It was a week to remember for Irish tennis as players from Tennis Ireland’s National Performance Development Programme (NPDP) and Transition Programme travelled to Stavanger, Norway, to compete at a Tennis Europe event — and they did not disappoint.
The group delivered a series of impressive performances across the tournament, with two standout results in the girls’ draws. Aryia Pringle Quinn (Hilden Tennis Club & Dundalk Tennis Club) reached the final of the girls’ singles event, while Emily Tennant (Clontarf Lawn Tennis Club) and Lily O’Shea (Celbridge Lawn Tennis Club) paired up to make the final of the girls’ doubles. Congratulations to all three players, and to every member of the group who represented Ireland with distinction throughout the week.
About the Programmes
The Transition Programme is designed for players aged 11–13 and provides ten structured coaching sessions per year, with a focus on preparing young athletes for international competition at Tennis Europe Under 12 and Under 14 events. Players are selected by the Under 14 National Coach in conjunction with the Tennis Ireland performance team.
The National Performance Development Programme (NPDP) supports players aged 13–15 with an intensive 408-hour annual training programme. NPDP players compete at Tennis Europe Under 14 and ITF J30 events, and are selected by the Tennis Ireland performance team based on their competitive results and development potential.
Both programmes form part of Tennis Ireland’s wider player development pathway, which runs from the Junior Kids National Camps at age 9–11 right through to the senior NPDP tier for players aged 15 and over, who compete at ITF 100 and J60 level internationally.
More Than Results
While the on-court achievements in Stavanger were rightly celebrated, Tennis Ireland’s National Performance Development Director, Cian Blake, highlighted that the value of a trip like this goes well beyond the scoreboard.
“Last week’s NPDP and Transition Programme trip to the Tennis Europe event in Stavanger was a fantastic experience for the group. Competing internationally is hugely important, but just as valuable are the memories the players create on trips like this — travelling together, preparing together, and supporting each other through wins and losses. Being part of a team environment, even in an individual sport like tennis, really helps accelerate development. Those shared experiences can be powerful, and they’ll stand to them as they continue their development.”
For many in the group, this was their first international trip representing Ireland — a milestone moment in any young athlete’s career. If their performances in Stavanger are anything to go by, it will be far from their last. Tennis Ireland looks forward to following the journey of these talented young players as they continue to develop and make their mark on the international stage.
