Tennis New Brunswick is pleased to announce this year’s inductees into the Tennis NB Hall of Fame: Roger Duval of Bathurst, Pierre Gallant of Shediac Bridge and Linda O’Neil of Oromocto, will all be honoured in the player category at the Tennis NB Hall of Fame & Awards Banquet on Friday evening June 26th in Moncton. Tickets can be purchased when registering online for the East Coast Open or by contacting the Tennis NB office.
Roger Duval of Bathurst, now living in Fredericton, played most of his tennis in the 1970’s first as a junior, then in university and finally on the professional satellite circuit. Some of his notable results include the Under 18 Atlantic singles and doubles champion in 1972 and Under 18 Atlantic singles finalist and doubles champion in 1973. He represented New Brunswick in the 1972 National Championships as well as the 1972 Canadian Junior Closed. Roger was the Atlantic University singles and doubles champion in the 1975/76 season and singles champion in 1976/77 representing the University of Moncton and won Athlete of the Year honours in both years at the school. He then went on to become the first player from Atlantic Canada to test the professional satellite circuit playing in Florida, the Southern US, Puerto Rico, and Canadian events as well as abroad. He won 2 Men’s Doubles titles in Pro Satellite events in 1999, one in France and one in Guadeloupe. Roger took part in tennis as a demonstration at the 1976 Olympics when tennis was being considered for inclusion in the games.
Pierre Gallant of Shediac Bridge, now living in Moncton, has been involved with tennis in the province for nearly 30 years. He had much success in the junior ranks as a provincial team member, a national’s participant and as a member the 1993 Canada Games team in Kamloops, BC. He then moved on to be a force on the open scene for a number of years claiming titles in both singles and doubles in both the NB Provincial Championships and the NB Open Championships as well as other provincial events. As a singles player, he was the provincial champion in 1999 and runner-up several times, and he was the NB Open winner in 1999 & 2007. As a doubles player, he has been a part of multiple doubles championship teams winning the NB Provincial title and NB Open title a total of 8 times and 5 times was runner-up. His most recent title was in 2013 which he won with his brother Brian, showing his consistent success spanning from 1999 to 2013. Pierre was known for his great work ethic and his great on court presence, always showing poise, grace and dedication to the game.
Linda Lee O’Neil of Oromocto, now living in Halifax, was at the top of her game while living in New Brunswick in the 1970’s. Included among her various titles, she was the NB Open ladies singles champion (3 times), the NB Closed ladies single champion (2 times), the NB Closed ladies doubles champion (2 times), she was the runner-up in ladies singles at the prestigious Nova Scotia Open in 1975 and then became the first lady from NB to win the title the next year and added the mixed doubles title as well. Linda represented New Brunswick in the 1973 Canada Games in Burnaby, BC where she and partner David Piers won the bronze medal in mixed doubles to become the first, and to this point, only female tennis player from NB to win a medal at a Canada Games. Linda also claimed a number of titles playing singles, ladies doubles and mixed doubles in provincial events in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and PEI. As a junior, she played in Nova Scotia where she developed and competed throughout the region
