Posts in category: Para

Participating countries included Brazil, Austria, Finland, Spain, France, Germany, Britain, Hungary, Iceland, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden and Ireland.

Ireland sent a strong team to compete at this prestigious event. Dublin was represented by Team Coach, Kathleen Reynolds, players Eimear Breathnach and Phillip Quinlan, and representing the west,  Ronan Rooney and Rena McCarron Rooney.

Ireland’s ladies team, Eimear Breathnach and Rena McCarron Rooney had a very successful tournament. They secured silver in the Doubles Event and also won the bronze in the Team Event which was run Davis Cup style.

In the singles event, Eimear who has been on the sidelines for the last year, signalled her intent with a great comeback to international competition, lost the bronze place play off to Poland’s Buclaw, having defeated France’s world ranked no 7, Florence Gossiaux along the way.

In her singles, McCarron Rooney was narrowly defeated in the 5^th set by Italy’s Pamala Pezzutto, world ranked no 1.

The men’s events were equally exciting. Quinlan fought his way to the last 8 defeating Hungary’s Janos Kaiser world ranked 11 along the way. He was cruelly defeated in deuce in 5^th set by Finland’s Launonen, ranked no 8 in the world.

Rooney had a satisfying victory over Iceland’s Kristjansson who will be competing at the world championships in Korea later in the year, and Rooney was narrowly beaten by France’s Molliens, the eventual gold medallist.

Irlenad’s men’s team also had impressive wins in the team and doubles events.

Ireland’s coach and team manager for the tournament, Kathleen Reynolds said “she hasn’t seen the team play so well in a long time”.

This performance certainly augers well for the future.

Internacional Fekoor de Tenis de Mesa adaptado Bilbao Spain

June 24^th to June 28

The team selected to represent Ireland at this international wheelchair table tennis event on this occasion was Kathleen Reynolds, Rena McCarron Rooney and Michael Cunningham. The coach who accompanied the team was Jack O’Meara.

Kathleen competes in Ladies Class 3 events and is currently ranked 18^th in her class while Rena competes in Class 2 is currently ranked 11^th in her class. Michael competes in Men’s Class 5.

The Irish trio competed well at this event. Michael who has just recently returned to international competition competed well and was unfortunate to loose in the 5^th set on a number of occasions.

In the singles event, Kathleen also played exemplary table tennis and did herself proud by reaching the semi final stages in a competitive field and eventually finished in 4^th position in her singles event.

On this occasion, it was Rena McCarron Rooney who finished in the medal position in her class singles event. She lost in the semi final to Russia’s Nadejda Pouchpacheva who is currently ranked 4^th in the world ranking and who also secured the gold medal at this event on the day.

In the third place play off, Rena then faced GB’s Dzaier Neil currently ranked 9^th. This match was tense and emotional at times, but McCarron Rooney kept her focus and the game plan eventually brought her over the finish line winning 3-0.

Rena was delighted with her medal and wishes to thank the team who travelled with her for their support.

Internacional Fekoor de Tenis de Mesa adaptado Bilbao Spain

June 24^th to June 28.

The team selected to represent Ireland at this international wheelchair table tennis event on this occasion was Kathleen Reynolds, Rena McCarron Rooney and Michael Cunningham. The coach who accompanied the team was Jack O’Meara.

Kathleen competes in ladies Class 3 events and is currently ranked 18^th in her class while Rena competes in Class 2 is currently ranked 11^th in her class. Michael competes in Men’s Class 5.

The Irish trio competed well at this event. Michael who has just recently returned to international competition competed well and was unfortunate to loose in the 5^th set on a number of occasions.

In the singles event, Kathleen also played exemplary table tennis and did herself proud by reaching the semi final stages in a competitive field and eventually finished in 4^th position in her singles event.

On this occasion, it was Rena McCarron Rooney who finished in the medal position in her class singles event. She lost in the semi final to Russia’s Nadejda Pouchpacheva who is currently ranked 4^th in the world ranking and who also secured the gold medal at this event on the day.

In the third place play off, Rena then faced GB’s Dzaier Neil currently ranked 9^th. This match was tense and emotional at times, but McCarron Rooney kept her focus and the game plan eventually brought her over the finish line winning 3-0.

Rena was delighted with her medal and wishes to thank the team who travelled with her for their support.

An Irish Junior Boys selection is currently in Girona, Spain to participate in the Spanish Junior Open, which is part of the ITTF Global Junior Circuit. Sam Logue and Declan O’Brien had the opportunity to participate in a pre-event four day training camp with some of the best young players from around the World, many of whom have qualified for the Youth Olympic Games in Singapore. Joined by Irish No.1 Paul McCreery for the tournament, the team were very well prepared for this high quality event.

Today’s play started with a thrilling match against Luxembourg at 0900 hours. Declan O’Brien lost the first against Sven Hansen, before Paul McCreery beat Jim Cloos in straight sets to level the match 1-1. Logue and McCreery were defeated in a hard fought doubles match, before McCreery again levelled the match at 2-2 with a victory over Hansen. This set up a final decider and O’Brien stepped up to the plate with a fine 3-1 victory over Jim Cloos.

Following a brief break, Ireland were back in action with a match against Poland to decide who progressed to the Quarter Final of the Team event. Unfortunately, Poland had too much for the Irish, with Logue and McCreery battling valiantly but ultimately going down 3-0.

The Irish boys now have a break of one day before the singles event on Friday – check back here for full tournament review.

Paul Dolan National Coach IWA TT Reports from Lingano, Italy…

Irelands Kathleen Reynolds produced some incredible performances to take 2 bronzes at the Italian Open in Lingano, Italy.

Competing against a field of over thirty competitors in the Open Class 1-5, Reynolds (Class 3) fought her way to Bronze medal success. Reynolds, one of Ireland most decorated Paralympics Athletes added to her recent Bronze in the Team event in Poland and has also shown terrific form in recent domestic  ITTA  Table Tennis events.

Reynolds also competed in the team event in Italy along with partner Rena Mc Carron Rooney.

Both players are fighting hard at the last event of the European season to secure ranking points for qualification for next year’s World Championships in Korea.

London 2012 Paralympic Table Tennis hopefuls Kathleen Reynolds and Rena Mc Carron Rooney returned from the Polish Open with a Silver Medal in the Ladies Open Team Event, it took hard fought win over the host’s and match favourite’s Poland to clinch the conveted Silver medal posistion, the match going to a cliffhanger final match 5th set win by McCarron Rooney. Congratulation’s to the Irish Ladies Team and Assistant National Coach, Jack O Meara for this great result.

It was vital that the Irish Ladies team got such a result and can maintain this improving form for the German Open and the Italian Open in the coming weeks.The world ranking points for the Polish Open and the final two internationals are critical if this team are to qualify for the 2010 World Championships in Korea.