Hibbert triumphs in Rangiora tennis

Press, 20 February 1986, Page 30

Hibbert triumphs in Rangiora tennis

Brett Hibbert beat Peter Hampton, 6-4, 7-6, in the men’s singles final of the Rangiora $l2OO open sponsored tennis tournament during the week-end. As pre-tournament seedings suggested, Christchurch players dominated most of the later rounds of the A-grade events. Although Hibbert has a higher ranking on grass in Christchurch, he was rated No. 2 for the tournament. Hampton was given the top rating, mainly in expectation that his play would be more suited to the hard courts at the Rangiora and Southbrook clubs and the Rangiora High School. However, Hibbert maintained his advantage to win in straight sets. The No. 1 seed, Shirley Haig, won the women’s singles final by beating the No. 2, Rachel Wilson, 7-6, 6-2. Haig extended her success, with Lani Ratana as a partner, by winning the women’s doubles title. An unseeded pair, Michael Mooney and John Allin, caused an upset in the men’s doubles by knocking out the top seeds, Peter Hampton and Rhett Mason, in one of the early rounds. In turn, Mooney and Allin were beaten in a semi-final by the tournament winners, Alistair Chapman and Stephen Harley. A father-and-son pair, Colin and Alistair Hunt,

won the men’s B grade doubles. The tournament ended before Sunday evening’s storm. Encouraged by the success of the tournament, the North Canterbury tennis sub-association is looking forward to holding a similar event next season, subject to satisfactory arrangements with the Canterbury association and the sponsors. Results—: MEN A-grade singles Quarter finals.—Peter Hampton beat Alistair Chapman, 6-1; Hugh Robinson beat Michael Mooney, 3-6, 61, 7-2; Greg Young beat John Honeywell, 3-6, 7-5, 7-5; Brett Hibbert beat Vernon Aubrey, 6-1, 7-6. Semi-finals.—Hampton beat Robinson 6-0, 7-5; Hibbert beat Young, 6-3, 6-1. Final.— Hibbert beat Hampton, 6-4, 76. Plate final.—John Robinson beat Stephen Brookman, 6-1, 6-1. A-grade doubles Semi-finals.—Chapman and Stephen Harley beat Mooney and John Allin, 7-6, 6-2; Honeywell and Hibbert beat Martin Searle and John Robinson, 6-2, 4-6, 6-3. Final.— Chapman and Harley beat Honeywell and Hibbert, 7-5, 6-1. B-grade singles Semi-finals.—Colin Hunt beat Graeme Main, 6-1, 3-6, 5-7; Andrew Batle beat Rui Te Whenua, 6-2, 6-4. Final.— Batle beat Hunt, 6-0, 6-2. Plate final.—Stuart Clarke beat Kevin James, 6-2, 6-4. B-grade doubles Semi-finals.—Batie and Andrew Bruce beat J. P. Andre and Eric Andre, 6-1, 6-

2; Colin Hunt and Alistair Hunt beat Michael Lines and Kelvin Beattie, 6-2, 6-3. Final.—Hunt and Hunt beat Batie and Bruce, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4. WOMEN A-grade singles Quarter finals.—Lani Ratana beat Angela Brading, 63, 6-3; Shirley Haig beat Hayley Barlow, 6-0, 6-1; Trish Grace beat Judy Malham, 6-2, 6-1; Rachel Wilson beat Ngalre Gibbens, 6-3, 1-6, 7-4. Semi-finals.—Haig beat Ratana, 6-1, 6-2; Wilson beat Grace, 6-1, 6-1. Final.—Haig beat Wilson, 7-6, 6-2. Plate final.—Angela Brading beat Margaret McKenzie, 6-0, 6-0. A-grade doubles Semi-finals.—Ratana and Haig beat Denise Hampton and Leanne Peter, 6-1, 6-0; Philipa Lewthwaite and Rosemary Gardner beat Gibbens and Jean Lundy, 6-1, 60. Final.—Ratana and Haig beat Lewthwaite and Gardner, 6-2, 6-0. B-grade singles Semi-finals.—Leita Vanstone beat Shirley Mitchell, 61, 6-1; Joanne Bailey beat Tamara Williams, 7-5, 6-2. Final.—Vanstone beat Bailey, 6-1, 5-7, 6-4. B-grade doubles Semi-finals.—Bailey and Jendy Harper beat Vanstone and McKenzie, 4-6, 6-0, 7-2; Williams and Diane Hurley beat Vai Lynskey and S. Pidgeon, 6-4, 6-0. Final.—Bailey and Harper beat Williams and Hurley, 6-0, 6-2. Mixed doubles Semi-finals.— Hamish Faults and Rachel Wilson beat David Mitchell and Angela Brading, 6-2, 2-6, 8-6, Rhett Mason and Denise Hampton beat Martin Searle and Hayley Barlow, 6-2, 3-6, 6-2. Final.—Mason and Hampton beat Faults and Wilson, 7-5, 6-2.