What a day of Badminton! :)
In the Men's DoublesI played with Alan from UNO Badminton Academy, we drew our first 3 matches 1-1, losing the first set in all 3 and winning the second convincingly, a lesson to be learned there! We lost the final match 2-0. Great games and a pleasure to play with such a gentleman.
In the mixed doubles, myself and Ashleigh won our first 4 games to get through to the final, we started off slowly, in the first match, winning 21-19 in the first set, but then got into a groove winning 12 in the second. Our second game was more convincing winning 12 and 15, good game. We continued in the final two games winning in two sets to go straight through to the final, and actually being the only pairing not to drop a set!
We played Sylyia Campion & Willie "Jose" Stephenson in the final, a mental battle was in store!! :)
We started well in the first set, trading blows throughout and shaded it 23-21 (Amended) :) We then slipped to a bad start in the second, at one stage trailing 11-4, we went on to lose that set 21-19, a war of attrition.
The 3rd set did not start (or finish) well for us, we lost control early and trailed 12-2. We gained some momentum although couldn't get close enough to threaten, eventually losing 21-13. But all-in-all a wonderful match, and food for thought!
A big thank you to Willie & Sylvia for a wonderful match!
Ashleigh played the Ladies Doubles with Susan Stephenson, and duly went on to win their section, individual match scores are a blur. Sensational badminton in sued :p, and in between the fits of laughter, giggles and flowery shots :) the final was theirs! A great day for Ashleigh!
Overall a great day, my hat goes off to the organisers and hope it is run every year. It was a great way to start working off the Chrimbo turkey!! :)
Up next is the Ulster Junior Open on January 8th, Paddy is still injured, I will get the pleasure of playing with Ashleigh again, Onwards and Upwards!!
http://www.leinsterbadminton.com/Home/tabid/222/ItemID/793/View/Details/language/en-US/Default.aspx
Song Links on my PiePod For The Day:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9yGcKlYAiw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgM3r8xKfGE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGJuMBdaqIw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7S_H1KDjW9Y
And how could I forget the ambient music whilst playing:
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=bob+marley&aq=f
____________________________________________________________________________________
Entries in - The Ninjas are down to two for this tournament!
I'm playing mixed with Ash (Paddy is still injured) and partner required for Men's Doubles and Ash is waiting on partner response to finalise details.
Plenty of practice and training required in the next 10 days!! ;)
Tournament Software Link:
http://www.tournamentsoftware.com/sport/events.aspx?id=66048ECB-B999-44CE-BB30-CEA85691A994
Monday, December 20, 2010
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Leinster Senior Closed Championships Saturday 18th & Sunday 19th December 2010
POSTPONED!
ONLY ONE WORD - DEVASTATED :(
ONLY ONE WORD - DEVASTATED :(
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Connacht Senior Open 2010 - Sligo Tennis Club - 4th December 2010
It all started early for this weekend's adventure, 9.30am leaving Navan to round up the crew and head to Sligo for the Connacht Senior Open. The added barrier to a quick advance to Sligo was the incessant Snow and Ice that decided to descend to make things a little more INTERESTING! :-)
On our death-defying trip down, Paddy made an animal acquaintance, it was Enfield, but it was 4 legged, henceforth a relationship with Frugal was established!! Photos below!
Note to self, do not go for a sociable pint the night before a tournament just because you end up getting down there earlier than anticipated!! ;-)
We shall start with the badminton!! Haha
First match on Saturday morning was my singles against Ross Crevan, the Bulmers didn't help and I lost 18 & 17, reiterate note to self from above!
My doubles started against Danny Keown and Conor Scanlon, I played with Seamus Halpin as Paddy was injured with a sore groin (Enough said about that), actually anyone going to take credit for that injury, ladies?? :-) Seamus and I won our first match in 3 19-21, 21-19 & 21-14, the last set was one to remember as we commanded it from the start, at one point we were 12-2 up! I'll take a bow here. Haha
Our second match didn't go so well and after a serious war-of-attrition we went down (Behave) in 3, losing 21-14, 16-21 & 25-27 to Joseph Keown & Brian Callinendo, giving away two match points was very frustrating, but all-in-all a great match.
