Clearpoint Tennis set for Ernie Summers Memorial

Anyone who has been a member of Tennis Clearpoint in Pointe Claire over the past several decades - particularly the veterans - will certainly recognize the name Ernie Summers.

A longtime member of the club, Summers lived and breathed tennis. In fact, it was not unusual for him to spend most of his off time during the summer at the club, rallying with a partner, playing matches or socializing. To his credit, Summers, who worked as an electrical engineer, lived a long life, perhaps due to the fact he kept in good shape by playing so much tennis. In fact, he played until he was 85, passing away only recently in 2004 at the ripe old age of 93.

Following his death, feeling the need to keep his name alive at Clearpoint and in recognition of all the time he devoted to playing there and enjoying its social aspects, Summers' sons Ian and Peter decided it might be apropos to organized an annual mid-summer tournament in his name. They approached Clearpoint president Aubrey Winterbotham with the idea of putting together a mixed doubles tournament. Winterbotham bought into the idea immediately, and the first annual Ernie Summers Mixed Memorial Doubles Tennis Tournament took place in 2005 with the third scheduled to unfold Aug. 16. A rain date will be Aug. 17.

“My dad was competitive, but he also enjoyed the social aspect of the sport at Clearpoint,” said Ian Summers. “That’s why my brother and I decided to make it a mixed doubles tournament. Our objective was simply to honour our father. Clearpoint was a very important part of his and our lives. We were a tennis family, spending many of our summers there.”

This year’s winners of the Ernie Summers Memorial will hoist up a wonderful trophy, and their names will be engraved on it. As well, the tournament will be played as a Mixed Calcutta, a format that will feature an auction and lots of fun and socializing.

Ernie Summers would not have wanted it any other way.

For more information on Tennis Clearpoint and the Ernie Summers Mixed Memorial Doubles Tennis Tournament, check www.tennisclearpoint.ca.