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FOCUS - MAY 2016 15 TENNIS ANYONE Port Perry Club an Ace with Tennis Lovers Tennis anyone Enthusiasts in Scugog have been posing that question since 1969 when the Port Perry Tennis Club first spread humble wings in a parking lot. But if you phrase them differently those words also illustrate an important part of the sports wide appeal. Tennis is for anyone says the clubs current President Arnis Pukitis. We have both kids and seniors in our club as well as whole families as members. Perhaps theres no better example of that than Georgia Brock Sophia Brendon and Sydney Moore three gen- erations of the same family who continue to actively participate in club activities. Like golf tennis is a lifetime game says Sophia. You can learn it as a kid then go back to it later. And you can play just about anywhere theres a hard surface. Founding member Georgia understands that aspect as well as anyone. A retired teacher she spearheaded the clubs forma- tion and nurtured it during its earliest days. I put an ad in the Port Perry Star asking if anyone was interested in ten- nis she recalls fondly. Eight or ten people responded. At first we played on the high schools parking lot be- cause it was open at and paved. The edgling organization re- ceived municipal permission to paint court markings and sink postholes for nets. Now boasting three courts the group was off and running. The teachers would try to park clearofthecourtareaGeorgiasmiles. And as we offered more activities our turnout grew. Lessons which Georgia gave four nights a week proved a popular ad- dition and organized leagues soon followed. Buoyed by their swelling subscription the club raised its vision to the next level. With support from local ocials enclosed courts on Water Street were built. Yet in spite of its growing popularity the club remained informal. Oftenyoudjustshowup and get a game. Sometimes seniors partnered with kids to round out teams Georgia remembers. It was like one big family a social centre for a lot of people. As the quality of play and quantity of players increased some chafed for competi- tion beyond the clubs own leagues. A U of T Phys Ed grad Georgias daughter Sophia Brendon was among those who prospered in the expanded competition. Initially Port Perrys teams challenged other tennis clubs in Kawartha centres ulti- mately migrating to a league based in Durham Region. I was asked to play on the club teams. Eventually I joined the Durham College indoor facility where I could play through the winter months and competed even further away from home. Sophias 13-year old daughter Sydney travelled to Oshawa for her initiation to the game. I started at five years old she re- members. Oshawas a bigger place so I could start earlier. Right now I take lessons but dont play on the club teams. The current edition of the Port Perry Tennis Club boasts about 100 members. Photo by MAryAnn FLEMinG Its a family affair. From left Georgia Brock Sophia Brendon and Sydney Moore three generations who are actively involved with the Port Perry Tennis Club. ...................... Please turn to page 16