Irish Davis Cup Team Named.

Garry Cahill, Captain of the BNP Paribas Irish Davis Cup Team, has today named his players to face Hungary in the Davis Cup by BNP Paribas Euro/Africa Zone Group II first round tie.


Conor Niland will lead the team, and will be joined by Louk Sorensen, James McGee & Sam Barry for the tie at the Szeged Városi Sportcsarnok in Szeged on the 10th - 12th February 2012.

Garry Cahill commented: “We have a strong team heading out to Hungary and we’re really looking forward to the tie. This is a team with the experience, ability and passion to win this tie. Hard work and a good team spirit will also be key to a successful start to our 2012 Davis Cup campaign. I am delighted that Louk will be part of the team once again, his record in Davis Cup speaks for itself and he has showed during past ties what it means to him to represent his country."

Speaking about his selection on the BNP Paribas Irish Davis Cup team for the first time, Sam Barry said: “It is an absolute honour for me to be selected on the Irish Davis Cup team and whilst I am excited about being selected our focus remains on winning the match against some tough opponents.”

Adding weight to rackets?

With Nadal adding weight to his racket in the hopes of avenging some of last years defeats to Djokovic, the whole adding weight debate comes to live.

This is something that should be done only with a lot of thought and not just on a whim because you hear the pros are doing it.

There was a very good article in one of last Sunday's papers and for me one comment by Nadal shows how this shouldn't be taken lightly.  He said that he only added 3 grams, which is practically nothing, to the very top of his racket but he could feel it in his shoulder and is still adjusting to it.

Now bear in mind this is a professional athlete, who works out daily in the gym, and 3 grams has that effect on him.

Can you imagine how it will affect juniors!

And I say juniors because they are my concern more so than adults.  Adults can make their own minds up about these things and suffer the consequences themselves, but juniors and particularly the performance standard juniors live and breathe what their coaches say.

Unfortunately I have come across too many instances where coaches believing their student is the next Nadal or Wozniacki insists they should be using the same string, at the same tension, in the same weighted racket as the pros and now more than likely after reading or hearing about Nadal adding weight will be trying this too.

It amuses me that these professional people cannot differentiate between a professional athlete and a child who has still has plenty of growing left to do.  It can only lead to problems and unfortunately it is the child who will suffer.

I know of one coach who has no problem putting weight onto his students rackets even though the rackets they are using are already heavy rackets (320grams plus).
"Ah it gives them unbelievable power".
Don't get me wrong these are talented teenagers who play and practice regularly, but to reiterate what was said earlier, none of them are Nadal or built like Nadal, and if he finds 3 grams hard to get used to and feels the pressure of it on his shoulder, can you imagine the strain that these teenagers must be feeling when they add weight and I'm talking a lot more than 3 grams.

I think a lot of coaches are trying to be something they are not. And they don't do enough research about the long term effects of changes.  I know a lot of the problems can come from parents looking for immediate results, so coaches are under pressure to try new things to get quick results, but remember who suffers.
Not the parent and certainly not the coach but the child, who is then forced to sit out the season with a shoulder or elbow problem.

Remember while we may aspire for our kids to be the stars of the future, they are not there yet and their bodies are still developing.  Let them and their games develop at a pace their body can handle.

Cork Clubs Roundup

Ardfield Rathbarry:  Club AGM on March the 5th at 8pm in The Mountain House.

Ballinlough:  Club AGM on February 20th.

Carrigaline:  Planning submitted for new club.

Rushbrooke:  New computerised court booking system now in operation, full details available on club noticeboard.

Tennis Psychology

You can beat the player who has your number. Here's how.

Everyone has a nemesis. He or she is your equal in terms of skills, and you have similar records against other opponents. Somehow, though, your nemesis manages to come out ahead in your matches. There’s no way you should lose every time, but you do, and it makes you doubt yourself. Maybe you have some mental flaw, perhaps a character weakness? Soon you don’t want to play against this person, because both of you know who’s going to win, and it’s not you.

Knowing the problem is largely in your head makes it devastating. Fortunately, there is a solution. You have to realise that you have to replace your lack of confidence with emotional discipline.
Never look at your opponent, but rather force yourself to look at the ball continuously, and to divert your mind from the score by mechanically repeating, over and over, “Watch the ball.” It can be mentally draining, but effective.

You can take a similar approach to beating the player who has your number. First, narrow your focus. Between points, keep your eyes on your strings, the ball, your feet or anything neutral nearby. The objective is to stop thinking about your opponent by concentrating on things that won’t trigger negative or distracting responses.

Second, vow to have no emotional reaction to a lost point, no matter how silly the error or great your opponent’s shot. This player makes you afraid and uncertain to begin with, so you’ll have a propensity to get emotional. Be wary and fight it.

