Dismay as top premier clubs quit

Wairarapa tennis is in shock.

The two finalists in last year's regional one interclub competition, eventual champions Pirinoa and Martinborough, will not field premier grade teams in 2011-12.

Nor will Carterton, another of the regulars in top-level competition over many years, return after withdrawing at the start of last season.

All three clubs have pulled the pin because of a lack of players, leaving the regional one series with just four teams, two of which are from Opaki and one apiece from Masterton and Gladstone.

Wairarapa Tennis Association executive officer Cilla Paulik said it was "very disappointing" and suggested various reasons had caused the situation. Some players who had consistently appeared in regional one in recent seasons had reached the age when they no longer had the time, or energy, to compete in that competition, and replacements were hard to find.

That problem compounded by many of the more talented younger players leaving the district after their college years, often to attend university, she said.

Work commitments because of Saturday shopping could be another cause, with those involved in that wanting to use the rest of their weekends for family time.

"I would say quite a few of the clubs have been struggling for players for quite a while now and it's got to the stage where they just don't have the numbers to play regional one any more. It's very disappointing but what can you do about it?"

Recognising the shortage of players in the top grade was more apparent among women than men, the Wairarapa association has changed the regional one format for the coming season to have teams of four; three men and one woman. Matches will consist of four singles matches, one men's doubles and a combined doubles and they will be played at the one venue, starting late next month.

Paulik said the association was aware some people felt the regional one competition could benefit from being played midweek, but a lack of suitable lights - allied with work commitments - counted against that.

It is not all doom and gloom for Wairarapa tennis, however, with Paulik reporting a record 25 teams, or 120 players, were set to play in the intermediate and primary school grades and 85 players were involved in a secondary schools competition that was already in progress. And keen interest was also being shown in the Grasshoppers programme, essentially a beginners' course for youngsters.

"Our junior numbers are remarkable, probably as high as we have ever had," Paulik said.