Robinson wins Canty tennis double

Press, 16 November 1981, Page 3

Robinson wins Canty tennis double

Whether exhibiting stock or wielding a tennis racket, Hugh Robinson is a winner. The rangy farmer from Woodend proved that by winning two titles at the Farmers and Haywrights Canterbury closed tennis championships at Wilding Park yesterday, hard on the heels of gaining several approving nods from judges at the Canterbury A. and P. Show. One of the most consistent and unassuming tennis players in the province, Robinson claimed the men’s open singles title by shading the top-seeded Michael Mooney in the final yesterday. He capped this performance by joining forces with Bruce Clark to win the doubles final against Mooney and Ralph Webster. Robinson and Clark had experience as doubles partners in North Canterbury tennis, and Clark, formerly of Kaiapoi, helped Brett Hibbert win the inaugural closed doubles title last season. On that occasion, too, Robinson reached the singles final before going down to Hibbert.

The success of Robinson in the men’s events was matched by Sally Chapman in the women’s. She beat Carolyn Oakley in the singles final, and struck a happy and successful combination with Dianna McKinnel in the doubles.

After his sojourn in Germany, the lively Mooney was expected to be a cut above his rivals in the top singles event. He played crisply and

confidently, but not without blemish, dropping a set to both Richard Dalman and Webster on his way to the final.

Rain on Saturday night caused the organisers to switch matches yesterday from the grass to the hardcourts, which was a boost for Mooney. But Robinson has not been short of practice on similar surfaces in his home area, and his ground strokes provided a solid platform for his successful campaign. Earlier in the tournament, Robinson conceded a set to Peter McCormack, and then was extended by Mike Purcell in an absorbing semifinal.

Robinson and Clark settled down much better than their rivals in the doubles final, and stole away with the first set. Although Mooney and Webster exhibited more authority in the second, they foundered on their rivals’ steadiness in the deciding set.

The women's matches unfolded according to expectation, although Miss Oakley had some misgivings when she encountered vigorous opposition from Jill Hibbert in a singles semi-final. Miss Chapman duly justified her top seeding by beating Miss Oakley in the final, but both players made too many unforced errors.

Last season Miss Chapman won the doubles title with Robyn Hunt, and the new combination she formed with Mrs McKinnel was just as effective. However there was

a glut of second set service breaks before they downed Misses Oakley and Jane Howe. Results were — MEN' Open Singles— Quarter-finals: M. Mooney beat R. Dalman, 4-6, 6-3. 6-2; R. Webster beat C. Hunt, 6-1. 6-4; M. Purcell beat-A. Chapman, 6-4, 6-3; H. Robinson beat P. McCormack, 6-1, 5-7, 6-2. Semifinals: Mooney beat Webster, 1-6, 6-2, 6-1; Robinson beat Purcell. 75, 7-6. Final: Robinson beat Mooney. 7-5, 6-4. Doubles.— Quarter-finals: Mooney and Webster beat D. Lawn and D. Chapman, 7-5, 7-6; R. Mason and Dalman beat K. Elliott and McCormack, 6-2. 4-6, 6-2; Hunt and W. Thom beat A. Chapman and D. McKinnel, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3; Robinson and B. Clark, beat Purcell and B. Williams, 62, 6-3. Semi-finals: Mooney and Webster beat Mason and Dalman 6-3, 7-6; Robinson and Clark beat Hunt and Thom, 7-6, 4-6, 6-3. Final: Robinson and Clark beat Mooney and Webster, 6-1. 4-6, 6-2.

B grade Singles.— Final: P. Maciaszek beat G. Lawson. 6-4. 2-6. 6-1. Doubles — Final:- A. Salton and P. Fitzmaurice beat J. Adair and A. de Zwart, 6-3, 6-2. C grade Singles.— Final: L. Glass beat T. Sullivan, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1. Doubles.— Final: H. and A. Murchison beat W. Ratana and W. Thomson, 7-5, 2-6, 6-4. D grade Singles — Final: H. Murchison beat D. Kingston, 6-4, 6-4. E grade Singles.— Final: S. Perkins beat J. Gardiner, 6-2, 6-2. WOMEN Open Singles.— Semi-finals: S. Chapman beat J. Howe, 6-0, 7-5; C. Oakley beat J. Hibbert, 6-7, 6-2, 6-3. Final: Chapman beat Oakley, 6-4. 6-3. Doubles— Semi-finals: Chapman and D. McKinnel beat Hibbert and S. Hughey, 6-4, 6-0; Howe and Oakley beat V. Ratana and L. Mason, 6-3, 6-3. Final: Chapman and McKinnel beat Howe and Oakley, 6-3, 7-5. B grade

Singles.— final: A. Wilding beat C. Millen, 6-4, 7-5.