Doubles no trouble for Stokes

Press, 13 December 1982, Page 3

Doubles no trouble for Stokes

By

JOHN BROOKS

Neville Stokes learned howto play sport well in murky weather, in his days as first five-eighths for the Linwood senior rugby team. The attribute stood him in good stead yesterday at the stormlashed Canterbury veterans' tennis championships, which he turned into a Stokes benefit by his successes. He won his section of the men's doubles with a club colleague from junior days. Pita Alexander, and the mixed doubles for those with combined ages of 90 and under with Diana McKinnel. who still plays senior tennis for Avonside. His luck did not end there. He won the raffle too. which meant that he went home with a lavishly decorated Christmas cake and two bottles of wine. Stokes attributed his return to tennis to Mrs McKinnel's persuasive powers. Both he and Alexander were prominent juniors more than 20 years ago. but career demands and. in Stokes's case, the attraction of rugby drew them away from the courts until this season. After his success. Stokes laughingly suggested he was about to re-enter retirement. "It's too tough. If you are a regular tennis player you can handle the pressure points well, but it's a big strain if you're not." he said. However, he did not have any problems in this regard in the mixed doubles, for he and Mrs McKinnel won their semi-final, 9-0, and the final. 9-2. “He is strong, agile, and competitive, and played really well." said an admiring Maurie Agar. who. with Pat Duckmanton. lost the semi-final to the Stokes — McKinnel pairing. Max Meinhold and Margaret Murray shaped well in earlier rounds, but had to bow to the power and determination of Stokes and Mrs McKinnel in the final. The quick-draining hard courts at Wilding Park proved a blessing for the organisers. Competitors were soon back in action after rain or hail showers which swept Christchurch yesterday. Many champions of other years took part in the tournament, and spectators savoured the easy grace of Jean Bunt.. the rugged -aggression of Jack Borough, the wristy elegance of Bob Pattinson and the steely persistence of Brian Crofts. Two teenaged boys watching Pattinson, aged 65, whistled with amazement at a

deft deflection which sent the ball away for a winner. "That's Neil Pattinson's father." said one to the other. "His father'.’" replied the other, and the incredulous tone indicated that he envisaged Bob Pattinson as a relic from another century. But Pattinson and his longtime partner. Lindsay Blackwell. played with smoothness and assurance to claim one of the men's doubles titles to add to an already long list. Mrs’ Bunt believes that references to her as a former New Zealand singles champion are outdated because of the time lapse since that particular success. But her placements are a constant reminder of her former eminence in the game, and her fitness and the timing and accuracy of her shots helped her gain a share of two titles. She won the mixed doubles for those with combined ages of 91 and above with Jack Borough and a women's doubles final with Lynn Fitzgerald. Borough, who is 56. won the Canterbury open doubles championship last summer with Bruce Derlin. and travelled from his present home in Auckland to play in , the veterans' tournament. The understanding between Mrs Bunt and Mrs Fitzgerald was a feature of the women's doubles, an instinctive quality which was fashioned in their days as Nunneley Casket stalwarts for s . the principal team. Results were:Men’s doubles Secton I.—Final: Neville Stokes and Pita Alexander beat Don Taylor and Gordon Rodley. 6-5. 6-4. Section 2.-Final: Bob Pattinson and Lindsay Blackwell beat Ralph van Ysselsteyn and Eric Cairns. 6-2. 6-2. Women's doubles Section 1.-Final: Pat Duckmanion and Kathy Hargreaves beat Carole Pearce and Diana McKinnel. 5-6. 6-4. 6-4. Section 2.—Final: Jean Bunt and Lynn Fitzgerald beat Madeline Smith and Elaine Edgerton. 5-6. 6-3. 6-2. Mixed doubles 91 and over (combined ages).— Semi-finals: Jack Borough and Jean Bunt beat Lindsay Blackwell and Cherry Armitage. 9-6; Gordon Rodley and Stephanie Field beat Bob Pattinson and Lynn Fitzgerald. 9-5. Final: Borough and Mrs Bunt beat Rodley and Miss Field. 9-5. 90 and under.—Semi-finals: Max Meinhold and Margaret Murray beat Graham Lonie and Sally Harris. 9-6; Neville Stokes and Diana McKinnel beat Maurie Agar and Pat Duckmanton. 9-0. Final: Stokes and Mrs McKinnel beat Meinhold and Mrs Murray. 9-2.