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Floridan Park Tennis Club

Team photo 1998

Floridan Park is a rural tennis club based in Northern Victoria. Over the last ten years, the club has seen the highs and lows of sporting success. After winning the Division 2 Grand Final in 1993/94, our fortunes have fluctuated since the elevation to Division 1. Although finals appearances have been regular, we have not reached the pinnacle of the sport in the Premier division. After a one game loss in the 2000/2001 season Finale, we are primed for a big season. Prior to the Christmas adjournment the Club had suffered only one loss for the season, that being against the newest team in the competition, Berrigan. The Park got one back however, when the return bout came around and the ledger was square. Berrigan sought to rectify that in the next instalment which they did by 2 games in arguably the closest match all season. Scarcely a hand full of games separated the two teams all day. Following the loss to Berrigan, we were all keen to make amends against arch-rivals, Picola the following week. After a slow start, things only got worse for The Park. The end of proceedings saw Picola victorious by a comfortable 16 games. Next week sees a day/night extravaganza at Katunga which will be our big chance to get back on the winners board.

L to R : John, David, Val, Bill(front), Kerrie, Gayle, Phil.

Player Profiles

Peter - Gun recruit for this year. Has been dogged by a shoulder injury for much of the season but still enjoys a healthy winning percentage. Very much the team player and is always keen to encourage other members to attain greater heights.

Phil - The club stalwart. Not many people can remember Phil not playing for Floridan Park. Ever reliable to be called on to play, Phil has been the backbone of the club for many years. Phil has also struggled with injury this year.

Clare - A long standing member of the Floridan Park team. Clare has strong family links to the club. Along with the rest of us, Clare is having a good season and is looking forward to premiership success in a couple of months time.

David - Yet another club stalwart. David has the honor of being the closest resident to the Club facilities. Tasted Premiership success in 1994/95 and has devised a 5 year plan for that level of success to be achieved this year.

Bill - Long standing Club president. Bill has been with The Park for almost 10 years and can sense big things for the future, this year in particular.

Rod - Another long serving team member who has always played at The Park. Rod has the uncanny knack of being able to peak at the drop of a hat with little or no practice.

Greg - One of the young guns. Greg has been with the Club for a relatively short period of time but has proven to be a great asset with his ability to chase down every ball. Former hockey player from Bowral, has made an easy transition to tennis.

Donna - The youngest member of the current squad, Donna has had a stellar year so far. Like mum Val, has an unquenchable desire for success.

Val - Val came from Numurkah some years ago to bolster the Parks' depth of talent. Along with partner Kerrie, has been known to go an entire season without a doubles loss. Remarkable!

Gayle - Yet another of the junior brigade to progress to the senior ranks. A solid singles player when not trecking around Australia or the world.

Kerrie - Defected from Numurkah with Val some years ago. The backbone of some outstanding wins for the team when our mens depth of talent was a little shallow.

The Season so Far

Round 1 - Barooga v. Floridan Park - Match abandoned due to rain.
Round 2 - Berrigan 7 sets 66 defeated Floridan Park 7 sets 63
Round 3 - Floridan Park 7 sets 74 defeated Picola 7 sets 66.
Round 4 - Floridan Park 10 sets 80 defeated Katunga White 4 sets 61
Round 5 - Floridan Park 7 sets 74 defeated Katunga Red 7 sets 70.
Round 6 - Floridan Park 9 sets 80 defeated Barooga 5 sets 60.
Round 7 - Floridan Park 8 sets 80 defeated Berrigan 6 sets 72.
Round 8 - Floridan Park 10 sets 85 defeated Picola 4 sets 57.
Round 9 - Floridan Park 11 sets 90 defeated Katunga White 3 sets 68.
Round 10 - Floridan Park 9 sets 81 defeated Katunga Red 5 sets 62.
Round 11 - Floridan Park won on forfeit to Barooga.
Round 12 - Berrigan 9 sets 73 defeated Floridan Park 5 sets 71.
Round 13 - Picola 9 sets 82 defeated Floridan Park 5 sets 66.
Round 14 - Floridan Park 9 sets 77 defeated Katunga White 5 sets 66.
Round 15 - Floridan Park 11 sets 89 defeated Katunga Red 3 sets 48.
Round 16 - Floridan Park 11 sets 90 defeated Barooga 3 sets 48.
Round 17 - Berrigan 10 sets 80 defeated Floridan Park 4 sets 60.
Round 18 - Floridan Park 8 sets 75 defeated Picola 6 sets 66.
Second semi-final - Berrigan 9 sets 84 defeated Floridan Park 5 sets 68.
Qualifying final - Floridan Park 10 sets 79 defeated Picola 4 sets 58.
Grand Final - Berrigan 7 sets 72 defeated Floridan Park 7 sets 67.

