.

“We’ve got teams here from all over the world. We’ve got one team from the US and a couple from the UK,” he said.

“Everyone who books in for this are just great. We finished our first day at 6pm and I don’t think they finished up until 1am in the morning with festivities.

“And it’s just a great way of highlight Ballarat and its tennis offerings. I think our visitors really enjoy the place.”

The first two days consisted of 18 doubles matches between nine teams leading into the championship on Saturday.

Manchester Tennis and Racquet Club’s Jamie Bebb flew from England to participate in the event for the second time and said the camaraderie between the clubs is what keeps him coming back.

“We love this part of Australia and the great thing about this club is that it really is a proper club with proper people and they’re all a bit mad,” he said.

“You have to be a bit mad to play this game. But it’s a wonderful atmosphere here, and great, great fun.”