Adam leaves junior ranks still on top

Editorial Department • Published 10 Sep 2009 09:00 0 Comments

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Fermanagh tennis player Adam Donaldson has maintained his number one position in Ulster at the end of a long and rewarding season.

Donaldson, who has been consistently in the top two positions throughout 2009, won the Under 18 Ulster Tennis Points(UTP) Masters title on Sunday at the conclusion of the junior tennis season.

It also gave him sufficient points to sit at the top of the Junior Masters Race for which players get points for playing tournaments.

In the final on Sunday at the CIYMS club in Belfast, Adam beat his adversary and namesake, Karl Donaldson, 7/5, 6/2. It was Adam's last match as a junior as he will be over 18 in 2010.

The Masters competition is open to the top eight players for both boys and girls in all four age groups, under 12, 14, 16 and 18. And there was a good representation from the west of the Province as they gathered at three venues for matches over the weekend from Friday night, through Saturday and Sunday. The competition was played at clubs in Bangor, Newtownards and the CIYMS club in Belfast which also hosted the finals.

After topping his group of four on Saturday, Adam went on to win his semi-final on Sunday morning and the final on Sunday afternoon. It was the climax to not only a successful 2009 season but to his junior career before Adam moves up to playing senior tournaments in 2010. Glen Mowat who also played in the U.18 Masters is also leaving junior tennis.

During 2009, Adam won a string of titles including the West of Ulster in Enniskillen, the Belfast Hardcourt Championships at CIYMS, the Armagh championships in Portadown and the Ulster Under 21 title at Belfast Boat Club as well as reaching the finals of the Antrim championships in Ballycastle and the Ulster Hardcourt Championships at Windsor.

He was also selected for the Under 18 Ulster Inter-provincial team for the second year, playing against Leinster, Munster and Connacht in Cork and was also an under 14 inter-pro.

At the presentation of prizes at CIYMS on Sunday, Tennis Ireland's Director of Development, George Stevenson who refereed the Masters tournament, praised the standard of play over the weekend and the successful conclusion to the junior season with a weekend tournament such as the Masters.

Fermanagh had seven players in the finals of the Masters tournaments.

In the under 12 boys, Enniskillen Lawn Tennis Club's Jared Monaghan ensured his high quality of play went further than his fifth seeded place and reached the final only to be denied by Peter Rolston. It was an outstanding performance from Jared who is in his first year at this age group. Another Enniskillen member, Hannah Cousins was also selected in the same age group and enjoyed her part in the competition played at Ward Park, Bangor.

In the under 14s, Irvinestown's Frances Taggart took part in a competitive group.

The under 16s included three Fermanagh players. Connor Donaldson, seeded fifth in the panel of eight, also went further, reaching the semi-finals and in an epic match with Tony Rush, was unlucky not to reach the final, going down on a championship tie-break. Two girls also played in this age group; Alexandrea Carroll from Enniskillen Lawn Tennis Club and Jane Maguire from Irvinestown Lawn Tennis Club.

Enniskillen Junior Club Nights

The new autumn and winter season of junior club nights resume at Enniskillen Lawn Tennis Club tomorrow(Friday) evening. The beginners and novices will play from 5.30pm to 6.15pm with other sessions held at 6.15pm, 7pm, 8pm and 9pm. Further information is available from the coach, Matthew McGann Tel.07877839545.

This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 10 Sep 09

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