Show goes on with the staging of tennis open
TENNIS OPEN
FOLLOWING CONSIDERABLE brainstorming and discussions at the Boat Club, it was decided to go ahead with the Wexford Senior tennis open sponsored by Wygram and Curam Nursing Homes, and Kearney Property, over the bank holiday weekend.
By agreeing to use only the six courts at the Boat Club for the three-day event, it was a necessity that the number allowed to enter would be limited based on court capacity. The final number was 140 players, with the majority from the locality, but keen interest in the Class 1 events brought players from all over the country.
With the Class 1 men’s singles event attracting 16 top players, tournament referee Bernie Morrissey was delighted with the quality of tennis on display over the weekend.
In the ladies’ singles, defending champion Gráinne O’Neill (Naas) and veteran Lesley O’Halloran (Donnybrook) battled it out for the honours in the final on Monday. Gráinne proved too strong, winning 6-2, 6-2.
Patrick Nolan (Sutton), who is better known as a doubles expert, defeated newcomer and fellow club member Ciaran McCarthy 6-2, 6-4.
Patrick then went on to complete the double by winning the men’s Class 1 doubles with his partner, Declan Gardiner (Naas), beating upcoming young players Oisín O’Hanlon (Sandycove) and Liam Reynolds (Tramore) 6-3, 6-1.
Local players who did well over the weekend include Shane Jenkins (WHBTC, men’s singles Class 2/3 winner), Katie Atkinson (Hillbrook, ladies’ singles Class 2/3 winner), Mary Maguire and Bernie Morrissey (WHBTC, ladies’ doubles Class 4/5 winner), Eddie Ryan (WHBTC, men’s doubles Class 4/5 winner with John Harkin of Carlow), Emer McCrea (WHBTC, ladies’ singles Class 4/5 winner), Gay Brennan and Christine Hore (WHBTC, ladies’ doubles Class 6/7 winners), and Katie Jenkins (WHBTC, ladies’ singles Class 6/7 winner).
Local runners-up were Colm Byrne and Gary Quinn (WHBTC, men’s doubles Class 2/3), Glenda McKeown and Gemma Walsh (WHBTC, ladies’ doubles Class 4/5), Linda Bergsone (WHBTC, ladies’ singles Class 4/5), Sarah Kearney and Siobhán Sinnott (WHBTC, ladies’ doubles Class 6/7), Conor Kelly and Mark O’Connor (WHBTC, men’s doubles Class 6/7), Gay Brennan (WHBTC, ladies’ singles Class 6/7), and Aidan Bolger (WHBTC, men’s singles Class 6/7).
Boat Club Commodore, Enda Murphy, thanked tournament sponsors Wygram and Curam Nursing Homes and Kearney Property, as well as Bernie Morrissey (tournament referee), Seán Rossiter (tournament director), and the players who supported the event in this difficult year, expressing his delight that the club was able to host it.
Tennis Ireland President, Shane Cooke, praised the organisers and the players for the tournament which was held in a sporting and socially distanced manner.
Bernie Morrissey thanked everyone involved in making it possible to host the tournament, including the management committee and tennis committee at the Boat Club.