My next match was the Singles Plate Event, I won in three against Conor Caheny, 18 in the last, and then to the final against Seamus in which two battered battlers battled it out and fortunately I came out best winning 16 & 19, Plate or not I was happy with my play. The FIREWORKS had officially started! ;-) Hats firmly off to Ashleigh whom at each interval came on court to give me the well deserve kick up the jacksie that I required to make sure I tried and played better, she knew I had it in me to win! :)
My mixed match with Aoife was intended to be against Daniel Magee & Fiona Glennon but with Fiona unable to make the trip Daniel played with Janie Fahey, we lost 11 & 16.
Aoife's first singles match was against Aine Lenighan where she lost 5 & 7. In the Plate Event Aoife won her first match 16 & 11 against Saoirse Cunniffe. She came up against Paula McDonagh losing 17 & 11 next.
Ashleigh played with Seamus in the mixed doubles, losing to Will O'Neill and Audrey Coe in the first round 11-21, 21-11, 19-21, Seamus should be shot with his own shit for letting that one slip away!!
Ashleigh's singles started well with a win over Janie Fahey 17 & 18, an intelligent game was required to play a very good player in Janie. Having received a bye in the Quarters because of Kirsty Kelly being unable to make it due to the weather, Ashleigh played Victoria Ringland in the semis where she was over-come 12-21, 21-15, 13-21 in a long, arduous battle to which Ashleigh herself will tell you was devastated not to have won!!
Ashleigh and Aoife played together (BEHAVE) in the Ladies, where they got a bye to the quarters where they beat Saoirse Cunniffe & Channon Fahey 10 & 6, then beating Aine Lenighan and Victoria Ringland 14 & 14 in the semis to set up the first final for any of the Ninjas!! Hehe
Unfortunately I think the celebrations due of my Plate win on the Saturday night, (Haha) and copious amount of shots (Of what, we actually can't remember) did not lend itself to a winning final for our Ninjas where they were beaten by Jennie King and Audrey Coe 6 & 8 :-(
The Hotel:
It has to be said the the Rasisson Blu in Sligo is a savage hotel, I put my Plate win down to the vibrant use of the jacuzzi, steam room and sauna, of course with the help of the other Ninjas! ;)
http://www.radissonblu.ie/hotel-sligo?facilitator=BIGMOUTHMEDIAREZIDOR&csref=g_en_sk_brand_3_sxlzh
Celebrations:
So, back to the Celebrations. Celebration no. 1 was obviously for getting down to Sligo in one-piece, well, 4 pieces!! We entered the bar at 7 ish for a sociable drink, Frugal in tow, and then dinner, all very posh it must be said, (except for the gents in the Chinese, posh would not be the word!!), we then went for a couple of libations in a local vintners palace, where at 11pm Ashleigh, I think, in all her intelligance announced that she would be leaving soon to get to bed early, hencewith I feigned bladder problems to get to the bar to stock the table with shots, great idea at the time!!! We didn't retire too early that night! Frugal had a bad night that night and couldn't muster the energy to come out on Saturday evening!
Second Celebration on Saturday night was of course for me winning the Plate, Haha, that still sounds funny?! We started with a nice quiet, pedestrian-like dinner in the hotel, but what followed was far from pedestrian, lets try sum it up:
Scintillatingly Savage, with Fireworks that were Cooler than Everyone, everything devoured with some Duck Sauce, the odd Dirty Bit, the shots were a very tasty Poison, near the end we were flying like airplanes in the night sky and we are the shooting stars!! :-)
Tournament Software Link:
http://www.tournamentsoftware.com/sport/player.aspx?id=C5AA4B8A-192C-4A25-890C-4F65E28D0C2E&player=8
Reference Links:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGJuMBdaqIw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7S_H1KDjW9Y
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uu_zwdmz0hE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwQZQygg3Lk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9joqPp3peLg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kn6-c223DUU
Photos are attached, the ones we can show anyway, although none of the actual badminton!! Haha Well, 1!!