Finally, force thoughts about the score and winning the match out of your mind. This is difficult, of course, but try to think of ways to execute your shots and game plan. For example, tell yourself to watch the ball, keep your weight forward, or stay loose. The rituals may vary, but it’s best to keep them simple and unemotional. When thoughts about winning or the score intrude, shove them aside and return to your rituals. Sticking to this tactic for an entire match will take discipline and effort, but the results will be worth it.

This isn’t always going to guarantee results but it will at least make sure you focus on your own game and if you lose it could be that your opponent is just better than you.

Tennis Elbow - What a pain!

Up until recently if you had asked me had I ever suffered from tennis elbow?  I would have said yes and that I couldn't understand the big deal people were making of it.

Sure I had, what I know now to be, a few niggles but nothing like real tennis elbow.  My God it is painful, in all your daily activities as well as when you try to play tennis.

So I went looking to see what causes it and I came across the following article supplied by Bupa, which may be of interest to other sufferers.

                    Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis)

                        Published by Bupa's health information team

This factsheet is for people who have tennis elbow, or who would like information about it. Tennis elbow is the common name for a painful condition affecting the outside part of the elbow. Tennis elbow is most common in people aged between 40 and 50. Depending on the severity it can take from two months to two years to heal fully.

About tennis elbow

The medical term for tennis elbow is lateral epicondylitis because it affects the outside of your elbow bone, which is called the lateral epicondyle. The lateral epicondyle is the bony area you can feel on the outside of your elbow. Tennis elbow develops when the tendon that joins the muscles of your forearm to your upper arm bone (the humerus) tears or becomes inflamed. This tendon is called the common extensor tendon (see diagram).

Tennis elbow is a common condition that affects between one and three in 100 people.

Tennis elbow most often happens when you have repeatedly overused your arm. This overuse causes inflammation or tiny tears in the tendon. This may become worse if you continue doing the activity that triggered the pain and may cause a more serious tear or rupture your tendon.

Symptoms of tennis elbow

The main symptom is pain and tenderness on the outside of your elbow and sometimes in the muscles on top of your forearm. Tennis elbow usually affects the arm of your dominant hand (eg your right arm if you're right handed) because this is the arm you use the most. Symptoms usually develop gradually. The pain may get worse when you move your wrist or if you repeat the activity that triggered the pain. The pain may become constant. Your affected arm may also be more painful when you grip or twist something, such as turning a door handle or shaking hands. If you have severe elbow pain, can't move the joint or have any loss of feeling, you should seek urgent medical attention.

Many people with mild symptoms of tennis elbow can use self-help measures to reduce their pain. However, if your symptoms don't improve after a couple of weeks, you should visit your GP or physiotherapist for advice.

Causes of tennis elbow

The most common cause of tennis elbow is repeated overuse of your arm. Playing tennis three times in a week when you haven't played for some time is the sort of overuse that could cause tennis elbow. However, most people who develop tennis elbow haven't been playing tennis. A range of different activities that involve repeated hand, wrist and forearm movements is more often the cause. This includes activities like using a screwdriver, using vibratory work equipment (such as a drill), or even using a keyboard.

Rarely, tendon damage can happen after a single and often minor incident, such as lifting something heavy or taking part in an activity which you don't do very often, such as painting and decorating. These activities can cause a tear in your tendon.

Diagnosis of tennis elbow

Your GP or physiotherapist will ask about your symptoms and examine you. He or she may also ask you about your medical history.

Your GP or physiotherapist can usually diagnose tennis elbow from examining your arm and hearing about how your symptoms developed. An X-ray is rarely needed, but your GP/physiotherapist may recommend having one to rule out other conditions, such as arthritis, that can cause elbow pain.

For severe tennis elbow that has failed to heal with normal treatment, your GP/physiotherapist might suggest a ultrasound scan. These give images of the soft tissues, including muscles and tendons, inside your arm.

Treatment of tennis elbow

To make a full recovery, you will need to change the way you use your arm so that your tendon is rested and has time to heal. How you do this will depend on how your tennis elbow developed and how severe it is.

Self-help

You can treat your symptoms yourself if you have mild tennis elbow. Some of the main self-help treatments are described below.

Rest.

        The most important part of your treatment is to rest your injured tendon and elbow by stopping or changing the activity that is causing the problem.

         Apply a cold compress to reduce your pain. You can use a cold compress, such as ice or a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a towel as soon as you feel any pain. Hold this against your elbow for 10 minutes every two hours. In the days that follow an injury you can use the ice pack for 10 minutes twice a day. Don't apply ice directly to your skin as it can damage your skin.

Wear strapping or a splint.

 You can wear strapping or a splint around your forearm and elbow to help restrict the movement of your tendon and relieve the strain. Some people find that this helps, although there is no evidence to show how well it works. You can buy arm braces and supports from some physiotherapists, larger pharmacies and sports shops. Don't wear any strapping or a splint continuously - you should leave it off at night time.

