News / Events
Bareena Park Tennis Club
Serving Up Extra Years: Tennis Tops the Life Expectancy Chart
Most of us pick up a racquet because tennis is fun: fresh air, friends, good rallies, and the occasional tramline winner. Now it turns out all those hours on court might be doing more than improving your ground strokes; they could be adding years to your life.
A study published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings followed nearly 8,600 adults in Denmark over 25 years. The participants were part of the Copenhagen City Heart Study, a long-running project examining the lives and health of thousands of men and women to understand how different activities influence life expectancy.
The good news for Bareena players?
The study revealed that tennis players had the greatest gains in life expectancy, with regular games adding 9.7 years to participant’s lives. Badminton players came in second, with an average gain of 6.2 years. Those pastimes were followed by soccer (4.7 years), cycling (3.7 years), swimming (3.4 years), jogging (3.2 years), and low-intensity calisthenics (3.1 years).
Researchers suggest the secret to longer living may not lie just in the exercise, but also the social side of the game.
Study co-author James O’Keefe Jr., M.D., medical director of a cardio health and wellness center at Saint Luke’s Mid America Heart Institute in Kansas City, told the New York Times, “We know from other research that social support provides stress mitigation. So being with other people, playing and interacting with them, probably has unique psychological and physiological effects. Raising your heart rate is important, but connecting with other people is, too.”
Tennis, anyone?
Daphne Jeffrey 2026 Ladies Invitational
Tuesday 19 May 2026
Ladies from the Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday mornings Sessions were invited to participate in the above-named invitational competition which was held Tuesday May 19. We were very fortunate with the weather as the previous night had persistent rain, but the new courts recovered very quickly and 16 lady participants had a competitive, but fun and friendly morning.
Making the competition more equitable two divisions were set up, one division for stronger ladies and a second for the less strong. They played 3 sets (8 games a set) each with a different partner. The games won over the 3 sets were tabulated, and the players with the highest scores were the winner. Only 4 points separated the top 4 ladies.
It was the tale of 2 Paulas, with Paula Marlow winning the strong section and Paula Lochrin winning the other section (both pictured holding the trophy). Paula Lochrin was declared overall winner on handicap, with Paula Marlow being magnanimous having been a recent trophy winner. Both Paulas agreed they could not have done so well without the good play of their partners. Congratulations to both.
Despite some early drizzle, it was the perfect morning, and we had an appropriate number of participants with some new entrants playing in the invitational for the first time. Delicious cakes were served with the assistance of Carmella enhancing camaraderie.
Many of the women have raised their play to such a level they will be competitive in the upcoming 2026 ladies’ doubles championships.
Ron – Club Captain
Bareena vs Balgowlah Club Championship
Sunday 22 March 2026
On Sunday, March 22, Bareena hosted the annual Bareena vs Balgowlah Club Championship, a fantastic day of tennis and camaraderie for both clubs.
The day featured Mixed Doubles and Men’s Doubles, with each club fielding three teams in both events. Matches were played in a round robin format, with the first team to six games winning the set. Even close 6–5 results counted, with total games across all matches tallied to determine the overall winner.
MEN'S Doubles
On November 16 the Men’s 2025 Singles Final was held between old mates Matt Taylor (blue top) and Tim Sedgwick. Matt was the victor on the day in straight sets 6-1 6-1.
A nail-biting contest came down to the wire, with just one game separating the clubs. With several 6–5 sets on both sides, the score remained neck and neck all day. In the end, Bareena edged ahead 40–39—hooray!
Special mentions go to Oliver and Daniel (Balgowlah) for winning all their sets, and Darren and Sean (Bareena), whose strong performance proved crucial in securing the win.
Mixed Doubles
The Mixed Doubles told a different story, with Balgowlah taking a comfortable win. Bareena’s Lily and Alistair fought hard, and Carolyn and Tim secured a set, but Balgowlah’s consistency saw them take control.
Overall Result
Combining results from both events, Balgowlah claimed the overall victory 86–66. Congratulations to Balgowlah!
After play wrapped, VP Ross fired up a well-earned sausage sizzle BBQ, which was enjoyed by all.
A great day of tennis, sportsmanship, and community spirit.
We’re already looking forward to next year!
2025 Mixed Doubles Final
Sunday 8 March 2026
On Sunday, March 8, 2026 the Club hosted the 2025 Mixed Doubles Finals, a hotly contested match featuring Andrew and Isabella against Jindong and Sarah.
With such an awesome foursome on court, the match could have gone either way. Spectators were on the edges of their seats as each pair secured a set before duking it out in a tie-breaker.
The sporting spirit was alive and well, with compliments for good play flying back and forth across the net as fast as Bella’s serve and Sarah’s volleys. Andrew’s powerful baseline shots and Jindong’s lightning-fast reflexes kept everyone guessing, making for a truly thrilling contest.
After two hours on court, Sarah and Jindong triumphed, earning a well-earned victory for their tenacity and teamwork. A fantastic showcase of skill, sportsmanship, and sheer determination from all four players!
