PTM Editor Wayne Dollard reported on both events from Pittsburgh:
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania — When it came to surprises and unanticipated drama the 2005 Marsh APTA Nationals delivered where no other championship had in recent memory.
On Thursday, March 17, sixty of the top women platform tennis players in the world kicked off the four-day competition by vying for the 2005 President's Cup. The Region I women (Downstate New York New Jersey and Fairfield County, Connecticut) had won the competition each year since starting a four-year run in their own backyard with the APTA New Jersey Nationals in 2001. This year's team was led by returning champions Susan Lovejoy, Susan Trizian and Kerith Flynn. With the absence of six 2004 nationally ranked playing veterans including the #2 national ranked player Aila Main, Region I was at a disadvantage. Waiting to take advantage was the hos[...]
On behalf of the American Platform Tennis Association I would like to thank you for another terrific season. As I close my first year as President I want to reflect on some of the initiatives the Board and I set out for this season.
Our two main goals for the year were to be in the black financially and have a web site that provided additional member services. On the financial front it looks like we will return to profitability. The Web site provided a bit more of a challenge, but with the never-ending help of Marjorie Hodson, our Executive Director, and Jim Ingle of the Revere Group, we seem to be headed in the right direction. Building a web site is always a work in progress, with the first year being especially difficult. Fortunately, we have the infrastructure to continue the building process.
Our secondary goals were marketing the sport through exhibitions and other promotiona[...]
APTA Secretary Taylor Bowen reported:
The APTA Board of Directors held its Annual Meeting and work sessions May 20-21, 2005, at the Glen View Club near Chicago. In addition to working through the usual tasks of scheduling next season's tournaments, debating rule changes, and planning enhanced member services, the Board also took action on two especially exciting developments.
First, in a move designed to foster the growth of paddle in the South, the Board approved the creation of a new APTA region Region VII which is defined as Virginia (excluding Northern Virginia/metro Washington, DC) and south along the Atlantic Coast. The "deep South" has had active paddle communities for decades but in the past several years has seen an increase in number of players, court installations and participation by southern teams in APTA tournaments. Charlottesville, Richmond, Winston-Salem and Atlant[...]
For the first time since Region I claimed the 2002 President's Cup in Long Island, the hosting women's region won the event The women of Region IV hadn't taken home the Cup since 1996 (Rochester). Congratulations to Region IV team players: Jessica Guyaux and Kelly Fischer, Lissy Hill and Janet Mazzola, Holly Peck and Karen Henke, Nathalie Lemieux and Ann Wagner and Nancy Budde and Heather Hairston-Prop.
The Men of Region V have claimed the President's Cup for the first time since dominating the competition in their region (in the 1998 Chicago Nationals). The ten-man team deprived Region IV of a President's Cup sweep by defeating them by one set. Congratulations to Region five teams: Jay Woldenberg and Mike Sullivan, Michael Chabraja and John Noble, Ben McKnight and DanWilliams, Peter Berka and Ed Granger and Mike Marino and Mike Rahaley.
The 2005 Junior Nationals hit a new milestone with over 200 players participating in seven divisions. The event was a huge success thanks to the cooperation of over 20 volunteers, which included a combination of caring parents and PPTA pros. Special thanks goes to Marjorie Hodson for her help in setting the schedules for each of the nine different tournament sites!The event was a huge success thanks to the cooperation of over 20 volunteers, which included a combination of caring parents and PPTA pros.
[enlarge image to seethe 2005 National Champions and Finalists for each age group and division]. Congratulations to all the juniors for a great day of paddle and amazing sportsmanship!The 2005 Junior Nationals hit a new milestone with over 200 players participating in seven ditnsions.
Source: Platform Tennis Magazine, Vol. 6, Issue 5, April, 2005
As competitive play increases in platform tennis, so does the need for accurate line calls. Platform tennis courts are smaller than tennis courts and line calls are typically easier to make, with the exception of where the singles line meets the service box. To solve this issue Jason Gray (Beckett Ridge Country Club in West Chester, OH) and David Dodge (Premier Platform Tennis) implemented an idea used in tennis which is to leave a three inch gap in the singles line. Jason had mentioned this idea to David two years ago but with 'The Battle of Beckett' during the Cincinnati Midwesterns, and the Premier Purple introduction, the service gap issue was unintentionally neglected until the idea surfaced by John Stefanik, a private court owner from Philadelphia. John wants the service gap incorporated in his court when he resurfaces with Premier Purple this spring 2005. Jason put this new idea i[...]
In two recent events held at the Beacon Hill Club in Summit, NJ, and the Fox Meadow Tennis Club in Scarsdale, NY, the Platform Tennis Hall of Fame recognized the outstanding achievements of four individuals through their induction into the Platform Tennis Hall of Fame.
On February 19, 2005, at the time of the Women's Senior National Championships at Beacon Hill, Patty Hogan was honored before a large and enthusiastic lunchtime gathering of her peers in an induction speech delivered by Steve Baird.
On March 5, 2005, David Childs, Bill Childs and Charles Vasoll were honored in ceremonies during the evening social gathering of participants in the Senior Men's Nationals at the Fox Meadow Club. Before a large an appreciative crowd oftheir peers, the Childs' induction presentation was delivered by Brook Kindred. Charles Vasoll's induction presentation was delivered by Bob Brown. Vaso[...]
Nestled in the center of the Niagara Region, the Niagara Platform Tennis Club (NPTC) will open its doors this fall as Canada's first new platform tennis facility in over 10 years. Located just 30 minutes from Buffalo, one hour from Toronto and just 15 minutes from Niagara Falls, the NPTC can offer plenty of enjoyment for both platform tennis enthusiasts and fans.
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Source: The Platform Tennis Magazine, Vol. 7, Issue 1, September, 2005
Region VII was established in early 2005 and was defined as Virginia (excluding Northern VA and metro Washington DC) and south along the Atlantic Coast.
Source: Platform Tennis Magazine, Vol 7 Issie 1, Sept. 2005
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