TEAM
The Irish Under 14 Girls were the top performers within the Irish squad this weekend at the Senior Schools International hosted by Guernsey. Recording some excellent victories, including a 3:2 victory over England A, the team of Hannah Lynch-Dawson and Elayna McGlone took the Team Silver Medal. Joining them on the rostrum was the Under 18 Girls team of Ashley Givan and Sarah Timlin. Both Boys teams made the 3/4th place play off, with Declan O’Brien and Stephen Slater narrowly missing out on bronze following a tight 3:2 defeat by Wales, while Jersey ended the Under 14 Boys medal chances. Team coaches were Louise Long and John Murphy.
SINGLES
Under 14 Girls: Hannah Lynch-Dawson and Elayna McGlone were again both on form, with both cruising in to the Quarter Finals. McGlone faced a tough match against eventual winner Emily Bolton of England and was beaten in straight sets. Lynch-Dawson defeated Laura Edward in the QF before producing an excellent performance to beat Letitia McMullan to qualify for the Final in a thrilling five-set semi. In the Final, she ran into Emily Bolton – despite pushing her to deuce in the first two sets it was not to be and she claimed a silver medal. Hannah had recorded a good win over Bolton in the Team event and performed superbly over the course of the weekend.
Under 16 Boys: Both Ryan Farrell and Kevin Hutchinson qualified from their groups to the last 16. Hutchinson faced Daryl Gee of England and was eliminated at this stage. Farrell progressed with a fine win over Ronan McDonnell, recovering from a dropped first set to dominate. He then faced Ryan Oyler of Wales in the Quarter Final – a tough draw and it proved too much for Farrell – Oyler went on to claim a silver medal.
Under 18 Boys: A similar tale in the Under 18 Boys, with Declan O’Brien and Stephen Slater both progressing from their groups. Slater fell at the last 16 against Bradley Tuttle in straight sets, while O’Brien was just pipped in a classic Quarter Final against Matthew Outhwaite of England having won his group to claim a last 8 place.
Under 18 Girls: Ashley Givan and Sarah Timlin again both qualified from their groups to the knock-out stage – meaning that all 8 Irish players at the event played in the Main Rounds of the competition. Unfortunately, the team-mates were drawn against each other in the Quarter Finals with Givan progressing. Givan met Anghared Phillips of Wales in the semi-final and lost out to the eventual tournament winner – enough still to record a bronze medal.