New winners crowned at Rapaura courts

Three new names will be etched on the Rapaura Tennis Club’s most prestigious trophies this year after the annual Wairau River doubles tournament was played out at the grass courts today.

The men’s title was captured by two Nelson players, Alex Hunt and Connor Edmonds, both first time winners. The latter played in the tournament previously, but for Alex this was his first trip to the six-court complex and he certainly made the most of it.

The former para-standing tennis world champion unveiled a wide array of skills, his courtcraft thrilling the large crowd surrounding the feature court.

Thirty-two-year-old Alex’s power and precision was complemented by some silky skills from 17-year-old Connor, who attends St Andrew’s College.

Together they were too strong for worthy finalists Lee Harborne, last year’s winner, and US college-based Harry Pugh, also originally from Nelson, who were top seeded for the event.

Alex and Connor, the number two seeds, claimed the first set 6-2, putting pressure on their rivals from the outset, then wrapped it up 6-4 in a tighter second set, winning some pressure points to halt a potential comeback from Lee and Harry.

Alex, who does some coaching and hitting with Connor, was asked by the youngster to join forces for the event.

“I thought it would be a good opportunity to get on court with him," said Alex, "see how he plays, plus for me it was so much fun to have the opportunity to come over here and play on the grass courts, which are awesome.

“[Grass courts] are really rare, it is such a novelty,” added Connor.

“You see all this amazing tennis on the TV,” said Alex, “but the variation is just leaving the sport a little bit I feel, so I am just loving seeing all the people chipping, coming to the net, sliding serves … I miss that in tennis, the serve volleyers, guys that don’t have a backhand but they have a forehand, the grass brings it all out a little bit more.

“Over the two days I was just glued to different matches, it could have been a 60-year-old, a 20-year-old or a woman, there was just amazing rallies going on, I loved it all.”

The pair faced a tough proposition in their semifinal, taking on previous winners Hamish Morrow and Simon Phillips. Although the 6-1, 6-1 scoreline suggests otherwise, the winner had to work hard throughout.

“We had to lock in and played really well in that game,” said Connor.

“Both in the semi and final we had to be on our game, always holding serve … if we slipped up, they are such good players the matches could have gone the other way.”

Harry and Lee beat Rai Valley-bred siblings Dene and Glenn Wilson, the latter a former Davis Cup player and captain, in the other semifinal, the scoreline 6-2, 6-2.

The women’s decider also saw a first-time winner in 2026, Wellington youngster Ava Doddridge joining forces with local lass and Rapaura member Ella Sowman to take the trophy with a 6-3, 6-3 win over the Nelson duo of Ruth Seeman and Suzanne Spencer.

Top seeds Ava, 17, and Ella, 19, were made to battle by their more experienced rivals, both sets being close through the middle stages before the younger duo pulled clear to clinch the match.

Ella’s ground strokes were a feature, along with Ava’s big serve and powerful forehand.

The victors became friends a few years ago when Ella regularly flew to the capital to play interclub, Ava’s parents putting the young Marlburian up at their home. Soon they are both due to board a flight to the USA, Ella returning for her second year at college in South Carolina, Ava taking up a tennis scholarship in South Dakota.

Three-time winner Ella, who has faced a steady diet of hard court and clay court tennis in the States said “it is so nice to be back”.

“The grass is so nice this year, there are so few bad bounces”.

“And they seem to have been going our way,” added Ave with a chuckle.

Both players have vowed to be back again.

“Oh definitely,” said Ava.

“This time next year,” added Ella, “lock it in, bring on 2027.”

In the semifinals Ava and Ella beat Jen Mackie and Erika Svarc 6-2, 6-3, while Ruth and Suzanne downed Eveline Apthorp Van Der Linden and Amber Lyons 6-0, 6-2.

Mixed doubles

Friday’s mixed doubles event, which featured 28 pairings, culminated in a thrilling decider.

The second-seeded combination of Paris Butters, from Whanganui and Max Havaux, from Belgium, came through to take the title in the final, beating third seeds Julian Main and Mandy Wilson from Christchurch 9-8. The match was decided in a super tiebreaker, Paris and Max prevailing 12-10 in a seesawing decider.

In the semifinals Paris and Max beat third seeds Oscar Symonds and Jen Mackie 9-6, while Julian and Mandy took care of eighth seeds Claus Reichardt and Erika Svarc 9-3.

Losing quarterfinalists were Stu Campbell and Donna Clark, Jared Bell and Felicity Sampson, Lee Harborne and Christine Schnarre plus Harry Pugh and Caroline Nicholson,

Oscar and Jen won the battle for third and fourth 9-6.