*Stop Press*

Floridan Park are back on the winners list with an emphatic win over Katunga White on January 25th. In often difficult conditions, The Park ended their 2 game losing streak before an appreciative audience of half a dozen or so. Insects covered the courts for the second half of the evening but that could not have broken the concentration of an outfit which was determined to not to lose 3 in a row. In a return to form, Donna won 3 sets and all looks ominous for our opponents in the coming weeks. The team gelled together and it would appear that the post Christmas hangover is all but a distant memory now. With another game against a Katunga outfit this coming week, confidence is sky high as we march toward the finals series.

The Ladder

        Berrigan                   110.5   points
    Floridan Park          105 points
   Katunga White          86 points
Picola                    80 points
   Katunga Red           48.5 points
Barooga                 23 points

Floridan Park Juggernaut Rolls On

In yet another day/night extravaganza, Floridan Park has moved into outright favoritism for the Premiership. Against Katunga Red, the Park ran out victors by a massive 41 games in the biggest win for many years. After a narrow win the previous week, the team needed to consolidate their position in the top 2. This was acheived with consumate ease as all players turned up the heat and buried the opposition. It is hard to find enough superlatives to accurately convey the level of determination shown by all and sundry in what was a watershed moment in the history of Floridan Park. After the mid season slump of early January, there was an air of expectation around the club that something big was about to happen, and happen it did. Almost everyone came away from the night with 3 sets under their belt in a performance which could take decades to eclipse. With this in mind, everyone must be very mindful of over confidence. A case in point are the fortunes of the Essendon Football Club, who despite being by far the strongest team in the AFL for the past 4 years, have only managed one premiership mainly due to their cocky attitude and reliance one or two stars (i.e Hird and that other bloke). So, the team must be briefed on what is known as the Essendon Paradox to avoid looking like complete idiots.

Decades Schmecades!

The performance of February 1st which was regarded by many as Floridan Parks' finest hour and one which may never have been eclipsed has taken the team less than a week to surpass. In the third day/night extravaganza in as many weeks, Floridan Park have cemented themselves into second position and equal Premiership favoritism. Victoria's fickle weather seemed all but certain to dampen the aspirations of a team who are high on the wave of success. Fortuitously, the rain abated, and the match began at the Barooga tennis complex in cool but otherwise perfect conditions. Clare and Donna got the team off to a good start and it was all systems go from that point. Greg and Bill won their respective men's singles in solid fashion and were ably supported by Kerrie and Val in the women's doubles. Peter and Phil cruised through both their men's doubles and by then the record from the prevoius week looked in danger. With only the mixed doubles to play, Floridan Park had won 9 of the 10 sets. In a minor hiccup, we lost 2 of the mixed doubles but still managed to get home by 42 games, one game more than the previous week. Some of the team celebrated into the wee small hours at Wally's place whereas others had to work the next day and were deprived of partaking in the revelry.

Next week sees the return bout against Berrigan in what will surely be the match of the round. With Berrigan leading 2/1 in the head to head stakes this season, Floridan Park has a bit to prove against the classy NSW outfit. It cannot be overlooked, however, that the Park has won by an average of 40 games plus over the past 2 weeks and this should be a good leadup to the match of the round or possibly the match of the season.