Change the action that caused the problem. If the problem developed as a result of an activity at work, contact your employer's occupational health advisers, if available, or speak with your employer. They can give advice on how to change the activity that caused the problem, allowing your arm to heal.

Medicines

You can take paracetamol to relieve the pain, and anti-inflammatory medicines, such as ibuprofen, to reduce inflammation. You can take ibuprofen in the form of a cream or gel that you put directly onto your skin, or you can take it as a tablet. Always read the patient information leaflet that comes with your medicine and if you have any questions, ask your pharmacist for advice.

If paracetamol and ibuprofen don't ease your pain, your GP may prescribe you a stronger painkiller called codeine.

As a last resort, your doctor may also suggest a steroid injection to help relieve pain and inflammation if other treatments don't work, or if your pain is severe. This is an injection of steroid and local anaesthetic directly into the area where your pain is.

Physical therapies

Your GP will refer you to a physiotherapist if he or she thinks physiotherapy will be beneficial. Your physiotherapist may try various techniques to reduce the pain. These may include exercises, deep tissue massage and acupuncture.

You may also be shown exercises to do that stretch your muscles and that can improve the movement and strength of your elbow and wrist. You should start these exercises as soon as possible after any injury, when your pain has eased. Your physiotherapist will be able to advise you on this.

Surgery

Your GP may advise you to have surgery if your tendon is severely damaged, or if there has been no improvement after many months of rest and rehabilitation. However, very few people need surgery.

Prevention of tennis elbow

Tennis elbow is usually caused by overuse of your arm, so it can be prevented. A few sensible precautions include:

 warm up before activity with five minutes of gentle movements - this allows time for your muscles to adjust to     the extra stresses and strains

Don’t do the same activity for long periods of time - take regular breaks

seek advice early from your GP or physiotherapist if you notice a problem

stop the activity that's causing the problem or find a different way to do it.

To prevent an old tennis elbow injury from coming back, you should:

give yourself proper rest between sessions

don't play sport if your arm is painful

get professional advice on your technique if you play racquet sports regularly

perform exercises to strengthen the tendon in your arm, as advised

by your physiotherapist.

Please note while I am happy to post this is article I am not recommending you do any of the above without speaking to your GP or Physio.

Babolat Cork Tennis League Returns?

Congratulations to last years winners, Sheila Stokes and James Cooney.

I would like to thank all those who took part last year and hopefully we will have an event for you again this year.

For the event to run this year I need more people to take part, to be able to sell it to the likes of Babolat.

So it will be done on a pre registered system this year.  Therefore I need all tennis players to sell it to their club mates.

Feedback from last year was not a lot of people knew about the league, yet I emailed each club and asked them to promote it on their notice boards and club websites but unfortunately this wasn't really done.

So here's your chance to win 2 rackets, a racket bag, shoes and clothing (to a retail value of 500e), all you have to do is email me (rob_leahy@yahoo.co.uk)  with your name and contact number.
Closing date for entries is March 18th.

If there are enough entries at that stage I will run the event.

Pressure Ball - Put the bounce back in your old balls!

Never Throw Out Another Soft Tennis Ball!!!

Ensure that your Tennis Balls Always Perform like NEW!!! 

Save Money by using your balls longer

Introducing “Pressureball”

Pressureball is a pressurised tube that not only maintains the bounce in new balls, but will also restore the bounce in balls that have lost their pressure.  It is a reusable flexible pressure tube that can hold up to 8 tennis balls.

With Pressureball:

* Your balls will always maintain their correct bounce characteristics.

* Most of your existing soft balls can be rejuvenated to their correct pressure

* You will play better, more consistent tennis.

For those who want to know

Tennis balls are manufactured from a rubber compound and have an internal pressure of around 14psi or 1kg/cm2. The Rubber compound however is slightly porous and so the pressure escapes over time. This results in an increasingly soft ball with decreased bounce. To counteract this, new balls are sold in pressurized containers. Once the container is opened, the balls start to lose their pressure . Pressureball is essentially a reusable version of the point of sale pressure can and as such will stop tennis balls going flat indefinitely.Because the tube can be pressurised to a higher level than the internal pressure of a ball, it will revive soft balls. This process will take from 2 days to a week depending on how soft the balls are.  There may also be some variation in the speed of revival depending on the age and brand of the ball .

Product Reviews

If you are a regular tennis player then you will either have an injury, have had an injury or know someone who is struggling with an injury.


Now we all know someone who is always injured, because God knows you could never beat them if they weren't, but for the genuine injuries out there the 2 posts below cover 2 products that have changed how injuries can affect you.


Physicool is a product that will reduce swelling quicker and more effectively than ice could ever do.  It has being endorsed by professional athletes, physios and even surgeons and continues working even when the reuseable strapping has being removed.  
To find out more about this article read the post below.