On our death-defying trip down, Paddy made an animal acquaintance, it was Enfield, but it was 4 legged, henceforth a relationship with Frugal was established!! Photos below!
Note to self, do not go for a sociable pint the night before a tournament just because you end up getting down there earlier than anticipated!! ;-)
We shall start with the badminton!! Haha
First match on Saturday morning was my singles against Ross Crevan, the Bulmers didn't help and I lost 18 & 17, reiterate note to self from above!
My doubles started against Danny Keown and Conor Scanlon, I played with Seamus Halpin as Paddy was injured with a sore groin (Enough said about that), actually anyone going to take credit for that injury, ladies?? :-) Seamus and I won our first match in 3 19-21, 21-19 & 21-14, the last set was one to remember as we commanded it from the start, at one point we were 12-2 up! I'll take a bow here. Haha
Our second match didn't go so well and after a serious war-of-attrition we went down (Behave) in 3, losing 21-14, 16-21 & 25-27 to Joseph Keown & Brian Callinendo, giving away two match points was very frustrating, but all-in-all a great match.
My next match was the Singles Plate Event, I won in three against Conor Caheny, 18 in the last, and then to the final against Seamus in which two battered battlers battled it out and fortunately I came out best winning 16 & 19, Plate or not I was happy with my play. The FIREWORKS had officially started! ;-) Hats firmly off to Ashleigh whom at each interval came on court to give me the well deserve kick up the jacksie that I required to make sure I tried and played better, she knew I had it in me to win! :)
My mixed match with Aoife was intended to be against Daniel Magee & Fiona Glennon but with Fiona unable to make the trip Daniel played with Janie Fahey, we lost 11 & 16.
Aoife's first singles match was against Aine Lenighan where she lost 5 & 7. In the Plate Event Aoife won her first match 16 & 11 against Saoirse Cunniffe. She came up against Paula McDonagh losing 17 & 11 next.
Ashleigh played with Seamus in the mixed doubles, losing to Will O'Neill and Audrey Coe in the first round 11-21, 21-11, 19-21, Seamus should be shot with his own shit for letting that one slip away!!
Ashleigh's singles started well with a win over Janie Fahey 17 & 18, an intelligent game was required to play a very good player in Janie. Having received a bye in the Quarters because of Kirsty Kelly being unable to make it due to the weather, Ashleigh played Victoria Ringland in the semis where she was over-come 12-21, 21-15, 13-21 in a long, arduous battle to which Ashleigh herself will tell you was devastated not to have won!!
Ashleigh and Aoife played together (BEHAVE) in the Ladies, where they got a bye to the quarters where they beat Saoirse Cunniffe & Channon Fahey 10 & 6, then beating Aine Lenighan and Victoria Ringland 14 & 14 in the semis to set up the first final for any of the Ninjas!! Hehe
Unfortunately I think the celebrations due of my Plate win on the Saturday night, (Haha) and copious amount of shots (Of what, we actually can't remember) did not lend itself to a winning final for our Ninjas where they were beaten by Jennie King and Audrey Coe 6 & 8 :-(
The Hotel:
It has to be said the the Rasisson Blu in Sligo is a savage hotel, I put my Plate win down to the vibrant use of the jacuzzi, steam room and sauna, of course with the help of the other Ninjas! ;)
http://www.radissonblu.ie/hotel-sligo?facilitator=BIGMOUTHMEDIAREZIDOR&csref=g_en_sk_brand_3_sxlzh
Celebrations:
So, back to the Celebrations. Celebration no. 1 was obviously for getting down to Sligo in one-piece, well, 4 pieces!! We entered the bar at 7 ish for a sociable drink, Frugal in tow, and then dinner, all very posh it must be said, (except for the gents in the Chinese, posh would not be the word!!), we then went for a couple of libations in a local vintners palace, where at 11pm Ashleigh, I think, in all her intelligance announced that she would be leaving soon to get to bed early, hencewith I feigned bladder problems to get to the bar to stock the table with shots, great idea at the time!!! We didn't retire too early that night! Frugal had a bad night that night and couldn't muster the energy to come out on Saturday evening!
