Lucy Beecroft

James Earles

Ritchie Fallows

Tom Ford

James Peach

Carrie Ramsey

Charles Sharpes

Matthew Sidaway

Emily Whitlock

BU13
Patrick Rooney bt James Peach       13/11 9/11 11/1 16/14 (33m)
BU15
Richie Fallows bt Hamish Falconer       7/11 11/8 11/8 11/7 (67m)
BU17
Matthew Sidaway bt Tom Ford 11/3 11/5 9/11 14/16 12/10 (97m)
BU19
Charles Sharpes bt James Earles             11/5 12/10 11/8 (34m)
GU13
Georgina Kennedy bt Amelia Henley          11/6 11/3 11/6 (15m)
GU15
Eleanor Lake bt Lucy Beecroft   11/5 12/14 11/7 9/11 11/6 (44m)
GU17
Emily Whitlock bt Issie Norman Ross           11/2 11/5 11/5 (20m)
GU19
Millie Tomlinson bt Carrie Ramsey         13/11 11/2 2/0 rtd (24m)

English Junior Champions crowned in Nottingham
Paul Houghton reports

Girls Under 13

Georgina Kennedy proved far too strong for the rest of the pack in the GU13. The number 1 seed from Kent made it through to the finals without dropping a game and carried that form through to the finals against Amelia Henley (Kent). Kennedy took just 15 minutes to claim the title with a 3-0 victory.

Boys Under 13

This final saw the number 1 and 2 seeds battle it out. Patrick Rooney the number 2 seed from Merseyside took the first game 13/11. The number 1 seed James Peach (Yorkshire) fought back and took the second game 11/9. Rooney then came out determined, took the third game 11/1 and took the third 16/14. Peach put up a great fight and both players gave it their all, Rooney coming out on top, 3-1 in 33 minutes.

Girls Under 15

Another final that saw the top 2 seeds pitted against each other. Number 2 Lucy Beecroft (Northumbria) took on the current British Junior Champion and number one seed Eleanor Lake (Glos). A 44 minute five set match took place with the British Champion adding the English Champion title to her trophy cabinet.

Boys Under 15

One of the longest finals of the day took place with the Boys Under 15 finalists keeping each other on court for 68 minutes. Richie Fallows (Essex) the current British Junior Champion and favourite went a game down as Hamish Falconer (Lincolnshire) came out fighting.

Neither player wanted to give much away and both battled hard, Fallows fought back and took the next three games 11/8 11/8 11/7 to claim his first English Junior title. However the game scores do not do justice to the effort and determination both players gave in this 68 minute match.

Girls Under 17

Issie Norman Ross was the only unseeded player to make it to a final this weekend. She had been on an excellent run so far defeating a seeded player each round to reach the final and then came up against the toughest test of all, the number 1 seed Emily Whitlock (Cheshire). Whitlock had been on a superb run of her own this weekend and cruised through to the final without dropping a game. It was to be Whitlock's run that continued, too quick and powerful for Norman Ross today and took the title with a 3-0 victory in just 20 minutes.

Boys Under 17

5/8 seed Tom Ford (Glos) was now up against 3/4 seed Matthew Sidaway (Lancashire). Sidaway moved into an early lead 11/3 then took the second 11/5. Ford came out in the 3rd full of determination, with Sidaway keeping things tight and basic and Ford fighting to stay in the game this match turned into a real battle. Ford took the 3rd game 11/9 and both boys continued with the same gameplan in the 4th, Ford took that one 16/14 to level it at 2-2. This battle turned into a war, after a very hard 97 minutes it was Sidaway who would come away the victor, 12/10 in the 5th!

Girls Under 19

The Girls Under 19 Final got off to a great start. Millie Tomlinson the number 1 seed from Derbyshire took on Carrie Ramsey, the 3/4 seed from Yorkshire. In the first Tomlinson shot into an 8-3 lead, only for Ramsey to fight back and get to 10-9 game ball. Ramsey couldn't take advantage and let Tomlinson back in to steal the game 13/11.

Tomlinson again came out blazing and took the second game 11/2 in 8 minutes. Unfortunately at the start of the 3rd game there was an injury to Ramsey as she was caught by the racket of Tomlinson on the shin.

