Thomas teamed up with good friend Jiro Ikeda from Okayama, Japan to win the doubles final 6-3.
Two groups competed in this section. Noel and Jiro won all the matches in their group and then went on to complete the event by winning the section final in emphatic fashion.
It was the first time they had played together despite being participants in a number of other JSTA events over the past 18 years.
Held in Ishikawa in Tochigi Prefecture, the event was booked out with some 240 players playing on 20 courts over two days.
In 2016 Noel partnered his good friend Michio Fijii, to win the Men’s 70+ at the JSTA event. Mr Fujii was a member of the 1962 Japan Davis Cup team who were defeated by Australia.
The Japanese Senior Tennis Association tournament was formed in 1992 by Giichi Suzuki, a keen tennis player himself, after visiting Victoria and learning of the structure and activities of, and consulting with, officials of the Australian Senior Tennis Association.
Noel said Mr Suzuki, an extremely successful businessman after establishing the Nippon Manufacturing Company in 1944, had been aware of the shortcomings of the manner in which Japan had conducted POW camps.
“So, in 1997 he decided to host, at his own cost, a tennis event to address this matter,” he said.
“He invited tennis bodies in the countries involved in the Allied Forces of WW2 to each send a group of ambassadorial tennis players to join with the JSTA members in a major event titled the International Senior Tennis Friendship Cup to be held in Japan.
“A number of these events were held by Mr Suzuki and then after his death in 2004 his family conducted a memorial event in November, 2006.”
Noel was first invited to play in this 2006 memorial event along with some 301 other players represented by - 21 Australia, 3 China, 20 Chinese Taipei, 24 Korea, 9 Singapore, 24 Thailand, 20 United States of America players and 181 Japanese.
“The event was conducted at the Yamaha Sports Resort in Tsumagoi, Kakegawa, Japan over four days of activities and all the International players were hosted at the cost of Mr Suzuki,” the 12-time Yarrawonga Lawn Tennis Club champion and member for some 64 years said.
“Mr Suzuki asked all players to advance their respective ‘Health, Friendship and Peace’ through enjoying each tennis life.”
Since 2006, Noel has maintained Mr Suzuki’s approach and has hosted players from Japan (8), Singapore (6), Thailand (5) and USA (4) in Yarrawonga.
Noel plays tennis at least twice a week in Yarrawonga and/or Wangaratta, and especially enjoys the Men’s Tuesday night tennis through the summer at YLTC.
He turns 80-years-of-age mid-September and is keen to compete in the 80+ age group in Japan and strive for a third age group victory.
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