Ulster juniors enjoyed a successful weekend at Galway Lawn Tennis and Squash Club, in Connacht. Out of 101 entrants, there was a strong travelling contingent of 21 players making the trip south from Ulster. Being the first junior event of the season, this was the “acid test” to see if the work put in over the summer would pay dividends!
All of the players performed well and did Ulster proud in the event, and it’s hard to pick the out special performances, but there were results worthy of particular mention.
In the Boys Under 13 event, Michael Craig (Belfast Harlequins) had an excellent weekend, particularly a hard fought win over Leinster youngster David Ryan, on his way to winning the event, playing Ciaran Maher from Thurles.
Eva MacMillan (Belfast Boat Club) started the Girls Under 15 event seeded 5/8, but beat the 2nd, then the 3rd seed on the way to the final, only losing out to the top seeded Galway player Jennifer Hegarty in the final.
The girls under 17 event was highly successful for Ulster and the Belfast Boat Club, having 1st, 2nd, and 3rd placed players! The first semi final was a tough match between Cathryn Abernethy and Niamh O’Hare (both Belfast Boat Club). Niamh eventually won 9 – 7 in the fifth.
The other semi final saw Gabriella MacMillan (Also Belfast Boat Club) beat the 2nd seed Grainne Murphy dropping only 4 points. In an all Ulster final, Niamh overcame her team mate 3 – 1 to take the first title of the season. Gabriella credits her good performance with her new super go-faster energy drink….
Ulster was well represented in the Boys under 17 event. The semi-final between Roberts and Hugo Diamond (Belfast Boat Club) provided one of the best matches of the tournament. Roberts’ resilience and perseverance secured his place in the final but only after 5 long and hard fought games, saving match balls against him in both the fourth and fifth, despite Diamond’s much improved performance.
In the other Semi final, Ben Craig (Belfast Harlequins) coolly despatched Thomas Dunbar in 3 quick games. The final was a tense affair, with Craig edging out Roberts in 9/5, 9/4, 9/5.
John Roberts (Belfast Boat Club) won the first under 19 title of the season, who was relatively unchallenged until the final when he met under 17 Theodore Anderson (Gloucestershire and Belfast Boat Club). Fitness was the decisive factor in an interesting and exciting match. John won the first relatively easily, and all seemed set for a quick conclusion to the weekend. But Theo came back strong, losing the second 10/9 and third 10/8.
Many other Ulster players made the lengthy trip down to the event, and had a worthwhile and enjoyable event. Thanks go to all the players, parents for supporting the event.