After a summer in which all but one of the South Cowichan Lawn Tennis Club’s major tournaments had to be cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the club went back in time last weekend to remember a different era.
The 133-year-old grass tennis club in Cowichan Bay hosted its first-ever Wood Racket Tournament on Sunday. Originally set up for 32 players, the field was reduced to 16 because of the damp weather and poor air quality on the weekend. The 16 entrants, who observed Island Health guidelines, played a modified round-robin doubles tournament of four rounds.
The final saw SCLTC resident pro Art Hobbs and his partner Dave Pentland beaten 6-2, 6-4 by the much younger team of pro Wes Bertsch and Danny Carranza.
Prizes for the tournament were sponsored by Small Block Brewery and Enrico Winery. Despite the poor air quality and reduced numbers, many players dressed in period outfits inspired by the early days of the SCLTC.