SUBMITTED BY SSTA
Twenty-four teams participated in the sixth annual Rajsic Classic tennis tournament, making for a great turnout and some exciting matches for the May long weekend fundraiser.
The event was created in memory of Roy Rajsic, a Salt Spring Island tennis fan who loved supporting junior tennis and died in 2016. His partner Margaret Benmore continues the tradition.
Funds raised benefit junior tennis players through the Salt Spring Tennis Association ( SSTA) and the Tomorrow’s Champions program. New this year will be a $500 donation to the Gulf Islands Secondary School’s newly formed tennis team.
Tournament director Pete Schelling was thrilled to host teams from Salt Spring, Vancouver Island and Vancouver for the two-day event. This year categories consisted of combined ages adding up to 100, 120 and 140 years of age in ladies, men’s and mixed doubles.
This year’s winners and finalists were:
Ladies 120: Vancouver Island’s Debra Hayhoe and Cathy Karam defeating locals Lorna Kerr and Cathy Patel 8-3.
Men’s 120: Locals Tim Dubois and Michael Berendt defeating Salt Spring’s John Lapointe and Vancouver’s Ray Pollard 8-4.
Men’s 140: Locals Wayne Wrigley and Gordon Speed defeating other locals David Cummings and Humberto Martinho 8-0.
Mixed 100: Vancouver Island’s Debra Hayhoe and Dennis Tasic defeating Victoria’s Jian Zhang and Ken Blatherwick 6-3.
Mixed 120: Victoria’s Rita and Art Hobbs defeating locals Deb Orange and Tim Dubois 8-5.
Mixed 140: Salt Spring’s Rosa Alcaraz and John Lapointe defeating locals Judy Kirk and Michael Gooblar 8-4.
Organizers thank the Capital Regional District Salt Spring parks and recreation department for hosting the event, and sponsors SSTA and Salt Spring Wild Cider, as well as volunteers and hosts Babette Arnoldus, Tim Dubois and Deb Orange.