Sweet 16 compete in tennis tourney

Former Summerland resident Spencer McIntosh now living in sa国际传媒 hits this volley for a winner during action in the Birks Cup mensa国际传媒 doubles event at the Penticton Tennis Club on the weekend. (Mark Brett Photo)

An iconic, century-old piece of sports silverware is now in the hands of a pair of Southern Interior tennis players.
West Martin-Patterson of Salmon Arm and Vernonsa国际传媒 Joe McFadden went undefeated in the qualifying and round-robin A pool to take home the Birks Cup mensa国际传媒 doubles trophy at the Penticton Tennis Club (PTC). A total of 16 teams in four divisions took part in the two-day event. Each duo played in two qualifying matches to determine which of the four pools they would play the remaining three matches.

The tournament was first held in 1920 in Salmon Arm before moving to its new home in Penticton nearly a half-century ago.

Competitors in this yearsa国际传媒 event ranged in age from nine to 77.

鈥淭he importance of the tournament is the history behind it and the fact that its 104 years of existence likely makes it one of the longest running tournaments in sa国际传媒,鈥 said PTCsa国际传媒 Kersten Grant. 鈥淭he tournament is so successful every year because of its lengthy history, the location of the PTC on the waterfront, and the time of year that itsa国际传媒 held.听

Second place in the A pool went to Pentictonsa国际传媒 Bob Grant and Enzo DeLaurentiis.

B pool winners were sa国际传媒sa国际传媒 Spencer McIntosh (formerly of Summerland) and Ben Thompson. Pentictonsa国际传媒 Oscar Woodman and RJ McInnis were runners up.

C Pool champions were PTC members Johan De Kock and Tim Bowen-Roberts who finished ahead of fellow club members Tomasz and Julius Bartkowicz.
D pool winners Warren Belcher and Steve Hallis finished just ahead of Chris Stokes and Ed Broderick, all of Penticton.