This weekend the Tennis Access Tour made its annual stop at the Stratford Tennis Club. Players from across the province made their way to the Stratford Club for rain delayed men’s and ladies doubles on Saturday, and battled the heat on Sunday to compete in the mixed doubles event. Players from the host Club had a great weekend with winners or finalists in 5 of the 6 events, making this the most successful tennis access event for Stratford players in history.
For the first time in over 25 years a Stratford player was on the winning men’s ‘A’ doubles team. Max Besworth and his partner Matt Jaekel (London) dominated every match they played on Saturday including the ‘A’ final where the scored an 8 – 3 victory over Scott Barrett and Colin Doll of Toronto. The men’s ‘B’ final saw Stratford’s John Noble and Richard Bast get off to a great start before running out of gas and falling 8 – 5 to Collingwood’s Paul Cornfield and Bob Coady.
 The Ladies ‘A’ championship went to Sandra Barrett and Sue Scharlach of Toronto who downed Sara Arashmin and Cheryl Burrows of Ajax in the final 8 games to 5. The ladies ‘B’ final was an all Stratford affair, and the closest final of the weekend. Johanna Billings and Deb Murphy were able to edge Maria Donkers and Sandie Ennett 8 -7 (7 points to 1 in the tie-breaker) to take the title.
 Stratford took a part of the mixed ‘A’ title as the home club’s Bob Tamblyn teamed with Barrett to defeat Scharlach and Doll 8 – 6 in a well played final. Stratford’s Grant McPherson, at 13 by far the youngest competitor in the event, put on a great display in the mixed doubles. Grant teamed with Cheryl Burrows (Ajax) to have one impressive win after another, advancing to the mixed ‘B’ final where they fell 8 – 0 to Porjai Jansresattana and Steve Rumazza of Milton.

Men’s Doubles ‘A’ Champions (l to r) Matt Jaekel (London) and Max Besworth (Stratford)

Mixed Doubles ‘A’ (l to r) Champions Bob Tamblyn (Stratford) + Sandie Ennett (Toronto), Finalists Colin Doll + Sue Scharlach (Toronto)

Ladies Doubles ‘B’ (l to r) Finalists Maria Donkers + Sandie Ennett (Stratford), Champions Johanna Billings + Deb Murphy (Stratford)

Bill White