In one of Floridan Park's more forgettable performances this year, we were overrun by a sharp Berrigan outfit to the tune of 20 games. With only one home and away round left, time is running short to regain some of our early season form. In oppressive humidity and with the weather threatening to halt proceedings prematurely, Floridan Park was on the back foot very early in the piece. Managing to win only four sets for the day was far from our collective thoughts but that was the end result. Going down by 20 games was probably not too bad an outcome when this is taken into consideration, but with another clash with Berrigan in a fortnight looming large and players under injury clouds, the long road to the Grand Final might well be the only way we can do it. Fortunately, finishing second will guarantee 2 chances to make the big one. With a number of players going around in the Katunga night series, perhaps our fortunes will improve. Stay tuned for an update as soon as it happens, also watch for a new player stats page with quotes, pictures and tips from the players (like anyone would use them!).

The Park blows it!

The Park back on song!

emphatic a. forcibly expressive (of action or process). forcible, significant.

Well fans, that's it for another season. The last of the home and away rounds was played today in perfect conditions at arguably the most well manicured courts in the district (Floridan Park in case anyone was wondering!). I don't think the word emphatic is used quite enough, especially in sporting circles. Well I can tell everyone now that it is going to get a hammering this week. Floridan Park emphatic-ed all over a full strength Picola. A close tussle all day ensured not a spectator left before the last ball was hit. That might have been a different story had anyone actually bothered to turn up. Regardless of that, the Park managed to put the finishing touch on what has been a stellar season so far. Last time out, Picola inflicted a surprise defeat on a hapless Floridan Park to the tune of 16 games. It was going to take some doing to get that monkey off our back. Scarcely a handful of games separated the combatants all day but in a great show of intestinal fortitude, the Park prevailed by a relatively comfortable 9 games. With one of our mixed doubles pairings suffering debilitating injuries during and after their set, a return to fitness next week will be an ominous sign for Berrigan in the first of the finals series. Until next time, best wishes from the crew at Floridan Park.

2nd semi-final - Berrigan vs. Floridan Park

A full strength Floridan Park side was no match for a hopefully full strength Berrigan. After holding our own for most of the day, the final result was a comfortable 16 games. The margin for most of the day was around 6 or 7 games, but when it mattered, Berrigan surged ahead. However, all is not lost. The Park faces a do or die final against Picola who ended Katunga's finals aspirations with a comfortable win. The general consensus is that the Park should be able to overcome Picola. Beating Berrigan will be another story. Stay tuned for all the excitement of the finals series as it meanders towards the big one.

The Park cruises into the big one

Well fans, this is it. Floridan Park has moved into their second consecutive Grand Final. In unprecedented scenes, Floridan Park disposed of a full strength Picola to the tune of 21 games in a one sided match. After getting off to a shaky start, losing 3 of the first 4 sets, the team gelled together to put an end to Picola's chances of an umpteenth consecutive Premiership. With a mammoth job now at hand to defeat the new kids on the block, Berrigan, all is in readiness for a giant killing effort. After being soundly beaten the last 2 times by Berrigan in the previous encounters, it will be all hands on deck to try and topple the benchmark team of the competition. With the disaapointment of last year still fresh in our minds, being focussed on the task at hand shouldn't be too much of a problem (we hope!).

Holding us in good stead will be the fact that for two whole weeks everyone has actually turned up to training. This has never happened. Maybe it has been the lure of beer and snacks during training, but hopefully not.

Stay tuned for more news as it breaks, in this, the week of the Grand Final.

Floridan Park - Bridesmaids two years in a row...

In a close fought contest, Berrigan has outmuscled Floridan Park to become the Numurkah and District Hardcourt Tennis Association Premiers. Hardly a game separated the two combatants all day. In fact Floridan Park gained the early lead thanks to some brilliant thinking around the selectors table. At the afternoon tea adjournment, the Park was actually in the lead by 2 games and looked the goods. However, Berrigan were too strong at the end of the day and ran out winners by 5 games. Our congratulations go to Berrigan. We'll be back later this year looking for that elusive piece of silverware on our mantlepiece (actually it's just a piece of cloth but silverware sounds more impressive!). Thanks to everyone who supported this site over the last few months. Stay tuned during the off season for our draft results.