TENNIS - Love and tennis go hand in hand in times of need

They've got a thing about tennis, in fact they're crazy about the sport but there's one thing at least that's more important to these Northland women - and that's helping a mate out when she's down.
Lyn Ferguson, Raewyn Heywood and Ethne Mitchell have all got behind their mate, Janet Agnew, this year to help organise what has become an institution in Northland tennis circles, the Janet Anew Carnival Doubles tournament.
As Mitchell says, it's not only ex-All Blacks - such as John Kirwan - who suffer from depression and, when it was time to start organising this year's tournament, Agnew felt unable to cope.
Tournament manager, and fellow organiser of many years, Ferguson called in Heywood and Mitchell to help save the tournament.
"It's like that All Black, who was it, John Kirwan? Yes, when people feel down it's up to their friends to help them out and Janet's special to us and to Northland tennis, so it was no problem to lend a hand," Mitchell said.
Agnew is grateful the tournament is ready to go this weekend but, when it was time to organise the event, she felt incapable of doing anything about it, even leaving the house was a problem.
"To be honest the tournament wouldn't be going ahead if it wasn't for my mates, Ethne and Raewyn, they really have rallied around and supported me on this and if it was left up to me there wouldn't be a tournament this year," she said.
Agnew believes mental illness is no longer a problem to try to hide.
"It's best to talk about these things nowadays and it's amazing how far people are willing to go to give their support," Agnew said.
Her mates all reckon Agnew is crazy but - like the rest of them - she's crazy about tennis.
Heywood has just returned from playing, with thousands of others, in an age-group doubles tournament in South Australia and, because she's a tennis nut, she was able to catch the quarter-finals of the Australian Open on the way back.
Mitchell has been a tennis fan for as long as she can remember. She is a former New Zealand representative player and, as a youngster, played on centre court at Wimbledon at the All England tournament. Recent knee and hip surgery is keeping her off the courts for now but she has compensated by cultivating an almost demonic devotion to nine-hole golf.
Ferguson won Sport Northland's 2008 prize for administrator of the year and the Tennis Northland administrator is always willing to go the extra mile to help the area's players out.
The doubles tennis tournament was started by Agnew more than 20 years ago.
After being badly injured in a car accident, she was told she'd never play tennis again and, rather than quit the game, she organised the tournament.
After a few years, the tournament assumed her name and it has been that way ever since, even after she defied the odds to play again.
Ferguson says the aim is to get the tournament to its 25th year in two years' time.
"It's a unique opportunity up here, you get to just play doubles at a tournament and, with the magnificent prizes we have, you can win a weekend away for two at the Copthorne in the Bay of Islands with a cruise from Fullers, just for entering the tournament - it's quite a drawcard," she said.
Agnew said another year seemed daunting but she was beginning to realise that anything was possible with a little help from her friends.
"I always say this year will be my last year because I can't handle the stress but it never is, because when you've got good friends like these three, you really appreciate it and life goes on," she said. Entries for the contest close tomorrow.