The injury forced Ramsey to concede the match leaving Tomlinson to add the title of English Junior Champion to her long list of British Junior Championship titles.

Boys Under 19

This final was a rematch of the Under 17 British Junior Championship finals 2 years ago as James Earles (Yorkshire) once again took on the top seed in Charles Sharpes (Surrey). Earles was out for revenge as it was Sharpes who claimed that U17 British Championship on his home turf at Wimbledon in 08. Sharpes has been in excellent form of late and had not dropped a game the whole tournament, the longest he had been kept on court all weekend was 32 minutes.

Sharpes started the final well, racing into a 7-2 lead and not long after taking the first game 11/5. Earles made it harder for him in the second, got to game ball at 10-9 but then received a no let from the referee to take it into a tie breaker. Sharpes seized his chance and took the game 12-10. Sharpes kept to his game plan and worked hard, Earles fought to stay in it but Sharpes proved too strong, taking the third game 11/8, denying Earles his revenge and claiming the inaugural Boys U19 English Junior title.

BU13 - SF
Peach beat Falconer 6/11, 11/7, 13/15, 11/5, 11/2 (35m)
Rooney beat Green                    11/5, 11/6, 11/3  (16m)

GU13 - SF
Kennedy beat Lazarus                 11/3, 11/8, 11/6 (14m)
Henley beat Taylor                   11/5, 11/5, 12/10  (16m)

The number one seed in the BU13 had the tougher semi final this morning as 3/4 seed Harry Falconer put up a great fight and kept James Peach on court for 35 minutes. Peach was 2-1 down but managed to come back, winning 3-2.

The other BU13 finalist had the easier semi, Patrick Rooney taking 16 minutes to defeat Laurence Green 3-0.

The GU13 final will see Georgina Kennedy face Amelia Henley, neither girls had particularly tough semi final matches so both girls should be fresh and ready to contest the final!
  

Full Draws & Results :
BU13   BU15   BU17   BU19     GU13   GU15   GU17   GU19

BU13 - QF
Peach beat Windle                              11/8, 11/3, 11/9 (20m)
Falconer beat Yau                              11/9, 11/6, 11/8 (22m)
Green beat Keefe                              11/6, 11/9, 11/9 (24m)
Rooney beat Penkett       11/5, 15/17, 11/5, 9/11, 11/5 (49m)

GU13 - QF
Kennedy beat Jones                           11/7, 11/7, 11/9 (17m)
Lazarus beat Jones          11/6, 7/11, 11/8, 10/12, 11/7 (30m)
Henley beat Gear                      11/5, 7/11, 11/7, 11/6 (24m)
Taylor beat Bartley                            11/9, 11/8, 11/8 (20m)

GU15 - SF
Lake beat Possegger                     11/9, 6/11, 11/8, 11/7 (32m)
Beecroft beat Kimberley     11/7, 15/17, 11/9, 5/11, 11/8 (52m)

GU17 - SF
Whitlock beat Lemom                            11/2, 11/6, 11/1 (20m)
Norman Ross beat Temple Murray 11/5, 9/11, 6/11, 12/10 11/8

GU19 - SF
Tomlinson beat Ingham               11/2, 5/11, 11/7, 11/4 (34m)
Ramsey beat Courtice      10/12, 11/8, 11/2, 6/11, 11/3 (45m)

BU15 - SF
Fallows beat Brooke               11/7, 10/12, 11/7, 11/8 (49m)
Falconer beat Fuller                          11/7, 11/5, 11/7 (23m)

BU17 - SF
Sidaway beat Holland                           11/6, 4/0 rtd (15m)
Ford beat Engerer                  2/11, 11/3, 11/5, 11/8 (49m)

BU19 - SF
Sharpes beat James                        11/5, 11/6, 11/8 (29m)
Earles beat Lake         10/12, 10/12, 11/3, 11/5, 11/1 (54m)

Day Two, Session Two
Paul Houghton reports

The Boys U17 draw was blown wide open with the number one seed Oliver Holland retiring midway through the second game of his semi final with Matthew Sidaway. With Tom Ford defeating the number two seed David Wardle earlier on today the title is up for grabs. Sidaway is now through to the final and awaits either Niall Engerer or Tom Ford.

