Back at the coalface last night pencil & notepad in hand to witness day 3 of the Championships in blustery conditions. The overriding theme I can only describe as a ‘festival of family tennis’ as we had a number of sibling and inter-generational teams attempting to gel together over the course of last night’s matches.

Notable wins recorder by Anne Hayden, Lucy Butler who had a very impressive win over Vivienne Fitzgerald, D. Bennett and Ian Walker taking out the Gill boys, F. McCooey and Grace Weldon sailing through in the Lucky dip and Catalin and Simon Lloyd progressing with ease.

We were treated to much tighter affairs across the Ladies singles & doubles with Ellen O’Carroll beating Helen Curran in two sets the first of which proved crucial.

Heroines of the handicaps fresh back from down time in Waterford team-mates Zuilmah Wallis & Fionnuala Hayes took on the fancied family pairing of Elaine & Niamh Prior. A cracking match ensued with the Zuilmah and Fionnuala winning a first set 6/3 only to be pegged back in the 2nd by great court coverage and strokes by Niamh & Elaine who took it 7/5. As with the recent handicaps Wallis & Hayes proved resilient to win in 3.

Another family paring of Mark & Steve Gill had a significant win over what was a strong pairing of Simon Hughes Jones & the returning Des Noctor. This one was all about the first set and who could get across the line. The elder Gill well supported by his team-mate won it 7/6 and then went on to prove worthy winners 6/3 in the second.

The pairing of Harry Wall and Louis Hemeryck looked like men on a mission against a quality pairing of Keith O’Byrne and JP Begley winning 6/2 6/4 leaving some chatter reverberate around the club that they look like a pair that could do serious damage in the latter stages of the men’s doubles. A classic could await us all in the next round.

And so, to the final family affair of the evening with our much esteemed and often loved President 😊 taking to the Courts with Sam against the understated and somewhat timid pairing of Halsall and R. O’Hagan in the Men’s 8 up’s. O’Hagan and Halsall in fairness played great tennis to win the first set at a canter 6/2. The Totterdell boys reversed the scores in set two with young Sam covering both his side of the court and on the odd occasion his partners. Set 3 went the same way with Barry and Sam recording a fine win on the night. Steeper hill to climb this evening me thinks!

More fun and games awaits us this evening where the balcony is sure to be in good voice and remember to:

‘Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.’ – Arthur Ashe

A NOTE to ALL – Championship Finals Evening tickets went on sales last night and 40% have sold overnight. Maximum numbers are 100 so make sure you book your tickets at the Club bar or through the contact details below as they will be sold out quickly.

Mandy O Neill
M: 086 816 2385
E: Mandynolanoneil@gmail.com

Your Championship Committee