Ireland’s STIGA sponsored Primary School Girls produced some fantastic performances to claim Team silver medals at the Primary Schools International hosted in Guernsey from the 9th-11th April. The Girls produced a blistering start defeating Wales 8-2 and Scotland 9-1 on the first day of play. Coach Louise Long and team of Katie and Elayna McGlone, Laura Finn and Sarah Cooney then faced into a battle against England, with the winners favourites to claim gold. Ireland were unlucky to lose 6-4, with the two matches dropped in the Doubles proving their downfall. Sarah Cooney recorded an impressive 2 wins against the English girls, with the critical doubles match going to 12-10 in the 5th set – Ireland went on to claim an impressive silver, but as always in sport will look to go one step further in 2011 – they were not far off defeating the highly rated English girls. In the Singles, all 4 girls progressed through their groups to the last 16. Laura Finn lost to England’s Abigail Griffith at this stage, while Katie McGlone and Cooney were unlucky to be drawn against each other – Katie joined sister Elayna in the last 8 following a 3-1 victory. At the qurter final stage of the event, tensions were high and in a classic encounter, Katie was defeated 3-2 by Welsh girl Laura Edwards. Elayna was defeated by Letitia McWilliams to end the Irish involvement in the competition.
The Primary Schools Boys had a tougher weekend, losing to both Scotland, Wales and Englan in the Team event to finish 4th. Coach Shay Logue and team of Mark Gordon, Ryan McConkey, James O’Reilly and Jonathan Porter had to regroup for the next day’s singles. Porter was in exceptional form and progressed through the group stages, progressing then to the quarter finals in straight sets over Scotland’s Jason Fleming. There he ran into the seriously talented Hugo Pang of England who just had too much for Porter on this occasion. Pang showed his class by going on to claim the title over Christopher Wheeler. In the Consolation Event, James O’Reilly will be delighted to claim gold, with a great win over Scotland’s Yazer Rasouf in the Final.
Many thanks to sponsors STIGA – check out their latest newsletter here – http://www.stigatabletennis.com/enews/no2-2010/index.html