Big racket as club celebrates new courts

 

Mangawhai Tennis Club celebrated the opening of two new tennis courts on December 2, a project that has been three long years in the making.

Kaipara deputy mayor, Peter Wethey, cut the opening ribbon, celebrated in true tennis fashion with champagne, strawberries and cream.

The new courts will be a welcome addition to the club which has a growing membership and recognises the number of new people moving to Mangawhai.

Members say fundraising and getting the work done on a (tennis) shoestring couldn't have been done without the vision and commitment of out-going club president Rick Smith and his band of helpers.

The opening ceremony was also an opportunity to thank local businesses and organisations without whom the courts would still be an idea, not a reality: Wilson Contracting, Fox Earthmovers, Kaipara District Council, Pub Charities, The Mangawhai Club, The Factory op Shop, Tara Iti Golf Club, Karl Mack, Jason Bishop, Aaron Cameron Builder, The Mangawhai Domain Society, Pacific Coast Surveyors and Tony Turnbull.

Players are already enjoying the quality and bounce of the new courts and, along with new lights, will give the opportunity for more and longer tournaments as days shorten later in the season.

- PHOTO/Supplied