Around 100 racquetball players, friends and family were in attendance at the Bairnsdale Squash and Racquetball centre last weekend for the annual Gippsland Lakes Classic tournament.
The event saw singles matches played on Friday and Saturday, with Sunday dedicated to doubles.
The Bairnsdale Squash and Racquetball Association (BSaRA) is now in it’s fifth year of hosting this event after taking it on since the closure of the Lakes Entrance Squash Centre.
The Fuhrmeister family held the tournament for 27 years at the Lakes Entrance courts and are pleased to see the tradition continuing in the neighbouring town of Bairnsdale.
Since the passing of the tournament’s founder, Chris Fuhrmeister, the Bairnsdale club has been strong advocates for keeping the tournament true to it’s heritage by creating a fun, welcoming and friendly atmosphere for all that attend.
And they are true to their word, with all in attendance, describing the tournament, as the social event of the racquetball tournament circuit.
A teddy bear, with Fuhrmeister’s ashes inside it, mingled with the crowd at the courts and Saturday night’s social function at the Mitchell River Tavern, where Maffra artist Emily Nock impressed.
This year’s open singles was won by Steve Andrewarha while the doubles went the way of father son combination, Matt and Nelson Howard.
Sunday’s doubles funday was again a highlight, with participants dressing up and have some fun.
The event attracted a mix of players from across New South Wales, Victoria
and locally,
Ellyn McKenzie, pictured with Mark Edgley and Vicki Holland (left).
Rob Lowrie.
