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 5th 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 5th 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.