In the Girls U17, Emily Whitlock put a halt to the comeback run of Sophie Lemom. Whitlock is in excellent form and seems a cut above, moving into the final after another quick 3-0 victory. She will face Issie Norman Ross, who has been on an excellent run herself in this tournament. The 9/16 seed from Hampshire has defeated a 5/8 seed, the number two seed and a 3/4 seed on her route to the final, can she go one more and test the number one seed in tomorrow's final?

Millie Tomlinson has also cruised into her Girls U19 final. After two quick matches in the previous rounds she was finally tested today by Harriet Ingham. Ingham managed to keep her on court for 34 minutes and took the second game but couldn't push on any further. Tomlinson was too strong and now awaits the winner of Ramsey v Courtice.

Richie Fallows the current Under 15 British Junior Champion has now made it through to his final after a 50 minute battle with Joe Brooke. Brooke took the second game but couldn't keep the pressure on Fallows, who now faces Hamish Falconer who beat Lyell Fuller 3-0 in 23 minutes.

The Girls U15 final has another current British Junior Champion waiting in the final, Eleanor Lake defeated Martha Possegger 3-1 in 32 minutes.

Eleanor's brother Nathan, the number two seed in the BU19 can also make it to his final should he beat the 3/4 seed James Earles. Charles Sharpes is awaiting the winner of that match after beating Declan James 3-0 earlier in the day.

Another excellent set of semi finals were watched at Nottingham SRC tonight. In the GU15 Lucy Beecroft and Anna Kimberley had a superb 52 minute five-setter. Each player taking it in turn to win a game before Beecroft took the fifth 11/8.

Tom Ford continued his fantastic form and defeated another higher seed from the main draw. 3/4 seed Niall Engerer managed to take the first game 11/2, but the determined Ford fought back taking the next three games. Ford now faces Sidaway, both players are having a superb tournament so far, its all to play for tomorrow.

Carrie Ramsey booked her place in the GU19 final after another well fought five set match against the number two seed Julianne Courtice. Courtice took the first game 12/10 but then lost two games back to back. She regained her focus in the fourth but couldn't find a way to stop Ramsey in the fifth.

The last match on court was the BU19 semi final. Both players not giving much away here, Nathan Lake took the first two games 12/10. James Earles fought back quickly taking the third 11/3 and continued to take the 4th 11/5. Both boys played some excellent squash, Earles pushing on in the fifth and punishing a tired Lake, taking the decider 11/1.
 

SUNDAY FINALS

BU13  15.20
GU13 16.00
not known until tomorrow

BU15 14.00
[1] Richie Fallows (Essex) v [2] Hamish Falconer (Lincolnshire)

GU15 14.20
[1] Eleanor Lake (Gloucestershire) v [2] Lucy Beecroft (Northumbria)

BU17 14.40
[3/4] Matthew Sidaway (Lancashire) v [5/8] Tom Ford (Gloucestershire)

GU17 14.00
[1] Emily Whitlock (Cheshire) v Issie Norman Ross (Hampshire)

BU19 16.00
[1] Charles Sharpes (Surrey) v [3/4] James Earles (Yorkshire)

GU19 15.20
[1] Millie Tomlinson (Derbyshire) v [3/4] Carrie Ramsey (Yorkshire)

Draws & Results
BU13   BU15   BU17   BU19     GU13   GU15   GU17   GU19

Quarter-Finals:
BU15
Fallows beat Evans 14/12 11/3 9/11 11/9 (42m)
Brooke beat Taylor 11/5 11/8 11/5 (19m)
Fuller beat Clark 11/8 11/6 6/11 11/3 (45m)
Falconer beat Masters 11/8 11/6 11/6 (28m)

BU17
Holland beat Mulvey 15/13 11/9 11/7 (41m)
Sidaway beat Robinson 11/9 11/5 15/13 (40m)
Engerer beat Gata Aura 11/4 12/10 11/6 (31m)
Ford beat Wardle 11/6 11/7 11/4 (28m)

