Around Ireland and around Europe, OUT4TENNIS players were having fun both on and off court. Any review of the year would fail to capture all the action though the following month-by-month review captures most of the highlights from a very full year. Thanks to Ken Lyons pulled together results of the Dublin Summer League.
It was a year too when Andy Murray was flattered to be a gay icon while in December, 70's tennis legend Bjorn Borg launched a commercial for his brand that caught the eye. Read on..........
JANUARY
OUT4TENIS CORK has it first meeting at the Tennis Village where Damien Barry and John O’Donovan took honours in a mini-tournament.
Up in Dublin, Una introduced a mixed doubles 15 min format that had everyone on the go for 2 hours at UCD. Brian and Carmel took honours.
FEBRUARY
Gary Lynch went looking for love at the Smashing Valentine Tournament in Eindhoven.
MARCH
Antonio Stoia flies in from New York for The Dublin Men’s Spring Tournament which saw Aiden Creavin (Castleknock LTC), Roger Dowds (Taney LTC) and Denis Delaney (Mount Pleasant) win their respective divisions. Newbie Owen Fitzgerald was crowned later than evening for “services to tennis”………
APRIL - MAY
Albert, Noel and Andy enticed the Brighton Tennis Guys (BLAGSS) over to Dublin on a reciprocal visit for the May bank holiday weekend. In glorious sunshine (not seen since), the boyz from BLAGGS are heavily defeated.
The Women’s Summer Doubles Tournament takes place at UCD where Una and Alida win the Club Division while Carmel and Marie win the Social Division. Later that evening at The Mercer Hotel, Una takes up karaoke penning new lyrics to Molly Malone…..unrepeatable here!
Andy Murray is flattered to be a gay icon!! http://www.andymurray.com/news/article/202
Phase 1 of WWW.OUTINIRELAND.NET goes live, subsequently going on to be shortlisted in the Sports Section of the Irish Web Awards in October.
JUNE
Not on court admittedly though the Emerald Warriors set new standards in the running of Ireland’s biggest ever ‘gay’ sport event with the Bingham Cup www.binghamcup2008.com
Dublin Summer League saw many OUT4TENNIS players doing well with John Darby - men’s doubles champion in Lansdowne. Andy Caffrey and Brian Cotter were runners up in Class 6 doubles in the Leinster Open in LCC. Andy Caffrey also won both the Spring Challenge Div B Singles and the Club Championship Singles Plate in Charleville.
Noel Quirke starting his winning streak with the LCC Class 6 singles followed quickly by the popular if not unexpected victory at the blue ribbon event Class 6 singles in Mount Pleasant.
Then, an all OUT4TENNIS final at Bective with the class 6 doubles victory with Albert Dolan and Noel Quirke against Manu Alvarado and Ken Lyons.
Again, at Bective, Anthony McGrath was Runner Up in Men's Singles (Class 2).
On the women’s side, Una flew the flag, starting her winning streak at Mount Pleasant winning the women’s doubles (Class 4), going on to win the Castlebar Doubles (Class 1) and more recently the North East Veteran Open A Doubles.
JULY
Rafa and Roger fail to get selected for any OUT4TENNIS tournament so battle it out on Centre Court in a marathon, edge-of-your seat final with Rafa winning 6-4, 6-4, 6-7 (5-7), 6-7 (8-10), 9-7.
Venus returned to form winning the Ladies……….
Rain delays the start of the Men’s Doubles Tournament at UCD. The well-established pairing of Ward and Curran overcome Charleville LTC’s Caffrey and Cotter. Quirke and Alvarado outshine everyone in matching attire………later that evening, it was all ‘Come Dancing’ at the Temple Bar Hotel……….
EUROGAMES Barcelona
12 players, not undaunted by the heat in Barcelona, takes on Europe’s best at the Olympic tennis village. Medallists included Niall, David, Una, Ciara, Alida, Albert amongst others.
The Phoenix Tigers www.phoenixtigers.com fly the flag for women’s soccer at Eurogames.
AUGUST
Mark O’Donovan, Noel Quirke and others put their rackets aside, don the Dublin Devils jersey www.dublindevilsfc.com and head to London for the IGLFA Word Cup.
SEPTEMBER
Incessant rain forces the Men’s Autumn Tournament indoors to West Wood. A very focused Rory Kelly wins Division C while that Spanish legend, Manu Alvarado overcame Niall Egan. In Division A, Gary Lynch recovered from 4-2 down to beat Niall Curran in the A final. Later that evening, newbie Dylan McMahon is wins the Roger Federer ‘best package’ award.
The Women’s Autumn Doubles Tournament at UCD saw Donna and Sonia win the Competitive Division while Fiona and Carmel take spoils in the Social Division. Later that evening at the Trinity Capital, MC Marie hands out the special awards……
Niall Curran leads a team to the Northern Aces Tournament in Manchester going on to win the Men’s A final.
OCTOBER
OUT4TENNIS Cork Women and Men start group coaching lessons with PTA coach, Malcolm Urquart, at the Tennis Village.
Ciara McCarthy, Ciaran Cooke and Sonia put down their rackets and pick up their oars to join the OUTROWERS Learn To Row course: http://www.outinireland.net/gallery.aspx?sportid=2&galleryid=413
NOVEMBER
Getting in early for Christmas, OUT4TENNIS Cork hosts its Christmas Doubles tournament. Janet walks way with best dressed award.
DECEMBER
Tennis Legend Bjorn Borg launced a commercial to promote his brand:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLpfHNuhZbk
The Dublin Men’s 4th Annual Tournament sees its highest entry with Barry Dignam winning Div C, Ken Wardrop taking the Palme D’Or in Division B while Niall Curran avenges his Autumn Tournament defeat with a convincing win over Belfast man, David McCrystal.
The women round off the year with their Christmas meet at West Wood.
That was the year that was; no doubt much more could have been included and we hope the above brings back some good memories.
OUT4TENNIS returns on Sunday 11th January in Cork and Dublin.