Cork Tennis Blog

Welcome to the Cork Tennis Blog.

This blog will keep you up to date on the tennis scene in Cork, both socially and competitively. Whether you are new to the game or an experienced player I hope you find the information and posts here, useful and interesting.

You can contact me by email at rob@racketrestringing.ie

Rob's Racketrestringing

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Babolat Cork Tennis League Results

Well after 6 months of competitions, beginning in Rushbrooke and finishing in Bandon, the results for the Babolat Cork Tennis League are in.

Womens:
Karen Barry - 44 points
Anne o Hea - 28 points
Tanya Gargan - 24 points
Sheila Stokes - 18 points
Maria O Reilly - 16 points
Trish O Leary - 8 points
Majella Daly - 5 points
Liz Moore - 3 points

Mens:
Brian Hennessy - 59 points
Aidan Cotter - 38 points
John Murphy - 24 points
Senan Ahern - 13 points

So congratulations to the winners of this years league, Karen and Brian, and for their troubles they will receive for themselves €500 worth of Babolat product.  I'll be in touch soon guys.

Bandon Senior Open

Bandon Open finished last weekend after another very successful open.

Results:

MD3 - Aidan Cotter/Ger Finan V Jim Connolly/Jeremy Forde 7-6, 6-2
WD3 - Jesse Morris/Catherine Norman V Lisa Murray/Maggie O Toole 6-3, 6-4
MX3 - Rom Preston/Aidan Cotter V Maggie O Toole/Donal Linehan 6-4, 3-6, 6-4
MD4 - Stephen McCarthy/Liam Murphy V Barry Connolly/Colm McDonagh 6-3, 6-4
WD4 - Anne Marie Collins/Gillian Wall V Siobhan Cronin/Shirley Kenneally 6-2, 2-6, 6-2
MX4 - Mary McGarry/Colm McDonagh V Anne Marie Collins/Mick McCarthy 6-2, 4-6, 7-5
MD5 - Brian Hennessy/John Murphy V Declan Crowley/Jack Daly 7-6, 6-1
WD5 - Cathy Brooks/Lisa Murphy V Angela O Mahony/Lucy Quill
MX5 - Cathy Brooks/Christopher O Connell V Josephine O Rourke/Michael McCarthy 6-3, 6-4
MD6 - Brian Dorgan/Christopher O Connell V Geoff Hayes/Tony McCarthy 6-1, 6-1
WD6 - Dolores Crowley/Ann Davis V Tanya Gargan/Susan Whitney 6-4, 6-4
MX6 - Una O Callaghan/Paul Twomey V Tanya Gargan/Jason Preston 3-6, 6-0, 6-2

Babolat Cork Tennis League Points:
Aidan Cotter - 9points
Brian Hennessy - 5points
John Murphy - 5points
Tanya Gargan - 5points

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Kids and coaching!

Is there such a thing as too much coaching?

Don't get me wrong, I think coaching plays an hugely important part in the development of a child's game and certainly sets them on the right path if they are to make anything of themselves in their tennis careers.

So why then do I ask this question?

Well I suppose basing it on my own child hood experiences and having watched kids playing tournaments of all levels for the last number of years, I see very few, if any kids actually enjoying the game.

And I wonder if half of them didn't have coaching organised, would they spend any time at all on the court.
When I was growing up getting me off the court was the problem and I know for a fact that was the case for most of my friends.

Coaching isn't cheap and I know most parents are trying to give their children the best possible opportunities in life but there has to be a happy medium, whereby the child actually wants to go to coaching and is then eager themselves to get out during the week and practice what they have learned in their session.  If this isn't happening, you have to ask yourself, is it worth it?

That is one aspect of my question, the other is, are kids over coached to the point that they can't think for themselves on court.

A lot of junior tennis is about patterns and if you watch closely enough you can see the patterns they have learned.  Now what happens if you meet an opponent who doesn't play by the "patterns" rule?
A lot of juniors don't have an answer and visibly looked shocked and bemused at the fact that their opponent isn't playing the way they are supposed, ie. their way.

If you were to show any of the juniors a DVD of a Borg versus McEnroe match they wouldn't appreciate the skill involved in constructing a point.  They would probably comment on how slow the game was.
And that would epitomize the problem in todays game, it's all about power.

I believe coaching does play a very important part in learning tennis, both competitively and socially. But parents have a responsibility to ensure that their kids are getting the most out of coaching.  This could be group sessions, for the child who doesn't want to be a world beater, where tennis is thought through fun games or individual sessions where the child is into serious drilling and wants to be the best they can be.

The coaching should reflect what the child wants and with this in mind parents should also spend more time researching the coaches ability and not just believe the hype that some coaches sell about themselves.

Good players or talkers don't always make the best coaches!

