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Youngsters serve up tennis treat

Thursday, 21 August 2008

THE KitKat Parks Tennis programme is one of the most eagerly awaited local sports events of the summer for children and teenagers across Dublin, and the quality of fare served up this year didn’t disappoint.
On August 8, the city’s young tennis aces battled it out at St Anne’s Park, Raheny, to scoop one of the prizes on offer at the Dublin final of the nationwide competition.

Over the past five weeks in 57 venues across the capital, tennis coaches have put thousands of children, aged between six and 17, through their paces in the annual KitKat Parks Tennis Leagues.
The programme culminated in an exciting grand slam final, giving Ireland’s top young stars the opportunity to be discovered.
Deputy Lord Mayor of Dublin, Cllr Emer Costello, and Cathaoirleach of Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown County Council, Tom Joyce, officiated at the presentation ceremony.
Cllr Costello commended Parks Tennis on what has been one of the most successful years of the leagues.
“It is pleasure to see first hand the benefits that this community programme has achieved,” she said.
“Over the years in Dublin, KitKat Parks Tennis, in association with Dublin City Council, has continued to provide children with an opportunity to get active and acquire a new sporting skill while at the same time building lasting friendships with other children from all sectors of the community.”
Eivan Murphy, Vice President, Parks Tennis Ireland, congratulated all the winners and finalists for embracing and enhancing the spirit of the leagues.
“Parks Tennis is a unique programme that has been active in communities in all corners of Ireland for the last 31 years,” said Mr Murphy.
“The support of our sponsors has enabled us to grow the initiative into one of the most long standing and widespread summer activities for children to get involved in.”
Lisa Cahill of Nestlè Ireland congratulated the participants for their excellent sportsmanship.
“The interest, enthusiasm and skill demonstrated in KitKat Parks Tennis in the Dublin region has always been one of the best in the country,” said Ms Cahill.
The 2008 winners in the final were as follows:
Premier Division: Boys’ Team:
Skerries (winner), Shankill (runner-up); Girls’ Team - Ellenfield (winner), Ballyfermot (runner-up); Boys’ U-17: winner - Graham Murtagh (Rockfield), runner-up - Neil Hickey (Rathgar); Girls U-17: winner - Emma Byrne (Ballyfermot), runner-up - Ciara O’Leary (Rockfield).

Division 1: Boys’ Team:
Skerries (winner), Marlay Park (runner-up); Girls’ Team: Malahide Castle (winner), Lucan Sports Centre (runner-up); Boys’ U-17: winner - Paul Kavanagh (St Anne’s); runner-up - Graham Gernon (St Mark’s); Girls’ U-17: winner - Niamh Thomas (Sallyglen); runner-up - Nicky Boylan (Malahide Castle).

Division 2: Boys’ Team:
Cherryfield (winner), Ellenfield (runner-up); Girls’ Team: Ellenfield (winner) Marlay Park (runner-up); Boys U-17: winner Luke O’Connor (Weston); runner-up - Stephen O’Connell (Hazel Lawns); Girls’ U-17: winner - Hilda Juson (Hazel Lawns); runner-up - Bobbie Gorry (Trinity School, Ballymun).
For further details on the annual leagues, log onto
www.parkstennis.com

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