MIKE Cain and Peter Leonard have reunited to celebrate the 50th anniversary of winning the Coffs Harbour Tennis Open Men’s Doubles.
Meeting earlier this month, the men reminisced about their success in the Coffs Harbour and District Championships at Coffs Harbour Town Tennis Courts.
Mike Cain and his family moved to Melbourne three years later and the men never got to defend their title.
Mike, 77, and Peter, 79, reunited in Coffs over morning tea and reflected on their shared tennis history.
They recall their action-packed match being played on a clay surface court with the first set going to their younger opponents, 6-4.
This upset the pair as it was the first set of tennis they had lost that season.
Peter told News Of The Area he remembers being very nervous, as it was his first Open Tennis Final.
He was renowned for his powerful forehand shots, but they were missing the sideline that day, until Mike settled him down.
From the second set, Peter pulled out the forehands.
Mike’s net play followed and they took the second and third sets 6-2, 6-2, which meant the title was theirs.
Peter comes from a tennis family from John’s River and played from the age of five.
The pupils of Johns River played tennis before school and during the lunch break.
“Our teacher Ron Delvesas played with us and would not allow his pupils to defeat him,” he said.
“So, if he and his partner were down five games to the opposition, he would blow the whistle and tell us it was time to return to class.”
Peter still plays social men’s tennis on Saturday mornings, at the tennis complex where he and Mike won their doubles.
“We both still have our trophies.”
In 2001, Mike travelled from Melbourne to compete in the Coffs Harbour Men’s Tennis Competition Reunion.
He continued to play until 10 years ago when leg injuries forced him to retire.
“We often mention our tennis victory and remind one another that we remain undefeated in this event…how vain of us,” he said of his friendship with Peter.
“My mother, who was a better player than I, always said friends from sports are genuine.”
By Andrea FERRARI
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