Victor Leinster Open 2010 Terenure Centre

The Victor Leinster Open was a huge success last weekend with some surprise winners taking the titles. The event was very well run by match control expert Amanda Dunlop under the guidance of referee Angus Sheeran.Tom Mc Grath and his team of umpires as always kept order on the courts whilst Fearghal Kearney and Stephen Donohue were chief substitutes in the back ground just in case anybody needed help. Our President Breda Connolly was in attendance at the prizegiving and she complimented all the above for their hard work and also thanked all the players and supporters for attending these Leinster events.

With both the top seeds toppled at the semi-final stage it was left to Leinster’s Niall Tierney and Ulster’s Conor Hickland to battle on court for the top prize in the mens singles final.  Tierney took the opening set 21-13, and although the Lisburn player put up a gallant effort in the second set Mt Pleasants Tierney took the money and the title 21-12. In the ladies singles final Lisburns Sinead Chambers played her first of three finals on the day. Her opponent was the very strong and talented Karen Bing who is also a member of the Ranelagh Badminton Club. Defending champion Chambers had looked good for the first set having lead 18-13, but ex international “Bingers” used all her wealth of experience to claw back the score to 19-19 before going on to take the opener 21-19.With Chambers carrying a slight injury and her busy and tiring weekends play begining to take its toll Bing went on to take the second set 21-13 and with it her first singles title in some time as in recent years she had been concentrating on doubles competition. 

Sinead Chambers teamed up with Lisburn player Matthew Gleave to play the mixed final. Their challengers were No.2 seeds Pauline Glennon and Dan Magee. Pauline and Dan took the opening set 21-12. The No.1’s seeds from Ulster hit back to take the middle set 21-18. The arena was set for a final set thriller and the supporters were not disappointed. The decider went into a tiebreaker before Pauline and Dan snook the title 26-24.  

  
In the men’s doubles final top seeds Niall Tierney and Dan Magee came up against Aylesbury’s seniors of Brian McGowan and Niall Gannon. Both McGowan and Gannon got to the final of last years Leinster Open but they were on opposite sides.  This year Brian was trying to retain his title. The speed of Tierney and Magee was explosive in the first set , winning it comfortably 21-14.In the second set McGowan and Gannon used all their best play in an effort to square the match but it was in vain as  on the day Tierney and Magee were that little bit sharper and took the set (21-16) and with it the title.

The last match of the afternoon was once again Ulster’s Sinead Chambers and Emma Callow against Leinsters Jennie King and Laura Butler. This was top seed versus the second seeds. The Leinster pair got off to a flying start by taking the opener 19-21.We then had a very close middle set with the four girls matching one another point for point before the Lisburn duo took it 21-19.The final set was a hard fought affair but at the close of the day the title went North and Chambers had got one title from her three final appearances. Callow was also delighted with her victory (21-16).

Next Weekend Jan 30/31st Leinster Play Avon in Dublin venue & Team to be announced
             Feb 6/7 th Irish Senior & U15 Nationals in Lisburn

Final Results


Mens Singles:N Tierney bt C Hickland 21-13,21-12,Doubles:N Tierney/D Magee bt B McGown/N Gannon 21-14,21-16

Ladies Singles: K Bing bt S Chambers 21-19,21-13,Doubles:S Chambers/E Callow bt J King/L Butler 19-21,21-19,21-16

Mixed: P Glennon/D Magee bt S Chambers/M Gleave 21-12,18-21,26-24

Lead Photo:Mens Singles Finalists,Conor Hickland & Nial Tierney(winner) and Ladies Singles Finalists Sinead Chambers & Karen Bing(winner)











To see Results go to www.tournamentsoftware.com