Newry Tennis Club

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This was an unusual tournament, nothing like anything that had gone before and we hope not exactly the same as it will be in the future. The club had been closed since March 2020 and re opened three months later. Therefore the Newry Closed originally planned for April was finally held in July. It was no mean feat to organise as we had to follow restrictions. So a Whats app booking app was instigated and each match would be co ordinated between the two players drawn against one another. The system worked and all players did their part in making this a stress free tournament. There were record numbers of entrants for the Men’s and Women’s Singles for the last decade or so.

MENS SINGLES

A remarkable 34 entrants meant that we had a Prelim Rd for the first time in the last 10 years and this was with at least six regular members not playing. The early rounds had a lot of one sided ties including 24 bagels and 16 6-1 sets. But it is perhaps to be expected with such a big entry. The only close match in R1 was the tournament opener between Paddy McKinley and Cormac Moody. Despite serving yips and too many double faults Paddy eked out the result. It was the only 3 set match in the first 2 rounds. The most anticipated second round match was between two quinquagenarians Kieran Campbell and Malachy McAteer. With Cormac Moody in the umpires chair it felt like an occasion. Malachy was more consistent at the net and in his overall tennis and the intensity soon fizzled out. The only one of the top 8 seeds to miss their allotted draw position was No8 Matthew Richmond who unfortunately drew his brother Conor in R2 and lost 75 60 having had chances in the first set. It was a tough loss for Matthew as it was on his birthday but he felt better when he got news that he had gained his degree in accountancy that very day. Conor had not played the Newry Closed for 7 years and therefore was not seeded but the was the dark horse of the event. In the Quarters he would down another seed in Andrew Byrne. Andrew has improved his game from being consistent to now being a potent attacking player with immense fitness. However Conor has a tremendous service motion coupled with a hard hitting fh and proved too good on this day. It meant he was our first ever unseeded semi finalist. There he came up against the club No1 Shane McAteer. An onlooker watching would have thought it was close given the high quality of both players but Shane was dominant as ever on these courts and dropped just one game. Indeed he had Lost just three games in four matches en route to his fourth successive final. The best against him was Gerry Sweetman who amazingly won 2 games in a row in set 1 before bowing out. The other side of the daw saw serene progress from club stalwart Tim Smith. Tim beat the returning Paddy Clements in the semis. Paddy was back after a 5 year gap. The last time a runner up to Giby, this semi saw the 2012 and 2013 champs face off. Tim hits harder off the ground and that proved crucial as he stormed past the consistent top spin of Paddy. The final was between the top two men at the club Shane and Tim meeting in a Closed final for the first time. But these two protagonists have gone toe to toe many times before. At 5-0 to Shane it looked like it would be over in double quick time but there would be numerous rain delays and a few ups and downs to come. Shane secured the set 61 but the second was a different kettle of fish. Tim was hitting pall drivers on the fh but Shane defended extremely well in a classic set of tennis albeit with rain interruptions. Tim closed it out in a tiebreak. Shane had never lost a set in three previous Closed finals. But tim continued to up the pace and went 1-0 40-15 up in the decider. Shane’s defence is of the highest level and he began to pull away in a fabulous tennis match even falling to he ground hitting his chin in his effort to get to the ball. Shane had won his fourth consecutive Closed, the first man to do that in our records.

TOMMY MCKEOWN CUP

The inaugural Cup for those who lost out in R2 was enacted to give more competition for the closely matched 9-16 range of players at the club.  Tommy had mixed feelings about a Cup being named after him as that is usually the case when you depart but I believe in celebrating the living and if it is good enough for Billie Jean King! To be truthful this event enlivened the tournament. In front of excited spectators James O’Hare came back from 4 match points down to crush the hopes of Nigel Bingham. Three of these mps were won by daring lay from James including an ace and a massive line hugging lob. But Nigel will regret changing his stroke from a smash to a drop on another as James won on a tie break. James the warrior continued his winning ways in the semi with another equally enthralling encounter. Kieran Campbell gave it everything he had until he started to cramp late in the match. James himself said he blacked out at one stage as it also went to a final set tb. James had been 5-2 up in the final set but then could not get a fh into play. But he played a steady tiebreak to survive. Matthew Richmond made up for being the only early seeded casualty as he would end up beating both O’Hare brothers as he triumphed in front of the watching Tommy!

