05-10-2015
Senior Club Championships
All good things must come to an end and so the ten cup and plate finals concluded very successfully last Sunday with Orla Kinahan and Sean Raftery triumphantly raising the ladies and men’s cups to generous applause and cheering from the many spectators.
This was the highlight of Athlone Tennis Club’s season and many club competitors had occasion to participate in the finals.
The spectators had opportunities to watch their own favourite players in action while others kept a close eye on the big match in London. In truth there was more excitement and enjoyment in watching the tennis than in the clubhouse where Ireland were struggling against Italy in the rugby world cup.
With four finals being played at the same time spectators were unevenly spread out with the greater number watching the singles finals. As the evening progressed the doubles finals saw a more even spread people watching different matches. By nightfall the winning doubles pairings were Jacinta Digby/Aoife Raleigh in the ladies doubles, Harry O’ Rourke/George Bodor in the men’s doubles and Paula Dowling/George Bodor in the mixed doubles.
Before the cup and prize awarding ceremonies, club chairperson, Dave Costello, praised the many competitors for the sporting spirit in which all the finals were played. He thanked the players for the enormous entertainment and pleasure provided in all the matches. He congratulated the winners and commiserated with the runners up.
Cup Results
Ladies Singles: Orla Kinahan beat Melanie Whyte
Men’s Singles: Sean Raftery beat Pawel Michalski
Ladies Doubles: Jacinta Digby/Aoife Raleigh beat Anne Dooley/Mary Jo O’ Farrell
Men’s Doubles: Harry O’ Rourke/George Bodor beat Rob Kearney/Peter Agbanobi
Mixed Doubles: Paula Dowling/George Bodor beat Sine Mac Farlane/Peter Agbanobi
Plate Results
Ladies Singles: Julie Costello beat Aoife Raleigh
Men’s Singles: Eugene Dooley beat Warren Curtin
Ladies Doubles: Orla Kinahan/Rose Costello beat Michele Culligan/Sine Mac Farlane
Men’s Doubles: Dave Costello/Michael Waldorn beat Warren Curtin/Alan Nugent
Mixed Doubles: Rose Costello/Richard Frank beat Anne Dooley/Michael Waldron.
Junior Tennis Coaching and Competitions
Derek Stenson is organizing tennis lessons for junior members every Tuesday and Friday evenings. Now is the time to register your children to participate in this sport. He is also organizing competitions every Friday at 6pm for children under 12 and at 7pm for older children. Derek can be contacted at 0851080013.
Clem Higginbotham continues coaching lessons for junior members every Saturday. The lessons begin at 10 for children under 8, at 11 for under 12 and at 12 o’ clock for older children. His contact number is 0864022490.
Midland League Division 3
Athlone 2 have qualified to play Birr Wilmer in division 3 of the midland league. The final will be played this week. Unfortunately Athlone 1 lost to the Offaly competitors last week and the dream of an all Athlone final was not to be.
Anne Dooley, Paula Dowling, Luciano Molinari and Tomasz Koza now have the chance to compete in the final this Wednesday in the neutral venue of Portumna tennis club. Even though the task on hand will be very difficult the Athlone quartet can rise to the challenge and secure victory but only by the narrowest of margins.
It is quite conceivable that after the ladies, men’s and the two mixed doubles events it will be stalemate at 2-2. Then the cup’s destination will be decided by a one set reverse mixed doubles match. Nerves will be frayed at that stage!
Denis Johnston Memorial Cup
The Denis Johnston Memorial Cup competition will commence in October. The tournaments committee have decided that the team to defend the cup won last year will be Jacinta Digby, Sine Mac Farlane, Tomasz Koza and Dave Costello. This takes into account the standard of player the competition is geared towards and the position of the relevant players on the ladies and men’s pyramids.
Autumn Leagues
The ladies and men’s autumn leagues groups have now been arranged and over the next seven weeks all competitors will have ample opportunities to play and complete their series of matches. As always with double promotion and two going in the opposite direction gives an added incentive to everyone involved. A fiercely competitive but friendly atmosphere prevails at all matches. That’s how we like it.
Ladies Autumn League
Group 1: Paula Dowling, Joan Conway, Orla Kinahan, Michele Culligan, Ann O’ Sullivan, Anne Dooley, Melanie Samuels
Group 2: Lisa Brennan, Anna Walsh, Jacinta Digby, Julie Costello, Sine Mac Farlane, Gertie O’ Rourke, Mary Jo O’ Farrell
Group 3: Stephane Kenny, Rose Costello, Mary O’ Neill, Kathryn Raleigh, Aoife Raleigh, Michele Clyne, Marie Bouchard
Men’s Autumn League
Group 1: Pawel Michalski, Sean Raftery, Des Windsor Mc Glynn, Tim Clarke, Harry O’ Rourke, Martin O’ Rourke, Jeremy Clarke
Group 2: Derek Stenson, Rob Kearney, Luciano Molinari, Tomas Koza, Richard Frank, Eugene Dooley
Group 3: Evan Conway, Jamie Waldron, Dave Costello, George Bodor, Matthew Conway, Pat Conway
Group 4: Jimmy Raleigh, Peter Agbanobi, Michael Rodgers, Michael Beirne, Kieran Mc Carthy, Warren Curtin
Group 5: Giuilo Loner, James Roche, Fergus Groenendijk, P J O’ Reilly, Niall Gallagher, Christi Tibuh
Group 6: Alan Nugent, Gary Hurley, Oisin Stronge, Jonathan Crehan, John Cooney, Ailbie Conway