The husband and wife team of Marjorie Blackwood and Peter Schelling of the Whistler Racquet Club have netted some strong results in Masters Tennis play in recent weeks.
On Sunday, May 1, Blackwood took both the Singles and Doubles titles at the Western Canadian Indoor Nationals, which were held in Nanaimo. Some 85 women took part in the event from as far away as Ontario.
Blackwood, a three time Canadian champ and former pro ranked in the top 50, won the women’s 45 singles and doubles title, along with her partner Karen Kettenacker.
In the singles Blackwood defeated Cora Wills of Vancouver 6-1, 6-2 in the finals, while Blackwood and Kettenacker defeated Kathy Fox and Deb Harit of B.C.
The Western Indoor Nationals is one of two qualifier events for the Canadian National team, which competes at the world championships.
Schelling also had a pair of big wins in recent weeks, defeating the top ranked Men’s 50s player in Canada in the quarter finals of the Vancouver Lawn Tennis and Badminton Club’s Masters Championships, sponsored by HSBC. Schelling also defeated the fourth seeded Ken McBean in the semifinals, but was forced to pull out of the finals with an injury.
On May 20-23, the Whistler Racquet Club will once again host the annual HSBC Masters Doubles Round Robin Tournament. Last year’s event brought out a field of 170 Masters tennis players, and organizers are expecting another strong turnout this year.
The event includes men’s and women’s doubles and mixed doubles in various age categories, starting from 35 years and up. Entries are available at the Whistler Racquet Club, and local players are invited to test their skills against some of the best Masters players in the province, and enjoy the weekend’s social events. More information is available at www.whistlertennis.com.
