Larne Senior Open Report
20/06/2010
The P&O Irish Sea Larne Open Senior Tennis Tournament was held on the Glenarm Road tennis courts of Larne Bowling and Lawn Tennis Club from June 9th to June 13th 2010.
The Senior tournament has only been made possible with the very generous sponsorship from P&O Irish Sea which has a long history of supporting sports events in Larne. The additional sponsor as always was Gotto Sports from south Belfast who have also been a great source of financial support to this tournament over its duration of four years.
Tournament Organiser,Albert Smythe, was optimistic that with the excellent prize money available and Larne’s strong position in Ulster tennis,a quality entry would be achieved. This was indeed the case with all Ulster’s top male and female tennis players in the draw.
All of Larne’s recent Senior Interprovincial stars took part with Nelson Boyle providing a strong challenge to last year’s winner Przemec Stec for the P&O Irish Sea Larne Open Mens Singles title. As it turned out Nelson narrowly lost a very entertaining final to his Polish opponent 6-4 7-5.
Larne female tennis players dominated the Ladies Singles event with an all Larne final in which Lynsey McCullough had a convincing win over Fiona Gallagher 6-3 6-2. Lynsey also went on to win the Ladies Doubles event beating fellow team mates Lynsey and Lauren Smythe 6-2 6-3 and Mixed Doubles event with partner Karl Donaldson from Belfast Boat Club.
Long time Larne player Jim Watt, who is employed by Ulster Branch Tennis Ireland, organised the draw and helped to promote the tournament. Jim also ensured that members of the Irish Tennis Development Squad participated.
LB<C would particularly like to thank George Stevenson (Tournament Referee) once again for his efficient organisation that ensured an excellent tennis tournament for all those involved. The Larne Tournament committee would like to acknowledge the contribution made to the tournament by the numerous Club and visiting players who took part over the weekend and ensured that this was an extremely successful event once again. We look forward to continued support from our main sponsor P & O Irish Sea and members of the Larne Club in 2011.
Full Results:
Mens Singles Przemec Stec bt Nelson Boyle 6-4 7-5
Ladies Singles: Lynsey McCullough bt Fiona Gallagher 6-3 6-2.
Ladies Consolation: Lynsey Smythe bt Lauren Smythe 6-2 6-2
Mens C Singles: Ben McAllister bt Ryon Dunbar 6-4 6-4
Mens B Consolation: Ben McAllister bt Jon Purvey 6-4 6-3
Mens C Consolation: Glyn Semple bt Dylan Liddle 6-4 7-6
Mens Doubles: Karl Donaldson and Connor Schelling-Tisza bt Steven Leeman and Neil Steward retired
Ladies Doubles: Lynsey McCullough and Alexis Russell bt Lynsey Smythe and Lauren Smythe 6-2 6-3
Mixed Doubles: Karl Donaldson and Lynsey McCullough bt Paul Blair and Lynsey King 6-2 6-2