Piako residents to attend international tennis competition

Two Piako residents will be attending the International Tennis Federation’s (ITF) super seniors teams championship in Croatia this September.

Sandy Tritt and Norma Wilton, Tatuanui Tennis Club members, will be among the nine New Zealand teams attending the event.

Tritt is set to compete in the 60-65 division, while Wilton will play in the 75-80 division.

“I’ve played in an event similar to this five years ago in Turkey,” Tritt said.

“I am training a lot at the moment. I am entering tournaments, going to the gym, skipping and walking.”

Wilton said that the championship in Croatia will be a good challenge for her.

“I’m just looking forward to playing in the competition. If I play well I will be happy,” she said.

The championship is made up of teams of four from around the world playing against each other in age categories.

Points are based on a round robin basis, followed by knock out rounds later in the competition if needed to give a complete ranking of all teams.

According to Tritt the change of venue is what lots of people are looking forward to as the location is by the sea.

Turkey has hosted the event a few times over the last 12 years with Croatia hosting the ITF championships for the first time.

Individuals attending the event in teams have the opportunity to stay in Croatia afterwards to participate in the individual championship.

To make the cut for the championship players had to take part in the national event held in Tauranga.

Both Tritt and Wilton placed highly at the nationals, winning titles in the women’s singles and doubles events.

The super seniors team championship run from September 10-15, followed by the individuals event from September 16-20.