The Fermanagh Senior Tennis Open Championships, sponsored by Flogas and Mahon’s Hotel Irvinestown and supported by Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, came to an end at Bawnacre courts on Sunday July 2 with a dazzling display of high quality tennis from all the competitors.

Over an eight day period, 126 players drawn from 22 clubs all over Ireland had contested events at A, B and C levels culminating in a Finals Day which was a treat to watch for the many spectators attending.

C section saw success for Irvinestown players Paul Hynes and Simon McCormack when they took the Mens doubles title with a win over fellow club member Trevor Lucy and partner Cliff Worley (Omagh TC) while the Ladies doubles title was taken by Cavan TC players Sasha Pashtukhova/Danielle Rafferty with a 6/2 6/4 win over Karen Atchison/Anne Louise Hicks (Omagh TC).

The Mens C singles was won by Nigel Trimble (Downshire), runner-up Shaun Hamilton (Strabane) who duly went on to secure the mixed doubles title with club colleague Laura Rooney with a victory over Lucy Gannon (Enniskillen)/Conor McKeown (Omagh) The Ladies C singles was an all Omagh affair which was won by Pamela Preston when she beat Emma Gormley 6/2 6/2.

In the B section, Veronica Hawkes (Omagh T.C.) had started the morning play with a hard fought 6/2 7/6 win over Sharon Curran (Donegal Clubs) to secure the singles title while Donal Burns (Enniskillen T.C) teamed up with Sophia Dobbs (Larne TC) to take the B mixed title beating Sonja Hateboer (Enniskillen) and Colin Watterson (Hilden).

A hugely enjoyable and tightly-fought match in the Ladies B doubles was drawn at set all ( 6/3 4/6 ) and ended with a marathon 14/12 championship tie break win for Ailbhe Atkinson (Hilden) and Leslie Campbell (Ekn) over Corrie Cadden /Niamh Webb (Enniskillen). The Mens doubles was won by Stephen King (Cavehill)/Colin Wattersn (Hilden) who took their match 6/1 6/1 over the Omagh pairing of David Grainger/Conor McKeown. The B Mens singles was won by the young competitor James Laird (Limavady) who played with impressive ground strokes and dogged determination to secure a 6/3 6/3 win over club colleague Stephen Wallace.

Eve Callaghan (Enniskillen TC) set a high standard of play in the A section when she met Nikki Hawkes (Omagh) and spectators were entertained by a display of quality tennis resulting in Eve taking the match and Ladies championship title with a 6/2/6/2 win.

Nikki went on to take the A Ladies doubles title in the Round Robin event with partner Ailbhe Atkinson (Hilden) when they secured a win over Sligo pair Noreen Cassidy/Hilary Kilcawley; runners-up in the event were Sonja Hateboer (Enniskillen)/Aoifin Shorten (Sligo). Eve meanwhile secured a second title when she and her partner Andrew Hatrick (City of Derry) beat Irvinestown’s Kyran Maguire and Megan McGreevy (Newcastle) 6/2 6/2.

The Mens A doubles was won by Irvinestown player Greg Boxer and partner John Slowey (Enniskillen) who beat Irvinestown father and son pairing of John and Kyran Maguire 7/5 6/2.

Greg secured his A Mens singles winner position with a superb display of tennis to take the match 6/0 6/4 over Andrew Hatrick (City of Derry).

Greg O’Rawe, President Ulster Branch Tennis Ireland spoke on behalf of UBTI and thanked John Maguire, Tournament Director, and his team for staging a hugely successful, enjoyable and well run tournament which maintains and encourages a high level of competitive tennis in the west of the province. He expressed gratitude to George Beacom and Bawnacre staff for the unique hospitality provided at this and other Irvinestown Tennis Club events.

Councillor Debbie Coyle, Chair of FODC Environmental Services Committee, was also in attendance and commented on the quality of play and diversity of players participating in the event. She too paid tribute to John and his team for hosting the prestigious event and also added sincere appreciation of the contribution made by George Beacom and Bawnacre staff for their role in the success of the Tournament.

Speaking on behalf of the players, both Eve Callaghan, (A Ladies champion) and Greg Boxer, (A Mens champion) thanked John Maguire and his team for staging a most enjoyable and well run Tournament.

In response, John Maguire acknowledged the sponsors Flogas, Mahon’s Hotel Irvinestown and FODC for their ongoing sponsorship and support which is vital in staging such an event and applauded all the players from local clubs and those who had travelled long distances to participate, and looked forward to staging the Fermanagh Open in 2024.