Second Celebration on Saturday night was of course for me winning the Plate, Haha, that still sounds funny?! We started with a nice quiet, pedestrian-like dinner in the hotel, but what followed was far from pedestrian, lets try sum it up:
Scintillatingly Savage, with Fireworks that were Cooler than Everyone, everything devoured with some Duck Sauce, the odd Dirty Bit, the shots were a very tasty Poison, near the end we were flying like airplanes in the night sky and we are the shooting stars!! :-)
Tournament Software Link:
http://www.tournamentsoftware.com/sport/player.aspx?id=C5AA4B8A-192C-4A25-890C-4F65E28D0C2E&player=8
Reference Links:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGJuMBdaqIw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7S_H1KDjW9Y
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uu_zwdmz0hE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwQZQygg3Lk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9joqPp3peLg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kn6-c223DUU
Photos are attached, the ones we can show anyway, although none of the actual badminton!! Haha Well, 1!!
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Leinster Junior Open Championships - 20th November 2010
Next up was the Leinster Junior Open Championships n November 20th 2010, they are coming thick and fast at this stage!! Haha
First match I played was with Aoife against John Cashman & Petra Rosolova, a very disappointing defeat in 16&15, nuf said!
Paddy & I played John Amond and Chris Martin, losing a good match 21-17, 18-21, 15-21, good match, we played well together, less un-forced errors and it was anyone's game!
Aoife played Laura Butler in the singles losing 6 & 8, Then followed her doubles with Rachel Murray where she again faced the inimitable Ms. Butler & Ms. Elaine Dunne where Ms. Butler & Dunne showed their class winning 6 & 6.
Paddy & Ashleigh's first round task was unenviable to say the least, they came up against Siobhan Grehan and the peerless Steffen Peterskovsky, where they put up a good fight losing a respectable 11 & 7.
Ashleigh's singles was a tough affair against Gemma Tobin, wo good set, unfortunately losing 25-23 & 21-16. The ladies doubles was up next, playing with Michelle McCourt they came up against Donna Key & Ciara McCooey, losing 21-16 & 21-18 in a very good game.
Tournament Software Link:
http://www.tournamentsoftware.com/sport/player.aspx?id=5EE8436A-E24F-49E4-8D9F-69D987C87D30&player=33
Again all cameras will have to be raided to see if photographic evidence exists?!
First match I played was with Aoife against John Cashman & Petra Rosolova, a very disappointing defeat in 16&15, nuf said!
Paddy & I played John Amond and Chris Martin, losing a good match 21-17, 18-21, 15-21, good match, we played well together, less un-forced errors and it was anyone's game!
Aoife played Laura Butler in the singles losing 6 & 8, Then followed her doubles with Rachel Murray where she again faced the inimitable Ms. Butler & Ms. Elaine Dunne where Ms. Butler & Dunne showed their class winning 6 & 6.
Paddy & Ashleigh's first round task was unenviable to say the least, they came up against Siobhan Grehan and the peerless Steffen Peterskovsky, where they put up a good fight losing a respectable 11 & 7.
Ashleigh's singles was a tough affair against Gemma Tobin, wo good set, unfortunately losing 25-23 & 21-16. The ladies doubles was up next, playing with Michelle McCourt they came up against Donna Key & Ciara McCooey, losing 21-16 & 21-18 in a very good game.
Tournament Software Link:
http://www.tournamentsoftware.com/sport/player.aspx?id=5EE8436A-E24F-49E4-8D9F-69D987C87D30&player=33
Again all cameras will have to be raided to see if photographic evidence exists?!
