First of all a correction to the date given last week for the Albany Junior Open sponsored by Panacea Pharma Projects. It is of course during half-term and will be held from Monday 31 October to Sunday 3 November. Closing date for entries, online, is 24 October. Further details contact Sally Walker or Ian Watson.
The Club Championships, sponsored by Panacea Pharma Projects, were concluded at the weekend with some very good matches. Elena Snidal eventually overcame Lucy Kerr’s fight back in the 2nd set to take the Ladies title. Yes! I know they play for Castletown but they are also Albany members. The entry in this event was low because so many women members “don’t play singles”. Luckily we should be able to turn this around in a year or two as there are some girls coming through the Mini Tennis system who will, I’m sure be very competitive.
I was lucky enough to witness part of the Boys U8 final between Jayden Go and Roch Mirski, who is IOMLTA U8 champion. These boys were special, playing tennis in miniature – all the strokes, all the tactics and lots of style. A real battle to the end, with Jayden eventually taking the title. This is his first title and I’m sure this won’t be the last time that these two play each other in the future. Well played Jayden and Roch – I really enjoyed watching you. Also well done to young George McAleer for taking part as he was only 4 in March!
Results: Boys U8 r/robin Group A – Winner - Roch Mirski 3 wins,r/up Charlotte Clarke 2 wins. Group B – Winner Jayden Go bt 3 wins, r/up Harry McAleer 2 wins. Semi Finals Roch bt Harry 10-5 , Jayden bt Charlotte 10-5. Final Jayden Go bt Roch Mirski 7-10,12-10,12-10. Boys U9 r/robin Zac Walker bt Jason Cole 4/2, Sam Skelcher-Maxwell 4/2 and Sam bt Jason 4/1 making Zac Walker the winner. Girls U9 – r/robin winner Kitty Thomas 3 wins, r/up Amaline Batty 2 wins. Boys U10 r/robin winner Patrick McCord 4wins, r/up Charles Kinrade 3 wins. Boys U12 Final Max Walker bt Alex Conti 4/2, 5/4. Boys U14 r/robin winner Max Walker 3 wins r/up Jay Skelcher-Maxwell 2 wins. Boys U16 2nd round – Sean Drewry bt Alex Conti 6/0,6/0, Calvin Smith bt Oliver Haynes 6/4, 6/4; Katie Harris bt Matthew Shopland 6/1,6/2; Adam Pyatt-Coppell bt Max Walker 6/0 6/1; Semi-finals Sean bt Calvin 6/1,6/1; Adam bt Katie 6/2,6/3. Final: Sean bt Adam 7/5 6/0. Men’s Singles; Semi Finals Marc Chinn bt Adam Pyatt-Coppell 6/1, 6/1; Ian Watson bt Sean Drewry 7/6, 6/2. Final Marc bt Ian 6/1,6/4. Ladies. Singles r/robin Elena Snidal bt Katie Harris 2/6,6/4 (10-8); bt Sarah Breed 6/2,7/6 and Lucy Kerr 6/4,4/6(10-7); Lucy bt Katie 6/0,6/0 and Sarah 6/2,6/4; Sarah bt Katie 6/3,6/2 making Elena the winner. Prizes were presented by Dan MacKay on behalf of the sponsors Panacea Pharma Projects.
The IOMLTA are planning an LTA Level 1 Coaches course in February, which will be held at the club. The club would like 4 or 5 candidates to come forward. This is the qualification needed for teaching Mini Tennis and we need more coaches. Maybe some of the Friday Morning Ladies will give it some thought. It is a three- day course, with a nominal fee of ?40 – the rest of the fee being paid by the IOMLTA. Older juniors, i.e. 16 or over should also think about this opportunity as this qualification is worth having on your CV.