Just to finish, I'm not knocking coaches, I will send my own two boys to coaching if that is what they want, so I suppose i'm just wondering what peoples hopes are for these kids that have had a fortune spent on them with coaching yet never progress past the first or second rounds of tournaments.
Is it good for their confidence?
Is it really what they wanted to do?
Are they still playing the game?

Ballinlough Senior Open 2012

Probably the most eagerly awaited open all summer with it's new courts and new lights.

The club now has 5 courts all with Tiger Turf surface. The fifth court was added recently, with all existing surfaces upgraded to Tiger Turf, and new lighting.

And to go along with the new courts and lights, Ballinlough also have a new website. 

It's being a busy year for Ballinlough and while the year's not over yet there very successful open is.

Here are the results:
MD 3 - Will Hickey/Shazhad Hussain Khan V Ger Finan/Mick Hurley 6-2, 7-5
WD 3 - Rose Ferriter/Anne Purdon V Siobhan Fahy/Carol Leland w/o
MX 3 - Bernie Kenny/Paul O Callaghan V Deirdre Duboy/Eoin Moynihan 6-2, 6-4
MD 4 - Declan Alton/Padraig Mullane V Daniel Bray/Cian Hammond 2-6, 6-0, 6-2
WD 4 - Catherine Griffin/Karen McBaron V Emma Crowley/Jacqui O Mahony 6-3, 6-4
MX 4 - Jacqui O Mahony/John O Donovan V Audrey O Brien/Joe McSweeney 2-6, 6-1, 6-4
MD 5 - Mark Cronin/John Underwood V Christopher O Connell/Michael Walsh 7-5, 6-7, 7-5
WD 5 - Brenda Crowley/Martina O Sullivan V Susan Cogan/Maria O Keeffe 7-6, 6-2
MX 5 - Helen McCarthy/John Underwood V Ger O Callaghan/Craig Maiden 7-5, 7-5
MD 6 - Jeremy Glennon/Mark Rhys Davies V Mike MacCarthy/Conor Shalloe 6-2, 2-6, 7-5
WD 6 - Maria O Reilly/Susan Whitney V Christina Broderick/Rachel Kelly 6-1, 6-3
MX 6 - Tanya Gargan/Jason Preston V Ann Davis/Ger Meegan 4-6, 7-6, 7-6

Babolat Cork league points
Maria O Reilly - 5 points
Tanya Gargan - 4 points

Monday, September 17, 2012

Rushbrooke Interfirm in aid of the Irish Cancer Society.

Calling all tennis players.

Inter firm tournament entry forms now available.
All the proceeds will again go to the Irish Cancer Society and hopefully all clubs and players will again support this event.
Last year was a brilliant event with huge numbers competing.
Please get the word out to fellow players.
Early entry advisable.
For more details contact Eamonn on 0879863805.


Thursday, September 6, 2012

The Catalunya Tennis Resort (CTR) - Look no further for a top class tennis resort.




The CTR Catalunya Tennis Resort is a new touristic complex in Girona - Barcelona, Spain. We are the only resort in Spain specialized in tennis.

We offer all different kind of activities for tennis players: 
· CTR Tennis Academy: the preparation center for young and dedicated tennis players from all over the world.
· Tennis Camps: for young players who want to have an intensive tennis practice with our experienced coaches.
· Training Camps: for a tennis team or a group of tennis players who want to go to Spain to practice tennis with their own coach.
· Tennis Holidays: for families, tennis groups, and groups of friends who want to play tennis everyday, but also want to visit touristic places, like visit Barcelona, the beach, and do other activities.
· Private Lessons: for adult tennis players who want to improve their tennis with an intensive practice.

Sports facilities: 
>                            14 tennis courts
      - 8 hard courts
      - 4 synthetic resin courts
      - 2 artificial grass courts
>                           3 outdoor swimming pools with Jacuzzi
>                           4 padel courts
>                           2 five-a-side football fields and 
>                           1 seven-a-side football field, both with artificial grass

Other facilities: 

Hotel Mas SolĂ  ****
It is equipped with the latest technology, exceptional infrastructures and decor. It has 78 rooms, with 3 suites and 4 junior suites. All rooms have air conditioning, mini-bar, safe, plasma TV, hair dryer, thermostatic shower and a great view of the natural environment around the hotel.
The Mas Sola Hotel is an ideal place to relax. They offer SPA, a relaxation area for your body and mind. The SPA has a dry sauna, steam sauna, three different kinds of shower, a swimming pool with jet massage and beds, and thermal deckchairs.
Other services offered by the hotel are thermal circuits, massage, and gym.

Restaurant “La Masia”
“La Masia”, has over 30 years of experience. It is one of the most prestigious restaurants in Girona. They offer traditional Catalan cuisine evolved, updating the traditional recipes of the area.
It offers seasonal cuisine and a touch of creativity that makes each meal a unique experience.
The personalized service and the surroundings of this area make this a meeting point for family and business events.

* You will be able to use our new on court cameras “RecPlay CTR”.