Interdistrict Competition Overview

Origin

Competition between the Metropolitan district Tennis Associations was first conducted in 1921 for the open men and open ladies events.

Perpetual trophies such as the F. O. Blackwell Cup and the Angus & Coote Cup were acquired and competed for in 1921. These Cups have been competed for annually ever since, except for a period during World War II when the competition was suspended.

Other perpetual trophies have been acquired over the years and most are named after past long serving officials of the Hardcourt Association. For example, the G. G. Tremlett Cup was acquired in 1934 and named after Hardcourt’s first President and Life Member; the D. J. Ryan Cup, also acquired in 1934, was named after a foundation member, Executive Officer and Life Member of the Association.

Over the years many household name players have represented their Associations in this competition such as John Bromwich, Dinny Pails, Adrian Quist, Lew Hoad, Ken Rosewall, Bill Bowrey, Kim Warwick, John Alexander, Phil Dent, Jan Lehane, Beryl Penrose, Evonne Goolagong, Diane Fromholtz and Lesley Turner — just to name a few.

The Participating Associations

Initially only the 17 metropolitan Associations participated in the competition. Over the years the competition has been expanded to include near Country Associations as well as some private Sydney clubs.

The competition now covers an area bounded by Newcastle in the north to Kiama in the south and as far west as the Blue Mountains.

The George McKerihan Shield

Interdistrict Competition Championship Award

This award was inaugurated in 1947 and awarded to the Association with the highest number of points earned during the Interdistrict competition. In 1983 a perpetual trophy was acquired for this purpose. In 1988 the trophy was named the George McKerihan Shield in memory of a former President of the Association who held office from 1941 until 1961.

Over the years the winners of the Shield have been:

• North West Sydney Tennis (Eastwood Thornleigh) — 2023
• Tennis Macarthur (Southern Districts) — 2001, 2003, 2006–2019, 2022
• Canterbury Bankstown — 1961, 1962, 1964, 1969–1973
• Eastern Suburbs — 1950, 1956, 1997, 2004
• Gosford — 1995
• Illawarra Suburbs — 1947, 1948, 1953, 1954, 1963, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1974–1981, 1984–1994, 1996, 1998–2000, 2002, 2005
• Northern Suburbs — 1949, 1951, 1952, 1957, 1959, 1982, 1983
• Sydenham-Bankstown — 1955, 1958

The Interdistrict Competition was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Interdistrict Cups

The current Interdistrict Competition consists of the following cups:

Senior men are to be over 35 years as at 30th September in the competition year. Teams will be graded on assessed ability.

Open Cups (Blackwell & Angus & Coote) — players must be over 15 years of age as at 30th September.

Senior Ladies are to be over 35 years as at 30th September in the competition year.

All Juniors shall be under the age requirement as at the 30th September in the competition year.