BU19
Sharpes beat Hopcroft 11/7 11/6 11/4 (32m)
James beat Downer 11/6 11/5 6/11 9/11 11/6 (69m)
Earles beat Rodgers 11/8 11/8 11/9 (45m)
Lake beat Lemom 11/7 11/7 11/3 (26m)

GU15
Lake beat Taylor 11/6 11/5 11/3 (19m)
Possegger beat Pallett 11/9 8/11 11/8 11/7 (28m)
Beecroft beat Machin 11/3 9/11 11/3 11/9 (30m)
Kimberley beat Mead 11/9 11/9 12/10 (24m)

GU17
Whitlock beat Lane 11/1 11/1 11/3 (18m)
Lemom beat Thompson 11/6 13/11 11/9 (30m)
Temple Murray beat Pearson 6/11 11/4 11/9 5/11 11/5 (34m)
Norman Ross beat Smith 4/11 11/9 9/11 11/5 12/10 (39m)

GU19
Tomlinson beat Johnson 11/7 11/2 11/2 (13m)
Ingham beat Quiney 11/3 11/4 11/8 (23m)
Ramsey beat Collins Ballands 11/5 10/12 11/3 11/9 (31m)
Courtice beat Townley 12/10 11/6 11/7 (21m)

Quarter-Final Roundup
Paul Houghton reports

Girls U17 9/16 seed Sophie Lemom (Essex) continues on her comeback run, defeating 3/4 seed Jade Thompson (Yorkshire) 3-0. Lemom now faces the toughest test, number 1 seed Emily Whitlock (Cheshire) in the Semi Finals. Whitlock is cruising through the tournament so far, not having dropped a game nor been kept on court longer than 18 minutes.

There has also been an upset in the bottom half of the GU17 draw, Issie Norman Ross (Hampshire) beating Number 2 seed Katie Smith (Yorkshire), 12-10 in the fifth! Norman Ross now meets the 3/4 seed Victoria Temple Murray (Devon) in the other Semi Final.

The BU17 draw has also had its fair share of drama this afternoon. The Holland V Mulvey match had got off to a great start, both players giving it their all, the first game ending 15-13. Then in the second game, out of nowhere Mulvey had to stop with a nose bleed. Time was given for the blood injury and a GU19 match was played while the bleeding stopped. When both players returned Holland stepped up the pressure and Mulvey struggled to regain the pace that he showed in the first. Holland quickly taking the game and the 3rd shortly after. Holland now meets 3/4 seed Matthew Sidaway (Lancashire) in the semi finals after Sidaway came through a tough 3-0 against his fellow county player Jacob Robinson.

The number 2 seed in the BU17 has also fallen, 5/8 seed Tom Ford (Glos) defeating number 2 David Wardle (Surrey). Ford playing some superb squash to take the match 3-0 in 28m! Ford now goes through to the Semi Finals to face 3/4 seed Niall Engerer (Essex).

Both U19 draws are progressing with the top seeds moving through bar one in the BU19. Local favourite 5/8 seed Declan James (Nottinghamshire) playing a marathon match with 3/4 seed Robert Downer (Hampshire). James went 2-0 up only for Downer to fight back, taking the next 2 and setting up the fifth game nicely. after 69 minutes it was James who pushed through, taking it 11/6. James now meets the number 1 seed Charles Sharpes (Surrey) in the semi final.
 

Draws: BU13    BU15    BU17    BU19    GU13    GU15    GU17    GU19

05-Mar, Day One:
It's a walk in The Park for the
top seeds at Nottingham!

Starting with the Boys Under 13, the top 8 seeds all progressed to the second round safely, as did the top seeds from the Girls Under 13 first round. Boys Under 15 quarter finals are nicely made up from all top 8 seeds, so tomorrow should bring some very close matches between those boys. The Girls Under 15 saw an upset with Lily Taylor the 9/16 seed from Leicestershire defeating the 5/8 seed Kip Quiney (Glos) 3-1. Taylors reward is now a quarter final match with the number 1 seed Eleanor Lake (Glos).