KT Tape is unlike any strapping you may have used in the past.  It is not a support in the common sense of the word.  It works by applying it along muscles, ligaments, and tendons (soft tissue) to provide a lightweight, strong, external support that helps to prevent injury and speed recovery. KT Tape works differently for different injuries. KT Tape can lift and support the knee cap, holding it in place for Runner’s Knee. KT Tape can support sagging muscles along the arch of the foot, relieving the connective tissues for Plantar’s Fasciitis. And KT Tape can lift the stress off of shin splints to allow pain release and give the body a better opportunity to recover. Depending on how it is applied, KT Tape supports, enables, or restricts soft tissue and its movement. By stretching and recoiling like a rubber band, KT Tape augments tissue function and distributes loads away from inflamed or damaged muscles and tendons, thereby protecting tissues from further injury.

By applying KT Tape over affected tissue, athletes experience an external support which helps to prevent further injury and allows the body’s damaged tissue to rest and heal naturally despite continued activity. KT Tape also reduces inflammation and increases circulation which prevents muscle cramping and lactic acid buildup.

KT Tape - The Tape the Pros swear by!

What is KT Tape?

KT Tape is an elastic athletic tape that has been used by pro athletes for decades, but is now available to every consumer. KT Tape:

Relieves
Provides pain relief for common injuries such as Achilles tendonitis, plantar fasciitis, runner’s knee, shin splints, ITBS, hamstring strains, sore calves, neck, back, and shoulder pain and more.

Stabilizes
Supports sore or injured muscles, joints, and tendons without restricting motion like compression bands or wraps. KT Tape is like a brace, but better, and even more comfortable to wear.

Endures 
The essential piece of athletic gear for every athlete. Each application lasts up to 4 days.

Product Features 
Each roll measures 2” x 16.4’ 10-20 applications per roll
Can be worn in the pool and shower
Taping Instructions included in each roll
Available in colors: black, blue, pink, and beige

Product Description 
KT TAPE is an abbreviation for Kinesiology Therapeutic Tape. It is a strong, elastic athletic tape that reduces muscle pain, increases mobility, and enhances athletic performance. KT TAPE is pre-cut so that it is fast and easy to apply. Just tear off a strip and apply it to the injured area. KT TAPE provides relief and support for muscles and joints and can be used to prevent or treat hundreds of sports injuries.

Recommended Storage Instructions 
To maintain optimal performance, KT TAPE should be stored in a cool, dry, well ventilated place. Avoid extended exposure to direct sunlight, high temperatures (above 95 degrees Fahrenheit) and or high humidity (above 65%). Best performance if used within 1 year of purchase.

Same as KT Tape Pro but packaged with consumer-friendly messaging for consumer use.
Only available in Pre-cut strips in a 16' roll.
Includes printed instructions for common applications.
* Latex Free
* Water Resistant
* Can be worn up to 4 days per application
* 2" x 16' roll
* 140% Elastic *Includes 20, 10" strips per roll

KT Tape Pro is the new choice for clinicians who demand more out of their kinesiology tape.  Includes 20% more tape per roll and superior adhesive qualities, KT Tape Pro provides exceptional value and quality.  KT Tape Pro is costly prep and cleanup work.  The 10″ strips easily rip off the roll and can be used as either “I” or “Y” strips without cutting.

The genius of KT Tape Pro is its versatility and simplicity.  Unlike brands that require cutting or are limited to just a single application, KT Tape Pro Pre-cut strips save clinics time and money without limiting your flexibility to use your traditional treatment modalities.  Clinics report that precut strips work for 90% of the in-clinic applications and that patients feel it is more comfortable to wear.  KT Tape Pro also includes an advanced Step Frequency (SF) adhesive that is 25% stronger than other brands, providing greater support and durability- even in the water.

USED IN VIRTUALLY EVERY CLINICAL TAPING APPLICATION, INCLUDING:

Correcting body mechanics
Creating biofeedback
Increasing circulation & Lymphatic Drainage

PRODUCT FEATURES:

20% more tape per roll
Precut strips or classic uncut rolls
Fast and easy to apply
SF adhesive pattern provides superior durability and comfort
Eash application wearable for up to 5 days
12-26 applications per roll
100% cotton. Latex-free
Available in black, blue, pink, beige

RECOMMENDED STORAGE INSTRUCTIONS

To maintain optimal performance, KT TAPE PRO should be stored in a cool, dry, well ventilated place.  Avoid extended exposure to direct sunlight, high temperatures (above 95 degrees Fahrenheit) and or high humidity (above 65 degrees Fahrenheit).  Best performance if used within 1 year of purchase.

This product is available in Maher Sports and is definitely worth a try.  Anyone who has tried has found they can't play without out it now.

Suffering from Injuries - This will help.

Fed up suffering from injuries and taking ages to get over them?  Ice not working for you!  Well here's a product that has proven results and is used by athletes and medical professionals all over.

Have You Got Physicool?

Physicool is a new and unique product range including the fabulous Cooling Tee Shirt, and the stretchy, reusable Physicool bandage that combines cooling, compression and support.

