The Fermanagh Open Tournament played at the Bawnacre Centre over the course of last week – jointly sponsored by Flo-Gas, Severfield Engineering and Mahon’s Hotel – attracted 115 tennis players from clubs all across the province and further afield.

Finals day on Sunday produced a dazzling display of tennis from competitors playing in Singles, Doubles and Mixed Doubles across A, B and C standard, which kept the spectators enthralled until the last ball was hit.

The Mens’ A Singles final was a tightly-contested three-set match between Cian McDonnell and Dylan Leeman, with Cian taking the win 6/4, 2/6, 6/2.

He went on to partner Ross McCarey to another hard-hitting win in Mens’ A Doubles when they beat Dylan and Bradley Yates 6/3, 6/7, 10/7.

Jessica Leeman won through to take the A Ladies’ Singles title, following a hard-fought three-setter with Amber Young, and also won the Ladies’ A Doubles, partnered by her mother, Amanda.

Dylan and Jessica won the A Mixed section while Irvinestown’s Kyran Maguire and partner Megan McGreevy took the runner-up spot.

Local successes included wins for Enniskillen club members Leslie Campbell, who took the C Ladies’ Singles title with a 6/3, 6/3 win over Omagh’s Pamela Preston, while Vanessa McBride was runner-up to Hilary Kilcawley in the Ladies’ B Singles event.

Donal Burns and partner Martin Fryer dug deep to take the Mens’ B Doubles title following three tough sets against Irvinestown’s John Maguire and partner Marchin Juszczyk (Longford).

A tremendous match

Marchin had earlier played a tremendous match against Stephen Wallace to take the Mens’ B Singles title, 6/7, 7/6, 10/4.

Mary and Stephen Cuthbertson kept the flag flying for Omagh Tennis Club when they took the B Mixed Doubles title, with Mary going on to win the B Ladies’ event with partner, Doreen Jones.

Clodagh Kerr and Ann Cullinan also took the C Ladies’ win back to Omagh, while David Grainger and Ita Bonner won the C Mixed event.

Irvinestown’s Trevor Lucy took the consolation prize in both C Singles and Doubles, while Wendy Eaton and Simon McCormack won the C Mixed Doubles consolation event.

Fermanagh and Omagh District Council Chair Barry McElduff attended the event, and was much impressed by both the high standard of play and the hospitality provided by George Beacom MBE and Bawnacre Centre staff and congratulated all at Irvinestown Lawn Tennis Club who had hosted this prestigious event.

Greg O’Rawe, UBTI, also expressed his appreciation of the work which goes into hosting a major tournament, and paid particular tribute to Tournament Director John Maguire, who has been a stalwart in promoting tennis in the west of the province for more than 30 years.

Following the presentation of prizes, John expressed sincere thanks to the sponsors for their support in sponsoring the event, to the players who had taken part, to the ILTC committee members who had helped make the event such a success, and last but by no means least, to George and all the Bawnacre staff for all of the refreshments and support during the week-long Tournament.

Speaking on behalf of the competitors, A Mens’ Singles champion Cian McDonell thanked John and his team for a superbly-run tournament, and expressed appreciation for how smoothly the event had been run, and the hospitality and welcome which had been extended to all the players, and added he looked forward to next year’s tournament.