Some Tennis History in Barraba
SOME TENNIS HISTORY IN BARRABA - Part 4
The Barraba Team dominates Country Week Tennis in the 1920s
From Ron McLean (1984); “Country Cracks – The story of NSW country tennis” p 19:
‘‘The story of Barraba’s rise to prominence is one of the most interesting in the history of Country Week. Ever since 1913, Barraba had been knocking on the door for the Country Week teams title without making the grade but the emergence of Geoff and Guy Williams as top quality players made it only a matter of time before Barraba broke the ice.
The 1923 Country Carnival produced an amazing series of matches and at the end of it all, Barraba was still the bridesmaid. In the semi-final, only a desperate late rally enabled Barraba to play a tie with Goulburn and in the playoff, the disappointed Goulburn players were no match for the Spencers and the Williams. ………(in the tie with
Dubbo) Dubbo seemed to have the title all wrapped up but the Spencers, playing like demons, won the last three games for a second tie. Third time around, Dubbo proved too strong, winning six sets to two.”
“When Barraba finally broke through in 1924, it was described as the most popular win in history of Country Week carnivals. Once again it was a desperately close run, this time against near neighbours, Tamworth. To win the championship, the Williams brothers had to beat Frank Blaxland and Arthur Emblem, who had earlier overturned the Spencers. The Williams won 8/6, 6/4 giving Barraba a margin of five sets to three though the games were equal.
That was the start of the Barraba era at Country Week. ….Barraba won the Cup with victories in 1924, 1925 and 1926, was beaten by Mudgee in 1927, but Barraba was back on top in 1928.
….In the Country Championships, Bob Spencer won the doubles with brother Cliff in 1921 and 1922 and with Jack Snape (Guyra) in 1930 and the mixed doubles with Muff Wilson (Barraba) in 1923, 1924, 1926, and 1930.
Perhaps Bob Spencer should have won more, given his standing in Australian tennis. But with teams matches in which Barraba was always among the last in the draw, and matches against city, in which he was always one of the leading lights, he had an exhausting program without Country championships. Guy Williams was the same. It is significant that in 1927, the year Barraba missed out on the teams’ title, Guy Williams won the Country singles and he and his brother Geoff Williams won the doubles.”
That ends our stories about the exploits of Barraba tennis players a century ago. Tennis is still alive and well in Barraba; the Barraba Town and District Tennis Club operates five recently resurfaced courts, and has a social tennis group playing on Wednesdays, and a night competition about to start on Tuesday evenings. Phone or text Club President Heath White 0427 070 374 to find out more.