Physicool products provide instant cooling while the bandage also provides instant treatment for inflammation and bruising of muscles, tendons and ligaments.

It is highly effective and quickly reduces swelling and pain. The bandage can be applied in seconds, you just need to have it at hand, and its effects are long lasting, even after the bandage is removed. 

Physicool works by drawing heat out through rapid evaporation, as opposed to most other products that work by driving cold in.

It's perfect for domestic, sport and leisure use.

Reduce the pain, reduce the swelling, get your recovery underway quickly, make sure you get Physicool today!

Why Physicool?

The Physicool bandage is a specially fabricated and treated bandage that can be used straight out of the packet.

• Quickly reduces swelling and pain
• Helps speed up the healing process
• Easy to apply, even one handed
• No need for refrigeration
• Reusable cooling bandage
• immediate and long lasting

For more information go to www.physicool.co.uk or visit Maher Sports to purchase the any of the products.

Plenty Happening in Youghal Tennis Club.

New Members Promo: please contact Frank Delaney (0868406848) for details about an exciting special new rate for becoming a member.

SVP Christmas tournament: This will be held on Sunday November 27th at 11am - our club is located on Kilcoran Rd Youghal beside the Strand Church. All proceeds go towards the Society of St. Vincent de Paul's fighting poverty campaigns. Only €5 to take part, and everybody is welcome then to a tenacious morning's tennis.  

Junior Coaching: Martin Cusack is available Sundays from 10am 'til 2.30pm and this will continue into November.

Junior Competition: Just to remind all that the juniors will continue to play every Saturday, weather permitting. As usual there has been an excellent turn out and we thank you for your continued commitment.

Easter Bank Holiday weekend (31/10):
There will be no junior competition or coaching taking place. Enjoy the festivities!

TRETORN TENNIS BALLS: To avoid anyone in the Youghal area having to make the trip to Dungarvan, "Sport and Leisure" in Youghal now stock these.

THURSDAY CLUB NIGHT:

Please join us at 7.30pm every Thursday for scintillating social tennis which is open to members and non members alike. We look forward to seeing you then!

Check our FACEBOOK page (Youghal Lawn Tennis Club) for Club Night photos!

Any comments or queries: Facebook "Youghal Lawn Tennis Club", email youghaltennisclub@yahoo.ie

Bishopstown Open Vets Doubles 2011

The 2012 Vets selection starts here!

A lot of players will be coming into this event with confidence high following Munsters' win in the 2011 Interpros.

Places will need to be defended, new comers will want to fight their way onto next years team which is looking to make it 3 in a row.  It's all to play for and all starts again at Bishopstown.

Entries are now being taken online until the 8th of October, don't delay.

You can enter here.

Tennis Talk Available to All Clubs

TENNIS TALK AVAILABLE IN YOUR CLUB.

READ ON TO FIND OUT MORE.

As part of my job selling rackets and restringing, I come across a large number of the tennis community daily.

And it concerns me that the information a lot of these people have acquired, either through their own interpretation of something or the advice they have being given is wrong.

Using the correct racket and the most suitable strings for your style of game can make a huge difference to your game.

If a talk on these and other topics is of interest to you, contact me with the best person to talk to in your club to organise such an event.

Contact me at rob_leahy@yahoo.co.uk or 0868215333.

Great New Tennis Book Available.

I have just received and read a great new book which is a must for anyone involved in coaching or on committees.  It was written be Peter Farrell and goes through in detail how to make your club a successful and vibrant facility.

The book is called "Directing Tennis Programmes" and it covers topics such as Club Programmes, The Role of a Coach, Child Protection and Risk Management, Marketing, Working with Parents and many more relevant topics that you will come across regularly when working as a coach or as part of your clubs committee.

This is an adapted extract from Peter Farrell’s new book Directing Tennis Programmes. For further information, contact Peter at peter.farrell@tennisireland.ie

Children can only play tennis with their parents support. Who else is going to pay for their club membership, equipment and coaching? Parental support is crucial in getting children interested in tennis in the first place. Once a young player has become involved in the game and the club, parents are still hugely influential in getting their child to sign up for events, tournaments, and coaching, then transporting them to the venues. Some parents will be experienced players who have been around tennis for many years. But for others the game will be a `foreign field`, and they will need support and guidance to negotiate the difficulties ahead. Nobody would criticize a child for not knowing how to read on the first day of school – why would anyone expect parents to know exactly what to do and not to do from day one?
SPECIFIC GUIDELINES FOR PARENTS

1. Keep winning and losing in perspective.
It is easy and tempting to equate success in tennis with the number of matches won and lost, and to assume that losing is always bad. In fact winning too much as a junior can actually harm a player’s development – constant winners have no yardstick with which to measure what they need to do in order to improve.

