A Wangaratta-based team named after a popular 1960s US television show is leading the way in B1 at Yarrawonga’s Country Week.
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F Troop reflects the fun element of the tournament.
“I love the show for a start, the fact that we’re all getting a little older and we come from different parts of Victoria, so we’re a group of misfits,” Wangaratta’s Robert Voss said.
And the team boasts almost all the characters from the satirical show about US soldiers and American Indians in the Wild West of the 1860s, apart from the almost-blind lookout, Trooper Vanderbilt.
“No, no, if there’s any Vanderbilts here we’d be in trouble with the line calls but we’ve got Parmenter, O’Rourke, Agarn, Chief Wild Eagle, Dobbs and Duffy,” Voss said.
F Troop led its category, which is just two levels below A grade, after Monday’s opening matches.
“I think we got a little fortunate, we might have just got two of the bottom teams, today (Tuesday) might tell a few stories,” Voss said.
Voss, Ken Parker and Brett Goodwin are from Wangaratta, while Peter Filliponi is from Corowa.
The team’s main rival appears to be Albury City Diggers, which was second after the opening day.
“We’ve got some new recruits plus everybody gels pretty well, so it’s just a good team environment,” team member Ken Reid said.
Teams have different objectives, with the City Diggers looking to build on their fourth-place finish from last year.
“We’re here for a good time, but the tennis definitely comes first,” Reid said.
Two-hundred teams are contesting Country Week, which is the most since Yarrawonga last held the event in 2011.
“It is the highlight of our community tennis events for the year,” Tennis Victoria’s executive manager of participation Belinda Kleverlaan said.
“The spirit of the players and what it brings to regional towns is really exciting … the on-court and off-court is what makes Country Week so special.”
Meanwhile, junior coaching and pennant continues at the Albury grasscourts on Saturday with a 9.30am start.
Children aged seven to 14 are invited with information available on 0418 437 313.
And the next event in the Sportspower junior series will be at Albury’s tournament on Sunday.
Play commences at 9am.
Entries can be sent to either alburytennis1@bigpond.com, by calling 60213514, or, alternatively, left at the clubhouse.
...if there’s any Vanderbilts here we’d be in trouble with the line calls but we’ve got Parmenter, O’Rourke, Agarn, Chief Wild Eagle, Dobbs and Duffy.
- Robert Voss
