Sport
19 November, 2025
Thrilling matches as ladder leaders hold strong
Last weekend’s tennis in the Ararat and District Tennis Association brought plenty of action, with ladder leaders Maryborough holding strong and Elmhurst-Amphitheatre picking up a big win at Buangor.
WRITTEN BY MEL MURNANE
Crowlands traveled to Maryborough for what promised to be an exciting match, and the ladies’ section didn’t disappoint. Julia Harricks and Annabelle Price put in a strong performance, beating Maryborough’s Jasmine King and Steph Leirich 8-1 in the fourth set, narrowly taking the ladies’ section by just 2 games.
Maryborough’s men were too strong for Crowlands, though. Riley Ford and Daniel Potter had a close set against Hayden Price and Keith Boatman, but Maryborough comfortably won the men’s section by 20 games.
Heading into the mixed section, Crowlands needed some big wins to stay in the contest. They started well, with the number one pair, Kate Vance and Doug Newberry, beating Maryborough’s Riley Ford and Kate McLoughlin 8-4. Despite this good start, Maryborough settled in and took the remaining sets, winning overall 84-55 in games and 8-2 in match points.
At Buangor, Buangor-Ararat faced Elmhurst-Amphitheatre in a match played in good spirits, with both teams fielding a few fill-in players.
The men’s section kicked off with a close tie-breaker, where Elmhurst-Amphitheatre’s Josh Barker and Will Joubert just got past Buangor-Ararat’s Chris Hartwich and Wayne Hoare 9-8. Elmhurst-Amphitheatre then took control to win the rest of the men’s sets 33-19.
The ladies’ section saw Elmhurst-Amphitheatre make the most of Buangor’s bitumen courts, winning 32-9 with some solid tennis. The mixed matches were the highlight of the day, featuring memorable mother-and-son pairings from Buangor-Ararat. Kim & Chris Hartwich and Kara & Tom Bartlett both took part. Kara and Tom battled hard against Elmhurst-Amphitheatre’s Aimee Harrison and Lucy McLay but narrowly lost 7-9.
Elmhurst-Amphitheatre went on to win the match overall 98-44 in games and claimed all 10 match points.
Tomorrow promises more excitement as Buangor-Ararat hosts Landsborough at the Ararat Courts, while the top two teams meet with Elmhurst-Amphitheatre hosting Maryborough. Crowlands will have the week off with a bye.
Maryborough 84/8 def Crowlands 55/2
Men’s
Riley Ford, Lyndon Tait (8) def Hayden Price, Doug Newberry (4)
Daniel Potter, Matt Morse (8) def Keith Boatman, Chris Frampton (1)
R. Ford, D. Potter (9) def H. Price, K. Boatman (7)
L. Tait, M. Morese (8) def D. Newberry, C. Frampton (1)
Ladies
Kate McLoughlin, Jasmine King (5) lost to Kate Vance, Julia Harricks (8)
Bianca Powell, Steph Lierich (8) def Jess Frampton, Anabelle Price (3)
K. McLoughlin, B. Powell (8) def K. Vance, J. Frampton (5)
J. King, S. Lierich (1) lost to J. Harricks, A. Price (8)
Mixed
R. Ford, K. McLoughlin (4) lost to D. Newberry, K. Vance (8)
D. Potter, J. King (9) def H. Price, J. Harricks (7)
M. Morse, B. Powell (8) def K. Boatman, A. Price (2)
L. Tait, S. Lierich (8) def C. Frampton, J. Frampton (1)
Buangor-Ararat 44/0 lost to Elmhurst-Amphitheatre 98/10
Men’s
Chris Hartwich, Wayne Hoare (8) lost to Josh Barker, Will Joubert (9)
Tom Bartlett, Katie Sanford (4) lost to Marlow Edgar, Lucy McLay (8)
C. Hartwich, T. Bartlett (3) lost to J. Barker, M. Edgar (8)
W. Hoare, K. Sanford (4) lost to W. Joubert, L. McLay (8)
Ladies
K. Hartwich, Sabaya Woods (3) lost to Sally Riley, Mel Murnane (8)
Kara Bartlett, Lyn Qian (1) lost to Aimee Harrison, Kate Mulvenney (8)
K. Hartwich, K. Bartlett (2) lost to S. Riley, A. Harrison (8)
S. Woods, L. Qian (3) lost to M. Murname, K. Mulvenney (8)
Mixed
C. Hartwich, K. Hartwich (3) lost to J. Barker, S. Riley (8)
W. Hoare, S. Woods (2) lost to W. Joubert, M. Murnane (8)
T. Bartlett, K. Bartlett (7) lost to M. Edgar, A. Harrison (9)
K. Sanford, L. Qian (4) lost to L. McLay, K. Mulvenney (8)
Read More: Elmhurst, Ararat, Landsborough, Buangor