JIM DALY PLATE

During the tournament we got the sad news that Jim Daly had died, he had been a member of the club since he was a youngster in the 1980s with a ferocious forehand. In honour the Plate this year was played in his honour. There were a record 18 people in the draw as 2 Prelim Rd players were allowed to enter. James O’Hare and Neil McMahon streamed a live video of the draw which brought the club to a new level of modernity. Both seeds lost in the second round. Christopher Morrow won a four hour battle saving 2 match points in set two to defeat fellow Junior Daniel. The story of this event was Sean Pearce as he won his last 3 matches in close 3 setters to push aside his nerves. In the final he had 3 mps at 5-3 against Chris Zak but oversliced a couple of shots due to a sore calf. It would go to a final set tiebreak and Sean used a strong fh to get to another 3 mps and this time triumphed in front of a packed gallery. This was Sean’s first singles tournament win. Kieran was an excellent umpire which added to the occasion.

 

WOMENS SINGLES

We had 8 entries for the first time in over a decade including newcomers to this level for Peggy Magner and Shauna Matthews. It was a strong field as both Anna Richmond and Eve Campbell who had shared 2 titles each since 2016. They both played great tennis with Anna a blistering fh and Eve a heavy topspin game and attacking forays to the net. Anna won her third title to now equal Eve. There was a good appreciative crowd for the final which was held in sunny yet windy conditions.  Lets hope the two get to play many more matches at the club.

WOMENS PLATE

This was the first time we had enough entrants for a Women’s Plate in my six years at the club. Having lost in the QF of the singles, Deirdre Dinsmore turned it on as she dispatched Peggy Magner and Marie Pearse. This is the first singles success for Deirdre at Newry club.

WOMENS DOUBLES

Two mother daughter teams and neighbours squared off as Anna and Carmel won in straight sets against Derval and Eve. Expected to be very tight the Richmond family who have their own court and thus were able to play during lockdown took the trophy even though Carmel was nursing a strapped knee.

MENS DOUBLES

Seven family teams started out on their quest for glory in what was obviously a very different tournament from the norm. The top seeds were the father and son team of Malachy and Shane McAteer who would be formidable opposition for anyone. The No2 seeds were also father and son Kieran and Jamie Campbell. Jamie has won the Newry Open closed on numerous occasions with Giby Vettiankal so is a highly accomplished doubles performer. The Quarters, semis and final were held over 3 successive weekends with these top 2 reaching the final. There was a huge crowd and Chair of the club Dorothy Blair was literally in the High Chair as umpire which added gravitas to proceedings. There was only one contentious call in the third set which Jamie was unhappy with. In a close contest the first two sets were shared with excellent net skills. A very long Jamie service game at the start of set three provide crucial when he was broken and the McAteers won the first ever family men’s doubles.

 

MIXED DOUBLES

Four family teams met with the previously successful Anna and Matthew showing their silky net skills. They beat the Pearse father and daughter combo in the semi. Kieran and Eve beat the parents Richmond Carmel and John but could not beat the next generation in the final.

 

JUNIOR BOYS

The semis had the holder Daniel Boyle beat younger brother David whilst good friend Christopher morrow came through a close one with Matthew Severyn. So our 2 finalists had met in the Plate during the tournament with an impressive four hour battle that see sawed and Christopher coming back to win. Here Daniel gained revenge and perhaps had more to play for as he won in straight sets for his second Junior title. Both finalists now leave for university, so we wish them the best as Daniel heads off to Liverpool and Chris to St Andrews.