*PICTURED: Ennis LTBC Captain Dervilla Moloney with Dr Jeeves Kochhar of Ennis Orthodontic Practice
THE inaugural North Munster Singles Open tournament will take place in Ennis this weekend, welcoming almost 150 competitors from across Ireland.
Five state-of-the-art, all-weather floodlit courts at Ennis Lawn Tennis & Badminton Club (ELT&BC) will host the prestigious North Munster Senior Tour 200 Singles Open starting this Thursday (April 30).
Sponsored by Ennis & Limerick Orthodontic Practice, the Tour 200 event sanctioned by Tennis Ireland marks a new cornerstone of the regional tennis calendar, drawing talent from across the country to compete for ranking points.
The North Munster Singles Open is the first adult singles-only open event of the calendar in North Munster and the only such event in County Clare, with entrants across all categories, ranging from the elite Level 1 to the burgeoning talents in Level 7.
The club is riding high on the momentum of recent successes at the South of Ireland Masters where there were category wins for Ennis’s Cíarán O’Brien and Dhanya Pillai, and David Flanagan & Gemma Hassett.
The club will also host a fun “one-point slam” tournament on Monday with funds raised going towards Cahercalla Community Hospice.
Tournament co-director Dervilla Moloney said, “We have competitors coming from Munster, Connacht and Leinster. There are amazing prizes for the winners and we are delighted to be running a fundraiser for Cahercalla Community Hospice on Finals Day. We look forward to welcoming everyone over the weekend.”
Dr Jeeves Kochhar of Ennis & Limerick Orthodontic Practice, added, “I’m thrilled and delighted to sponsor the North Munster Singles Open.”
Founded in 1887 and with 700 members, the Ennis Lawn Tennis & Badminton Club is one of the oldest and most atmospheric sporting venues in County Clare, located in a scenic riverside area near the town centre.
The Open, which runs until Monday, May 4, serves as the perfect appetizer for a packed summer schedule. Tennis enthusiasts are already marking their calendars for the Eye Candy Opticians Ennis National Tour Mixed Open, set to take place in July.
For those looking to catch the action, play typically begins in the late afternoons during the weekend, with a full schedule of finals slated for the Bank Holiday Monday.
