Brett Hibbert, Robyn Hunt top in tennis

Press, 24 November 1980, Page 40

Brett Hibbert, Robyn Hunt top in tennis

By

JOHN BROOKS

The inaugural Fanners and Haywrights Canterbury closed tennis championships, which ended at Wilding Park yesterday, will be remembered for the dominance of Brett Hibbert in the men’s events and Robyn Hunt in the women’s. Their overhead play was particularly impressive asi they served and smashed with whiplash velocity to I dual title successes. Hibbert beat Hugh Robinson in the. men’s singles final, then teamed with his Shirley clubmate. Bruce Clark, to win the doubles. A remorseless Mrs Hunt avenged her defeat of the: previous day by Sally Chapman in an inter-club match when she romped away vvith the women’s singles final, i Then, with Miss Chapman as her ally, she won the! doubles as well. | The men's singles title, was a welcome reward for; Hibbert, who was the beaten I finalist in the Canterbury, open singles last summer,, and one or two other im-j portant events as well. He played with an easy grace,, serving particularly well,'] and he moved into his vol-i, leys swiftly and decisively. His performance was a[ heartening pointer for his ; chances at tournaments m ] Australia; he hopes to de-,i part on December 10. “For once I had no m-. juries, I felt good out there,,! and I enjoyed the tennis,”!* Hibbert said. “My service ' e was going well — in fact l everything was.” \ Hibbert’s smooth blend ot power and accuracy proved t too much for the gallant 7 Robinson, who soldiered on diligently as the ball zipped past his head. There was a a similar treatment for Rhett it Mason and Richard Dalman 3 in the doubles final. Al-; 7 though the Elmwood pair; struck some bold and Clark made some uncha-, t racteristic errors at the net,in

I Hibbert’s booming serves rand smashes proved decirisive. ,i Mrs Hunt gave fair notice t of her intentions by aceing •fMiss Chapman with her f opening serve and winning ;.her first game to love. From i then on she thumped the 'ball with extraordinary' ‘ power and with superb timiing. Miss Chapman quipped I later that the first set seemled to last about two minutes. ■ In the second set Mrs Hunt continued to attack, and only rarely did Miss Chapman manage to interrupt the trend of the match. The victory gave Mrs Hunt : another Canterbury title to add to the six open singles ‘ championships she has gained. . I The combination of Mrs ■ Hunt and Miss Chapman iwas a formidable one, and Jill Hibbert and Jane Clarke i were swept aside uncererho- ; niously in the first set of ! the doubles final. The two I Shirley juniors made a stand in the" second set. aided by I some errors from Miss Chapman. But Mrs Hunt 1 always had the controlling i hand, and the match went to I its inevitable conclusion. Results of the finals were. 1 A grade.—stnlles: B.Hibbert beat H. Robinson, 6-4. 6--. Doubles: Hibbert and B. K. Clark beat R. Dalman and R. M“»on, 6-4, 6-4. Plate: Mason beat N. R. Di B IO g r ’ade’2si'ngles: M. J. Purcell Finch 7-5. 6-4. Doubles: G Main and C. Munden beat D. McNaughton and G. 6-1 Plate: C. Abbott beat B. WilT Bresnahan beat G. Main. 7-5, p®-- h . T Hughes-Johnson beat w. Thomson, 7-6. A grade —Singles: R. R- Hunt beat S. E. Chapman, 6-2, 6-3. Doubles: Mrs Hunt and Miss Chapman beat J. y lb p^L. an ? !t f.‘ M. Clarke, 6-0, 6-2. PlaleClarke beat L. Cowie, 3-6, 6-1, B grade— Singles: W. Bryan beat D. Hills, 6-0, 6-2. C grade.—Singles: M. Clapshaw beat v. Ratana, 6-4, 6-3. Plate: M. Miller beat H. Hall, 6-2, 6-1. L—