2. Make sure tennis is fun.
I always remember an article I read many years ago, shortly after Bjorn Borg retired in his mid 20`s. When asked why he had given up at such a young age, he said “it wasn’t fun anymore”. If it needed to be fun at his level, it certainly needs to be fun at junior level!

3. Emphasize the achievement of individual objectives.
Ambitions in tennis can range anywhere between wanting to win Wimbledon to getting some exercise once or twice a week. It is up to each player to decide what they want to get out of the game, and each decision is perfectly valid for that individual.

4. Keep your child involved in tennis.
Progression to a competent level can be a mid to long-term goal for some players. If a child is struggling with the game, a parent must find ways to keep him or her involved and interested. Always stress that tennis is a sport for a lifetime – in the USA there are tournaments for player’s aged 90 and over!

5. Be sensitive in what you say to your child after a match.
Win or lose, it is generally best for a parent to give a player some time alone after the competitors shake hands. While parents are often anxious to make what they see as relevant points, most players like to reflect for a while on a match before discussing it.

6. Get on court!
Children love the fact that they can rally with and against their parents. Make sure you use the correct ball for your child's age and standard (see www.tennisplayandstay.com for details).

Babolat Cork Tennis League Mens Winner

Congratulations to James Cooney on winning the Babolat Cork Tennis League Mens Section.
James collected his prize of 2 rackets, a racket bag, shoes, t-shirt, shorts and socks today.
After a long tournament season it came down to the last event with 3 men in the running for the top prize.  Due to a bad planning one of the 3 eliminated himself so 2 remained.  And the semi final of the Mens doubles grade 4 became the Babolat Cork Tennis League Mens final between James and Tim Ryan.  After a nervous affair James and his partner came through and that win ensured James won the league. 
Well done James and watch out for details of next years event in the near future. 
A big thank you to Babolat for sponsoring this event.

Inaugural All Ireland Senior Team Tennis Open Championships

Limerick Lawn Tennis Club will host a new event in the Irish Tennis calendar over the forthcoming October bank holiday weekend . 


Officially launched on Monday 26th September by Club President Judith McGill and All Ireland Team committee in the preseence of sponsor Jim Upton.


The Format is mens and ladies teams of 4 or you may enter as an individual and we will put you in a team.  It is a knockout competition, but there will be a plate event so each team is guaranteed at least 2 matches which is 4 games.  


The entry fee is €20 per person and entry forms will be available from Thursday.  You can contact me through the blog or go to the events facebook page to get entry forms.


A list of accommodation which will be at a reduced rate will be available shortly again on the face book page which you can find by searching for the title of this post.  


All grades catered for 1-2 , 2 , 3 ,4 , 5-6. Ideal tournament to enter as part of an introduction to tennis or an elite player. 


Mr Upton said he was delighted to be associated with the Inaugural All Ireland Team Tennis Tournament and to link the new tournament with a new product using the slogan ' Make Christmas Magic with Magic Turkey Bags'. 


A programme of clubhouse entertainment along with Happy Hours and food offerings is being planned for the holiday weekend . A fun filled action packed weekend of fun and tennis in store !!!!!!!!!

The King retires

Irish tennis has lost one of it's recent stars to retirement.  A decision that wasn't entirely his own.  Irish tennis has taken huge strides forward in recent years and now has a foundation to produce stars of the future to follow in Barry's footsteps.

Unfortunately, like Conor Niland mentioned in his interview on The Late Late Show, professional tennis is an expensive occupation and at the moment Irish players aren't receiving any assistance in pursuit of their dreams and this contributed in part to Barry's decision.

This doesn't bode well for our sport and hopefully between The Sports Council and Lottery funding our future stars will be given a bit more support than our current crop of professional players.

The following is an article which appeared today in the Irish Times sports section and is a fitting tribute to one of our top players.

Congratulations Barry and best of luck in your future career.

"King ends professional career

Tennis: Irish Davis Cup player Barry King has today announced his retirement from professional tennis at the age of 26. Having exhausted his financial resources and with a series of niggling injuries holding him back from progressing further up the rankings, King felt there was little option but to pull to plug on his professional career at this stage.

He admitted: “Having spent nearly three years on the professional circuit and achieved many of goals, I am now eager to resume my business career. I thoroughly enjoyed my time on the professional tour, particularly the time I spent as part of the Irish Davis Cup squad.

“I now look forward to channelling the energy I brought to these matches into new pursuits. I will always be passionate about Irish tennis and wish to continue to contribute to this development in any way possible.

King achieved a career high ranking of 600 in November 2009 and has been a member of the Irish Davis Cup team since 2010. The former Gonzaga schoolboy was Ireland’s Davis Cup hero in July this year when he defeated Anis Ghorbel to win the Davis Cup Euro/Africa Zone Group II play-off against Tunisia on a 3-2 score line.

King accounted for Ghorbel in straight sets 7-6 6-2 6-1 to claim the fourth singles match and overall victory at Riverview. Irish Davis Cup Captain Garry Cahill said: “Barry’s retirement is a huge blow for Irish tennis. He has had a really impressive career to date and he is a proven match winner in international competition.

