REPORT ON 2014 LAKES CLASSIC

SINGLES
Grade / Winner / Runner-Up
Men’s Open / Cam White / Peter French
A / Chris Rollauer / Leigh Sands
B / Geoff Scott / Dean Milligan
C / Alex Baines / Ross Falconer
D / Mitchell Nero / Darcy MacPherson
E / Anthony Baxter / Helen Scott
F / Clare Schaper / Jackson Lander-Mitchell
DOUBLES
GradeWinner Runner-Up
Open C. White/C. Stevenson M. Edgley/J. Wright
A C. Rounds/J.Rounds M. Scott/ G. Scott
B T. Robinson/J.Bartheyl A. Kramme/A. Cassar
C S. Quinn/P. Anderson A. Baines/R. Falconer
D B. Dodson/O. Gourley L. Proctor/L. Green
E R. McPhee/M. Gunsser K. Bennier/R.Smith

The final Racquetball Grand Prix event for the year, the22nd edition of the Lakes Classic, played out at theLakes Squash Movie Theatre, was highlighted by the Return of the Zombies( Furry and daughter Hannah), the continuance of the Cam White caravan, extending his unbeaten run to an incredible 14 years, is there anyone out there that can beat him, the unforgettable boat cruise to Wyanga Park Winery, culminating in Moe’s Adam Cassar going down on one knee and proposing to the effervescent Aleisha Kramme, in the packed Lakes Movie Theatreat the conclusion of the PresentationCeremony.

The tournament also attracted no fewer than 10 Grand Prix Tournament Circuit debutants, taking the total for the year to 80, and 298 over the past 3 years.A special mention to Charlie Stevenson, Tim Paramore and Ben Bell, who played in all six Victorian and the three National Grand Prix Circuit events held in 2014.

SINGLES RESULTS

MEN’S OPEN

Cam White only missed one event for 2014(ESRA), but it has come to pass that there are now three things certain in life; taxes, death and Cam White never losing a racquetball tournament, although at Lakes , Peter French once again put on display his ‘ never say die’ attitude and penchant to remain in gut busting rallies long after others have capitulated, forcing White to reveal his full repertoire of shots down to the wire, before succumbing and the Champ taking out his sixth Lakes Classic Open and seventh title for the year, 21/18, 21/18.In the semi finals; White defeated Dromana’s Matt Howard, 21/12, 21/14, with French eliminating local hope , Mark Edgley, 21/6, 21/7.

A GRADE

Geelongstalwart Chris Rollauer capped off another very consistent year, overcoming Hunt’s LeighSands ina marathon final 21/9, 17/21, 21/13, which resulted in him annexing the Grade title for the year as well. To reach the event’s climax, Sands overcame 2013 Grade Champion, and second seeded Charlie Stevenson , 13/21, 21/5, 21/19, with Rollauer surviving a cliff hanger in a most entertaining encounter against Bairnsdale’s Matt Scott, 21/19, 22/20,.

B GRADE

With the B Grade leader Gary Hosie deciding to cross swords with the Open players, and Corio’s Adam Lander consigned to barracks, this created the ideal opportunity for a Lakes quinella, as the Oxy Man Tony Robinson, and doubles partner Jason Bartheyl were seeded to meet up in the final. Alas two ‘ out of towners’, Bairnsdale’s Geoff Scott and Wangaratta’s Dean Milligan snuffed out the fairytale ending at the semi final stage, with Scott overpowering Robinson, 21/12, 21/18, and Milligan ousting Bartheyl, 22/20, 21/15, but not before three of the biggest hitters in the sport fully tested balls, racquets and front walls to their capacity. Scott went on to claim Bairnsdale’s first Grand Prix title for the year, overcoming a resilient, Milligan, 21/17, 21/16 in a titanic struggle.

C GRADE

Wodonga’s fourteen year old Alex Baines, displayed maturity beyond his years when he cut a swathe through the capacity filled C Grade field. To reach the final, Baines had accounted for Corio’s Elisha Mitchell in straight games, overcome fifth seeded local, Steve Jenes 21/19, 21/13, and then overpowered top seed Peter Anderson, 21/13, 12/21, 21/17. Whilst all the mayhem was going on in the top half of the draw, the indefatigable and third seeded RossFalconer (Commercial Club Albury), was quietly putting his opponents to the sword through relentless pressure and lengthy rallies, with all three matches requiring a deciding third game. But it was Baines who was on top of his game for the final, attacking from the outset, eventually capturing the title in straight games, 21/6, 21/12.

D GRADE

Following second placing in both the Geelong Classic and Victorian Open events,Mitchell Nero showed why heis destined for higher pickings, clinching the Lakes D Grade crown with three devastating displays, including his final win over Wodonga team mate, Darcy MacPherson, 21/11, 21/12. In the semi finals, Nero overcame Bairnsdale GP debutant Brent Reynolds, 21/9, 21/8, with MacPherson surviving a close encounter with Bairnsdale’s Yvonne Dixon, 21/17, 22/21.

E GRADE

This event contained an even mixture of experience and young debutants from Lakes and Bairnsdale, but in the end, all of Furry’s protégés were blown away by Bairnsdale’s Anthony Baxter and Helen Scott, with Baxter overpowering Scott in the final, 21/14, 21/13, and recording his first GP title. At the semi final stage, Baxter survived a nail biter 21/20, 21/20, against Ballarat Open E Grade winner, Josh Katona, with Scott holding on against Liam Proctor, 21/19, 21/20.

F Grade

This event was ascattering ofage groupings and players from across the state, but in the end it was Ballarat debutant Clare Schaper who claimed the major silverware, winning the final stanza 38 points to 34 points over Corio’s Jackson Lander –Mitchell. In the semi finals, Schaper defeated local hope, Jacqueline Jenes, 42 to 24, and Lander-Mitchell overcame Dromana’s Nelson Howard, 39 to 28.