Female players discuss the bond with their teammates at Country Week, which in 2024 welcomed a new generation of young women and girls to the time-honoured competition.
Wodonga, Victoria, 23 February 2024 | Courtney Walsh
Melbourne teacher Laura Langmead had a sense of pride in the achievement of her teammates after the eclectic group were crowned Country Week’s champion team on Friday.
A leader of the Mutton and Lamb team which claimed the top division of Tennis Victoria’s annual teams event, Langmead has been a participant in a tournament which drew more than 1320 players to Albury-Wodonga this year for more than a decade.
But it was not just the performances of her mates, who ranged in age from 28 to 70, which pleased her as the side upset regular champions Tandara in the final in a comeback triumph.
Langmead, who was a scholarship player in the strong American collegiate competition before returning to Australia to play with Kooyong, was thrilled by the vibrancy of the event.
READ MORE: World’s biggest grass-court event a hit in Albury-Wodonga
The event featured veterans who had been playing tennis for decades and others who were freshly introduced to the sport and enticed to play after hearing about the lively social scene.
Langmead was struck by the amount of younger players competing and said they represented the future of the time-honoured tournament.
“It was really, really lovely to see so many strong and independent women coming up as a collective group and enjoying their tennis,” Langmead told tennis.com.au.
“You have to create a sisterhood with your team and it was really nice to see the next generation of young women and girls coming through.
“I reckon there were about two teams in our section of fresh new faces, which was really nice to see, and it was so lovely that we were able to do our yearly catch up.
“You get everyone from the tennis world back together and it is important to be able to catch up and share stories and form stronger friendships. It is really nice.”
Recent Tennis Victoria Inter-Regional singles champion Eliza Bingham (nee Long) plays alongside Langmead in a richly talented team featuring grandmothers and mothers who balance their family and professional duties while having a great time on and off the court.
“The oldest member of our team, Pam, is 70, and the youngest member is Eliza, who is 28, and they are really positive, uplifting women who just love to play…
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