We acknowledge his enormous talent and while his retirement is a setback, we understand very well his decision. He has been an inspiration for all the junior members of the BNP Paribas National Tennis Academy and we all wish him the very best of luck in his future ventures.”

Senior Open Season ends with Bandon Open

Well another summer of opens has come to an end, and what a way to finish.

Finals day at Bandon provided some very tough and competitive matches and despite the weather finished on time.

Looking through the results some of the finalists have appeared in other finals throughout the year and will surely be upgraded next year, probably to the relief of some of their opponents.

Well done to all who won and got to finals in Bandon and congratulations to the organising committee on another very successful tournament.

Results:
MD3 - Niall Cloke/Kieran Hackett V Aidan Cotter/Eoin Moynihan 6-3, 3-6, 6-3
WD3 - Karen Barry/Joanna Riordan V Marion Healy/Monica Williams 6-3, 6-1
MX3 - Karen Barry/Jonathon Mulcahy V Louise Nestor/Niall Cloke 6-1, 3-6, 6-4
MD4 - James Cooney/Kevin Day V Ed Condren/Des Greene 6-3, 6-7, 6-4
WD4 - Deirdre Duboy/Monica Twomey V Jo Cahalane/Jenny Warren 6-2, 6-3
MX4 - Monica Twomey/Rob Jenkins V Sandra Higgins/Tom Reidy 6-4, 4-6, 6-4
MD5 - Conor Ahern/Michael O Driscoll V Ray McDonald/John Murphy 7-5, 6-4
WD5 - Jo Cahalane/Jenny Warren V Teresa O Donovan/Jacqui O Mahony 6-2, 6-1
MX5 - Bridgett Webb/Frank Delaney V Liz Brosnan/Liam O Regan 3-6, 7-6, 7-6
MD6 - James Cooke/Liam Kelleher V Declan Casey/Ivan McCutcheon 6-0, 6-1
WD6 - Martina O Sullivan/Brenda Crowley V Majella Daly/Linda Murphy 6-1, 6-1
MX6 - Majella Daly/Ray McDonald V Karen Holmes/Jason Preston 6-3, 6-0.

The truth!

D - Day for the mens winner of the Babolat Cork Tennis League

The Mens Grade 4 semi finals in Bandon will decide the mens winner of the Babolat Cork Tennis League.

Tim Ryan and James Cooney are both on 21 points and they meet this afternoon in a semi final, with more than just a spot in the final at stake.

The winner gets for himself, from Babolat, 2 tennis rackets, a pair of shoes, a t-shirt, shorts, socks and a racket bag to hold them all, not bad for a seasons work.

The ladies winner was Sheila Stokes.

I'll be in touch to organise the prizes soon guys.

Best of luck to both Tim and James this afternoon.

Babolat Cork Tennis League

Here is the updated table with one tournament to go:

MensJames Cooney - 21points
Tim Ryan - 21points
Conor Ahern - 13points
Piotr Czarnecki - 5points

WomenSheila Stokes - 26points
Trish O Leary - 13points.

The mens event goes down to the last tournament where Conor would need 2 wins and hope the guys above him don't win.. Bad choice of partner there Conor as a 2 wins would keep Tim ahead of you.

Tim and James are in one event each and all going to plan they meet in the semi's to decide who wins the mens title.

Congratulations to Sheila Stokes on winning the womens event.

Senior Vets win back to back Interpros

The Senior Vets Interpros were held last weekend in Sundays Well tennis club and even though the weather wasn't favourable the quality of tennis was still of a very high standard.

The matches were very competitve and the new format again proved it's worth in providing a very close fought battle to the end.

After the first afternoons play Munster and Leinster were tied on 11 matches each out of a possible 16.

Play began Saturday morning with all teams knowing there was still a lot of tennis to be played and 32 points up for grabs.

The new format doesn't have just one province playing another, it has three of the four age groups playing different provinces. This means until the last ball is hit on Saturday evening you don't know how you have done against any one province.

After the mornings matches, Leinster and Munster were still tied having picked up 12 points each.

With the afternoon session left it was all to play for and the Munster players were determined to defend the title for the first time in their history (we think!). Players and spectators alike spent the afternoon trying to figure out how the scores were tallying up. While we were able to calculate Munster's scores, finding out how Leinster were doing was proving a bit more difficult. This all added to the excitement.

Last year when Munster won, there were a few comments about our team being illegal as we played a few people down an age group. An argument which if you sit down and think about it, is quiet ridiculous as a player could be giving away as many as 9 years. How is that an advantage?

Well this year not only was the team legal but Munster retained their title by the narrowest of margins, two points.

This was a magnificent achievement and the plan now is to go for the hat-trick in Connaught next year. Well done to all.

