Castlebar hosts 'come and try' tennis class

AUGHAGOWER native Vinny Keane is now among the top visually impaired tennis players in the world after he finished fifth at the recent IBSA World Games in Birmingham.
This comes just after he finished in the top eight at the Blind and Visually Impaired World Championships in Poland, losing out to Australia’s Mark Hackett.
“One of my coaches reckoned I was just a bit unlucky to draw him in the final eight, but it was an absolute pleasure to play him. I won a few games against him, I played my best against him,” Vinny told The Mayo News.
“Most of the games were very tight, they either came to 30-40 or deuce most of the games … but I’m absolutely delighted with the way I performed so it’s onwards and upwards from there.”
Vinny, who only took up the sport over a year and a half ago, said that he was ‘over the moon’ with his achievements.
His next goal as a player is to move further up the rankings ahead of the next world championships which take place in four years’ time.
“I just have to keep the high intensity performance up, keep going to the gym, keep playing five days a week in Ireland and hopefully the next goal is try and break into the top three. That could be the goal, but it won’t be easy.”
Vinny is also encouraging those considering taking up visually impaired tennis to attend a ‘Come And Try’ session in Castlebar this weekend.
Vision Sports Ireland, Tennis Ireland, Castlebar Tennis Club and the Mayo Local Sports Partnership have announced two 'Come and Try' sessions to be held in Castlebar Tennis Club this Saturday.
There will be an adults and a junior session held with the view to creating ongoing programmes for both categories.
The session for 6-17 year-olds will take place at 12pm-1pm followed by a session for people 17 and over from 6.30-7.30pm.
For further information email rosie@visionsports.ie.