Irish Junior Championships 2010 - November 6th 2010
I have been barraged with requests to bring the blog up-to-date, so due to popular demand, NAT, I will endeavour to do so today!!
The next tournament played was the Irish Junior Championships 2010 in Terenure on November 6th 2010, it was a short and sweet affair for some of us although Ashleigh showed us what she is capable of (Behave) by reaching the semis of the Singles.
Again, no photographic memories to lord over but the mental memories (scars :-) ) will remain!?
Myself and Paddy played Joshua Magee and Ciaran Chambers, we were at sixes and sevens in this match, I think I even swiped two full fresh-airs for the fun!! We ended up on the losing side 21-11, 21-16, lots of things to be taken from that match, mostly what not to do! Haha
Aoife and I then played Liam O'Leary & Clodagh Kent, losing the first 21-12 and throwing away he second 23-21 after having a 20-15 lead, by Jaysus that was frustrating?!
Aoife played with Clare Davidson losing to Clodagh Ken and Kathryn McGladder 21-14, 21-15.
Ashleigh got her winning weekend off to a start with Paddy in the mixed, winning their first match against Jonathon Ruddy & Clare Davidson 21-17, 21-14, a tough game, that needed a bit of slogging to get through :-)
Their next match was against Chris Martin & Crona Rooney in the Last 16 to which the unfortunately lost 21-10, 21-18, unlucky not to bring it to three.
Ashleigh's singles adventure started off with a win over Clare Davidson 21-13, 21-17 in the first round, moving well and playing a very strategic game in the process.
After that was a fabulous win over Crona Rooney 21-13, 12-21, 21-19, a War of Attrition indeed.
The semi-final was against Ciara Pender to which Ashleigh came up against a singles player playing exceptional badminton! Ashleigh was beaten 21-8, 21-14 in a very tight-found contest.
Tournament Software Link:
http://www.tournamentsoftware.com/sport/player.aspx?id=46E7D07E-4145-4515-8AB3-EB7469F063B0&player=1
I will see if any photos exist that some peops might not want up!
The next tournament played was the Irish Junior Championships 2010 in Terenure on November 6th 2010, it was a short and sweet affair for some of us although Ashleigh showed us what she is capable of (Behave) by reaching the semis of the Singles.
Again, no photographic memories to lord over but the mental memories (scars :-) ) will remain!?
Myself and Paddy played Joshua Magee and Ciaran Chambers, we were at sixes and sevens in this match, I think I even swiped two full fresh-airs for the fun!! We ended up on the losing side 21-11, 21-16, lots of things to be taken from that match, mostly what not to do! Haha
Aoife and I then played Liam O'Leary & Clodagh Kent, losing the first 21-12 and throwing away he second 23-21 after having a 20-15 lead, by Jaysus that was frustrating?!
Aoife played with Clare Davidson losing to Clodagh Ken and Kathryn McGladder 21-14, 21-15.
Ashleigh got her winning weekend off to a start with Paddy in the mixed, winning their first match against Jonathon Ruddy & Clare Davidson 21-17, 21-14, a tough game, that needed a bit of slogging to get through :-)
Their next match was against Chris Martin & Crona Rooney in the Last 16 to which the unfortunately lost 21-10, 21-18, unlucky not to bring it to three.
Ashleigh's singles adventure started off with a win over Clare Davidson 21-13, 21-17 in the first round, moving well and playing a very strategic game in the process.
After that was a fabulous win over Crona Rooney 21-13, 12-21, 21-19, a War of Attrition indeed.
The semi-final was against Ciara Pender to which Ashleigh came up against a singles player playing exceptional badminton! Ashleigh was beaten 21-8, 21-14 in a very tight-found contest.
Tournament Software Link:
http://www.tournamentsoftware.com/sport/player.aspx?id=46E7D07E-4145-4515-8AB3-EB7469F063B0&player=1
I will see if any photos exist that some peops might not want up!
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