OUYEN Lawn Tennis Club’s (OLTC) annual Labour Day tournament has become one of the region’s most popular events and looks set to again attract a strong field.
The three-day tournament hits off next Saturday with men’s and women’s singles matches across all grades.
OLTC president Paul Dean said there had been plenty of interest from players throughout the region.
“They are building up slowly – people like to leave things to the last minute, but hopefully we will get up to around 150 (players),” Dean said.
“We get a lot of people who grew up in Ouyen and who played tennis as juniors in Ouyen who come back and it’s not just them coming back, they bring friends with them.
“It creates a great environment and adds to the social side, but it also provides for good tennis on the court.
“Everyone takes it fairly serious, but once we shake hands at the end of the day it’s very social.”
In the men’s open singles, Dean is hoping David Schmidt will return to defend his title.
Schmidt defeated former Mildura Lawn Tennis Club player Liam Galbraith in last year’s final, 6-3, 7-6.
In the women’s section, Paige McLean will start favourite, but is sure to receive plenty of opposition from some of the region’s best.
Dean said there would be plenty of entertainment with live music on Sunday and a chook raffle. Anyone interested in playing can enter through the club’s website.
