A measure of the popularity of tennis in east Auckland is demonstrated each year by the running of two tournaments, involving local clubs Bucklands Beach, Cockle Bay, Howick, Koru, Pakuranga and Sunnyhills.
With both an open grade for the Fisher Cup and a restricted one for the Cucksey Shield, the events cover a wide range of playing levels, each club fielding a team of six men and six women in each competition.
Played on Sunday May 21, Pakuranga took the honours in the Fisher Cup this year after a close run event, winning by just one game 115 to 114! A good performance in the Cucksey Shield also gained the club third place in the Cucksey Shield.
Auckland’s challenging weather provided some headaches for organisers having to re-schedule the event with rain prevailing from April 30 to May 31 and the attendant problems relating to the availability of some individual players.
“However, all matches were able to be completed in a day and played in great spirit,” said Pakuranga’s tournaments convenor, Lloyd Price.
Next March the junior version of this competition, the Charman Cup, will be played between the east Auckland tennis clubs, with players up to 15 years old, resuming this much-loved event which has run for more than 35 years.
