Tennis league with long history

Taupo Tennis Club is getting ready for another Business House competition, and the man who started the league 46 years ago encourages everyone to get involved.

Held on Tuesday and Thursday nights at 6pm and 7.30pm, the league offers teams of four or five people the chance to play two doubles matches. The season runs from Tuesday October 11 for 10 weeks until mid-December, then from February until April.

Maurice Gianotti started the first league in 1970 when he was 30 years old.

Then a teacher at Taupo Primary School, Gianotti was encouraged to attend the tennis club’s annual meeting by principal Henry Kay in order to ‘‘liven up the club’’.

‘‘No one else was putting up their hand, so I found myself made club captain right then and there,’’ Gianotti said.

The courts, originally located in the corner of the Tongariro Domain, right beside the roundabout, were greatly under-utilised initially.

‘‘There were four men who played interclub,’’ Gianotti said.

‘‘There was no interest in Saturday tennis because people wanted to get out on lake, spend time with their families and play Saturday sport.’’

Gianotti started a business house league with eight teams of four people. However, interest in the casual weekday sport grew.

‘‘The following year, I think we had about 18 teams. The following year, 28 teams. It just took off.’’ Gianotti said.

Taupo township was very different in in the 70s, he said

‘‘Where Pak’nSave is now, there was a paddock for the school’s horses,’’ he said.

‘‘Once you got to Taupo Primary School, town virtually stopped. There were paddocks and pumice roads from there on.’’

Club captain Alan Murray welcomes registrations for the 2016/2107 summer league.

‘‘Get your mates together and have some fun,’’ he said.

‘‘Build up your business’s team spirit, enjoy a hit, and a cold one at the club pub after the game.’’

* Taupo Tennis Club’s Business House League, Tuesdays and Thursday 6pm or 7.30pm from October 11 onwards. Registrations close October 11. Register at taupotennis.org.nz, call Alan Murray 0297708511 for more information.