TENNIS IRELAND has finalised plans for its most ambitious project to date, which is aimed at the development of the national junior squad.
The association's top under-age players will gain experience in overseas competition this summer, thanks to significant sponsorship. The June destinations for teams at under-14, under-16 and under-18 levels are: Ukraine, Poland, Romania, Greece, Austria, Hungary and Estonia.
In addition, Britain's top hope, Tim Henman, once directly involved as a player in junior competition here, has welcomed the opportunity to play a part in this latest development by signing on for an Adidas tennis clinic in London at which Irish prospects will participate.
Four Irish players have qualified for this clinic. They are: Naomi McHale (Donnybrook); Catherine Lynch (Clontarf); Colin O'Brien (Malahide) and James
Colhoun (Clontart).
Top under-18s Cormac Jennings (Kilkenny), Neil Fagan (Malahide), Stephen Taylor (Sutton) Dearbhla Kelly (Castleknock) and Elaine Fagan(Malahide) will be on tour in Austria, Hungary and Estonia.
Promising juniors Brian Kennedy (Castleknock), Robert Foley (Clontarf), Emma Murphy (Bishopstown) and Sara Mclntyre (Castleknock) are destined for prestigious competition over three weeks in Ukraine and Poland.
Intermediate hopefuls Conor Niland (Limerick Lawn), Stephen Nugent (Riverview), Jennie Timoney (Celbridge) and Elsa O Riain (Sunday's Well) will compete in Romania and Greece for three weeks.
