Ann Moore wrote this article and provided these photos. Thank you Ann.
American Team Wins 2009 Wilson Friendship Cup
June 4
– 8 Portschach, Austria
Womens 75 and Over International
Team Competition
The ninth Annual Friendship Cup, sponsored by Ralph and Mary Wilson included
U. S. players from California,
Florida, Maryland,
North Carolina, Oregon
and Washington
and International players from Australia,
Canada, England and Germany. Captains were Elaine Mason, U.S. and
Shirley Critchley, International.
Over 200 women have participated in the Friendship Cup over the past
eight years,
and each has brought back memories of a beautiful town in Austria and amazing friendships through this
tournament, which was the goal of the Wilsons
when they began this event in 2000. All
the women who played were also invited to participate in the European
Championships which took place June 8th– June 14th. Room
and board was provided for the players for both tournaments The players were
treated to special dinners, cocktail parties, team vests and more… plus a full
day bus tour of this beautiful area of Carinthia, where they were treated to visits
to castles, panoramic views of the Alps and tours
of neighboring towns and cities.
The matches could not have been more exciting. At the end of two days of play, both the
International and U. S.
teams were tied. In case of a tie, it
had been decided that the team losing the least amount of sets would be the
victor. The United States team lost one less
set in singles and one less set in doubles to come out the victors for the 2009
Friendship Cup.
Singles Results Day 1:
Boots Van Nostrand, U.S., defeated Rose Preckel, Germany, 6-2, 6-0.
Anneke Balics, U.S., defeated Shirley Critchley, England, 6-2, 3-6, 6-1
June Wurden, U.S., defeated Wilma Fitzgerald, Australia, 6-2, 6-1
Elsa Jablonski U.S., defeated Vera
Coley, Canada, 2-6, 6-4, 6-3
Toni Strauss, Germany, defeated
Elaine Mason, U.S., 6-3, 3-6, 12-10
Sheila Kerin, Australia, defeated Dorothy Maloney, U.S., 6-2, 6-3
Marjorie Niccol, Australia, defeated Janet Davis, U.S., 6-2, 4-6, 7-6
Hannelore Pagels, Germany, defeated Doris Claypool, U.S. 3-6, 6-3, 6-1
Doubles Results Day 2:
Van Nostrand/Balics,
U.S., def.
Preckel/Critchley, International, 6-4, 6-2
Mason/Wurden, U.S.,
def. Fitzgerald/Nichol International, 6-2, 6-1
Kerin/Coley, International, def. Maloney/Claypool, U. S., 2-6, 6-4, 7-6
Pagels/Strauss, International, def. Jablonski/Davis, U.S., 6-3, 6-0
In the European Championships, Boots Van Nostrand won the 75’s Singles and
75 Doubles with partner Sheila Kerin.
Elaine Mason partnered with Dorothy Maloney to win the 80’s
Doubles. June Wurden won the Consolation
75 Singles.