Ballinlough Senior Open Results

MX3 - Karen BArry/Jonathon Mulcahy V Berni Kenny/Paul O Callaghan 6-1, 5-7, 6-0
MD4 - Martin Bourke/Kenny Ding V Dan Linihan/Vladimir Shevchenko 2-6, 6-3, 6-3
LD4 - Sandra Higgins/Nime Stfansson V Tara Mukerjee/Monica Twomey 7-5, 2-6, 6-2
MX4 - Deirdre Duboy/Kevin Moynihan V Catherine McCarthy/Niall Coonan 6-0, 6-1
MD5 - Dan Linihan/Vladimir Shevchenko V Tom Fannon/NIgel Smith 6-1, 6-4
LD5 - Catherine Griffin/Maria O Keeffe V Maria Crowley/Ann Humphries 6-2, 6-4
MX5 - Ann Humphries/Liam Murphy V Mary Woulfe/Con Sheehan 6-4, 7-6
MD6 - Martin Hurley/Tony Lyons V Tim O Leary/John Underwood 6-2, 0-6, 6-1
LD6 - Carmel o Hea/Linda St.Ledger V Tina Bushe/Shirley Kenneally RET.
MX6 - Therese Crowley/Joe McSweeney V Teresa Lynch/Brian Hennessy 7-6, 6-1.

Congratulations to all the winners and runners up and to the organising committee of Ballinlough tennis club on another very successful tournament.

East Cork Senior Open Results

Here are the results for the East Cork Senior Open which finished recently in Lower Aghada Tennis Club.

MD1 - Duncan Cronin/Conor Kelly V Vince Lawton/Rob Murphy 6-4, 6-2
LD1/2 - Marie Duffy/Mary Claire McCarthy V Liz Clifford/Karen Higgins 6-4, 6-1
MD2 - Paul Flynn/Ger Sheehan V VInce Lawton/Donal Neary 6-4, 6-2
MD3 - Aidan Cotter/Keith Kenny V James Cooney/Leo Lyons Troy 1-6, 6-3, 7-5
LD3 - Karen Barry/Joanna O Riordan V Marian Gargan/Monica Williams 7-5, 6-0
MX3 - Carol Daly/Niall Ahern V Nick Cloke/MArgaret Roche 6-2, 6-4
MD4 - Tony Lawlor/Jonathon Mulcahy V Kevin Day/Leo Lyons Troy 6-4, 7-5
LD4 - Dara Carberry/Sandra Higgins V Cathy Dorrian/Susan Hamel 6-7, 7-6, 6-2
MX4 - Trish O Leary/James Cooney V Maggie Brosnan/Declan Whelan Curtin 6-2, 6-1
MD5 - Conor Ahern/Michael O Driscoll V John Barry/John O Neill 3-6, 6-1, 6-3
LD5 - Majella Blackburn/Liz O Brien V Catherine Griffin/Caroline Lawlor 1-6, 6-3, 6-3
MX5 - Naomi & Ray O Sullivan V Bridget Webb/Frank Delaney 6-1, 3-6, 6-0
MD6 - Com BUrke/Donal McCarthy V Darragh Fitzgerald/George Ross 6-4, 7-6
LD6 - Karen Holmes/Linda Murphy V Tina Bushe/Siobhan Cronin 6-3, 7-5
MX6 - Linda & John Murphy V Sally Hayes Diarmuid Cronin 3-6, 6-4, 6-3

Babolat Cork Tennis League points:
James Cooney - 10 points
Trish O Leary - 5 points

Veterans Interpros comes to Cork.

Sundays Well Tennis Club will host the Veterans Interpros on Friday and Saturday the 9th and 10th of September. Play will commence Friday afternoon around 3pm (time to be confirmed).

Last year Munster won the Interpro Championships for the first time in 10 years and will be doing their best to retain the title.
Pressure will be on though, as rumour has it Leinster didn't like losing and have a packed team travelling to Cork with the intention of winning back the title.

This is where we need your support. the atmosphere at interpros is always great and this Munster team is hoping the people of Cork will come out and make some noise.

You will be guaranteed an entertaining weekends tennis with some excellent matches to watch.

The Team:
O-35
Louise Carmody, Jennifer Ann Mulholland, Toni O Keeffe.
Rob Cummins, Derek Lane, Stan Dvorsky, Rob Leahy.

O-40
Trudy Kennedy, Deirdre McSherry, Carmel Daly, Juliann Foley O'Neill.
Rob Murphy, Willie Reynolds, Paddy McGrath, Barry McCarthy.

O-45
Ger Flynn, Un Ryle, Niamh Kennedy, Grace Reidy.
Des Dillon, Liam O Brien, Joe Smyth, Joe Donovan.

O-50
Marie Duffy, Gail O'Meara, Ann Naughton, Connie Creed.
Pat Smith, Pat Coleman, Martin Ormond, Ron O'Mahony.

Non playing Captain: Alice Fawsitt.
Best of luck to all involved.