Last weekend saw the conclusion of the ‘Tesco’ West of Ulster Junior Tournament at Enniskillen Tennis Club. It proved to be a memorable event not just for the warm sunshine that took us all by surprise, but also for the quality of tennis played by some of the most talented juniors in Ulster.
The final of the U18 Boys Doubles final saw local Enniskillen duo Connor Donaldson and Steven Miller take on David Acum and David McWhirter 6/4 6/4. Although hopes were raised of a local victory early in the opening set with Connor and Steven leading 5-3 lead, the Lurgan pair came back strongly to clinch the first set 7/5. This proved decisive and the second set also went their way 6/2.
The U18 Boys Singles between Connor Donaldson and David Acum was of real quality with both players easily holding serve. However one decisive break early in each set proved sufficient for David to take the match 6/4 6/4.
The U18 Girls Singles between Suzannah Hughes Jordan and Eva Lennox was not for the faint hearted. It was a tough encounter for both girls with the unusually high temperature adding to the intensity of the occasion. Although Eva took the first set 7/5, Suzannah came back strongly in the second set to level at one set all before running out a decisive winner taking the third set 6/1.
It was good to welcome back Rachel Doyle to Fermanagh and her former club once again. In the U14 Girls Singles final Rachel played the ever-improving Hannah Cousins. This match had plenty of entertaining rallies and although Hannah carved out many opportunities with her penetrating baseline shots, she failed to take her chances and Rachel proved a decisive winner taking the match 6-2 6-0. However Hannah showed her true potential in the semi-finals knocking out the number 2 seed Rebecca Gray from Ward Park in Bangor. Crisp penetrating forehands accompanied by her attacking backhand and a very effective serve took her to a surprising but thoroughly deserved victory over Rebecca 6/0, 7/6.
The U 16 Girls Singles was won decisively by Eva Lennox. However the unexpected result in this event was in the semi-final between top seed Rachel Doyle and Irvinestown’s Francis Taggart. Frances showed courage and determination in abundance by coming back from one set down to take the second set in a tiebreak and the championship tiebreak decider 10-4.
In the U14 Girls Doubles, Enniskillen’s Alison Glass and Clare Reihill, combined well together to take the final 6/4 2/6 6/4. Both girls served particularly well and Clare’s decisive volleying proved a very effective weapon at the net.
In the U 12 Girl’s singles, top seed Sarah Cousins overcame Lurgan’s Emma Coulter. Long hard hitting rallies were order of the day in the first set tiebreak which Sarah duly won. The Enniskillen girl upped her game markedly in the second set and took the second set in decisive fashion. Irvinestown’s Kyran Maguire and Peter Corrie of CIYMS teamed up to great effect to take the U12 Boy’s doubles.
Many local players featured prominently in the novice events, notably Sasha Funston, Hanna Sharkey, Ellen McGuinness and Danielle McKinney. The McDaid brothers of Donegal dominated the novice boys singles and doubles and Dundalk’s Klara Hjalmers took the singles from local girl Sasha Funston.
Presentations were made to the prizewinners in the club house by Emma Swail and Deborah Goodall representatives of the sponsors ‘Tesco’. Tributes were paid to Tesco for their generous support and to all the competitors, spectators and club members who helped create the ‘party’ atmosphere.
Winners and all match results are available online.
