It’s Senior Open Week in the local Tennis Club and for the first time ever (yes, this is 2009!) the fixtures and results for each day are all available on the website: http://www.tramoretennis.com. (Disclaimer: I host the website, and my better half sits in on committee meetings and keeps the site updated)

The results/fixture management is done using a copy of Tournament Software which is used in the club office by the hard working people who run Open Week, and the updates are published to the Tournament Software web site every evening. Works quite well, previously all this information was just posted on the club notice board. So far we’ve had a great reaction to it and hits on the website are way up (from the usual dribble of visits it gets).

Senior Open Week is the highlight of the year in the club, there are over 200 entrants – mainly from the surrounding Waterford clubs but also a few from further a field; Cork, Kilkenny, and even Dublin!  I usually make a point of seeing the ‘A’ finals (which will be on next Sunday, August 9′th) each year where the standard of tennis is just incredible to watch. Good prize money for the winners I believe, and the cakes and sandwiches are usually top notch too!

These two in particular grabbed my attention:

Saturday 23rd May		For Family groups. General public
Event	Mosaic on Annestown Beach
Venue	Annestown Beach Co. Waterford
Build a giant Mosaic on Annestown using natural materials found on beach with Artist Sinead Driver and geologist Tina Keating of the Copper Coast Geopark The Copper Coast Geopark runs between Tramore and Dungarvan, in Co. Waterford and comprises 25 km of beautiful coastline. But did you know that this part of Ireland was once close to the South Pole, exposed to violent volcanic eruptions and earthquakes? Did you know that the area was once a desert, dissected by large rivers, long before the landscape was gouged by glaciers? Here’s your chance to find out. The Copper Coast Geopark has it all, 460 million years of Earth history recorded in the rocks, explained on panels, brochures or during school visits and excursions throughout the year and guided tours in the summer.”

And the Comeragh walks (I received a little bit more information about this via email):

Woodlands and Uplands – 2 short walks in the Comeraghs

The Crough Walk is a 1.5km woodland walk along the banks of the Mahon Stream, where we plan to do some nature-spotting – mammal-tracking, tree-naming, stream-dipping and bird calls. We will then go to the Mahon Falls Walk to see some upland habitat and blanket bog and the special flora associated with it.

Date: Sunday 24th May 2009

Venue: Mahonbridge / Comeragh Mountains

The Comeragh Mountains form part of the largest SAC (Special Area of Conservation) in Co. Waterford, protected under law for important habitats. May 24th is Wildwatch Day, when events take place all around the country for people to get out, experience the wild and learn about the nature on their own doorstep. The Irish Wildlife Trust volunteers organise regular outings to places with interesting natural history:

Time: 2 pm

Duration: 2 hours approx

Age group: All Ages Welcome. Children under supervision

Meeting point if different to venue: Mahonbridge Village. There is limited parking at the walk start, so car-pooling is encouraged

To Book: Log onto www.livingearth.ie

Contact Person for more info: Marie Power Mobile: 086 8124275

Walk Leader: Denis Cullen

Special requirements for participants: The walk has been well finished by the Comeragh Community Group/Coillte and is suitable for buggies/wheels. However, it is an uphill course for the first half.

Directions to venue: From Waterford, take the N25. Turn off just past Kilmacthomas, for Mahonbridge. Follow signs for 3km approx. until you arrive in the village. The walk start is just 50m away, through village on the Comeragh Drive. Mahonbridge is located on the main Dungarvan to Carrick-on-Suir Road, about 16km from Dungarvan.

Plenty there to interest everyone, again see the full event list here: http://www.livingearth.ie/Full%20Events%20Listing. I think I might skip the ‘cooking seaweed’ event myself however

which unfortunately doesn’t contain the schedule, so here’s the scanned flyer that I have (and by the way, the tea and biscuits are also excellent!):

- The Slow Food Feast (could be be best 50 quid you’ll ever spend on a meal!):

- The Picnic and Sports day in the park: the Poeples Park in Waterford is great for kids, it’s got a big playground (and a terrific little coffee shop for the parents!) – but this slow food picnic and sports day sounds like a fantastic event (lets hope the weather is good!):

- The Farmers Market on Sunday:

So there should be something for everyone, where ever you fit in on the food chain!

Best of luck to Donal, Don, Paul and all the organisers, I’m sure the event will be a fantastic success!