Come out and watch the Tennis Festival October 17 and 18.
Mark Wong
Last year at this time, fans who came to watch our Tennis Festival had a great time watching some enjoyable tennis matches and doing the wave. This year should be no different, so save the dates: Friday and Saturday, October 17 and 18. You’ll enjoy watching members of the SBRTA play some fun tennis in the Steiness Tennis Festival. This is the third year of this tennis festival event and the first year it’s been named the Steiness Tennis Festival.
Earlier this year the membership unanimously voted to change the name in recognition and in honor of Helge Steiness, the founding SBRTA president who presided in the 2012 and 2013 years. Sadly, Helge passed away late last year.
Helge was a gentleman in the way he conducted himself, in the way he played the game of tennis and in the way he treated people in general. Anyone who has used the tennis ball machine at the Ranch has Helge to thank for securing it, and anyone who watched the first festival may remember he was one of the winners of the men’s doubles title.
The festival event format has changed this year. Unlike past events where everyone was playing essentially for themselves, this year we will have a team tennis format.
Two captains, Lutz Pape and Janice Neal, will manage their respective teams formed from names drawn from a hat at each skill level. Therefore, all matches will have players compete against others at their level. This will be a fun environment as each match will have team members rooting for their respective team players.
After the Friday matches, everyone is invited to get together in the Bistro to celebrate the day’s play and event festivities. Chairs and cold water will be provided for the festival. Just bring your sunhats, sit back and root for your favorite players and/or team. It will be an enjoyable two days of tennis.