The Connacht Commercial Open is the
highlight of the Connacht table tennis calendar. Players travel from Ulster,
Munster, Leinster and Connacht to play in the Tournament. As it is a ranking
tournament the top seeded players in Ireland participate. It attracts a
lot of other table tennis players because it is held in the Commercial Boat Club
which is renowned throughout table tennis circles nationwide for the hospitality
& sociability of the occasion.
Last year Brian
Fitzgerald, Cork, Irish No. 1 won the Mens Singles Title and Brioni Lane,
Athlone, Irish No. 8 won the Ladies Singles Title and our own Terry Dolan
won the Veterans Singles Title. Alan Monks and Noelle Lennon,
Dublin won the Mixed Doubles, Brian Fitzgerald and Mark White Cork won the Mens
Doubles while Brioni Lane, Athlone and Tara Bollard, Dublin won the Ladies
Doubles in the Connacht Commercial Open 2000.
It will be interesting to see who will come out on top
this season as it will be our first Tournament using the new match format
i.e the table
tennis match is now the best of five games to 11 points
with service changed after every two points.