The Boys Under 17 also saw a 9/16 seed upset a 5/8 seed. Jacob Robinson (Lancs) going two games up against George Wileman (Yorkshire), then letting two games get away from him for the score to be levelled at 2-2. After 65 minutes, Robinson the victor 11-9 in the 5th. Robinson now faces the 3/4 seed, his friend and fellow County player Matthew Sidaway. The longest match of the day came courtesy of the 5/8 seed Nicholas Mulvey (Herts) 0-2 down against 9/16 Scott Young (Glos) he fought back to take the match 3-2 in a staggering 72 minutes!

The Girls Under 19 and Under 17 are progressing according to seeds, so far only the one upset with Issie Norman Ross (Hampshire) defeating 5/8 seed Jemma Ockwell (Herts) to gatecrash the Quarters, she will now face a much sterner test against the U17 number 2 seed Katie Smith (Yorkshire).

In the Boys Under 19, 9/16 seed Phil Waller (Herts) was 2-1 up against the 5/8 seed Nick Hopcroft (Surrey). Not only was Phil two games to the good, he also had match ball at 10/9 in the fourth. His luck ran out at that moment, receiving a stroke and giving Hopcroft a chance, which he duly took. 12-10 in the 4th. Hopcroft then pushed on and claimed the 5th game and the match 3-2 in 64 minutes. Hopcroft now moves on to meet the number 1 seed Charles Sharpes in tomorrow's Quarter Finals.
  

Draws: BU13    BU15    BU17    BU19    GU13    GU15    GU17    GU19

05-Mar, Day One:
Seeds safely through round one

The first session of the inaugural English Junior Championships saw all the seeds safely through their opening matches in Nottingham, Nathan Lake, the the number two seed in the BU17 the only one to be seriously troubled, taking just over 50 minutes to beat Charlie Johnson 3-1.

Debut for English Junior
Championships in Nottingham

This weekend sees the finest junior squash players in the country descend on Nottingham for the inaugural English Junior Championships. 

This new event has been establish as part of the ongoing development of the England Squash & Racketball Junior Circuit, complimenting the traditional British Junior Championships and the British Junior Open, giving the players the opportunity to fight it out for a coveted English National title.

Nottingham SRC and Nottingham University will play host to 250 players from 5-7 March for three days of fiercely competitive squash.  With the Junior European Championships (both Under 19 and Under 15/13’s) fast approaching many of the leading contenders will be trying to impress and secure England team positions.

Local hopes rest with Nottingham SRC duo Oliver Holland and Declan James. The two played out a fantastic British Under 17 Final in Manchester back in October with Holland edging it 3-2 in a 69 minute thriller to secure his third British title. 

James has now moved up to the Under 19 category and must try and upset the top four seeds of Charles Sharpes (Surrey), Nathan Lake (Gloucestershire), James Earles (Yorkshire) and Robert Downer (Hampshire).  Holland is the No1 seed in the Boys Under 17’s with his long term rival David Wardle (Surrey) occupying the No2 slot.

Millie Tomlinson (Derbyshire) and Emily Whitlock (Cheshire) look to be in a league of their own and are the red hot favourites for the Girl’s Under 19 and 17 crowns respectively.  Similarly in the Boys Under 15’s it is hard to see past Richie Fallows (Essex) who comes into the event having headed the English Under 15 rankings since last August. 

Eleanor Lake (Gloucestershire) is the No1 seed in the Girls Under 15’s and is expected to meet Northumbria’s Lucy Beecroft in Sunday’s Final. 

Both the Under 13 events should be hotly contested with top seeds James Peach (Yorkshire) and Georgina Kennedy (Kent) not expected to have proceedings all their own way with the likes of Patrick Rooney (Merseyside) and Mari Taylor (Leicestershire) hot on their heels and eager to secure a major title.

Nottingham SRC is one of the leading squash clubs in the country with fantastic facilities on offer. Along with Nottingham University they will be fitting venues for the first staging of the English Junior Championships. 

Play begins at 9.00am on Friday with the finals scheduled for Sunday afternoon. All spectators wishing to watch the best junior players in the country are invited to attend the event free of charge.

Nottingham Squash Club   Map
 

2009 and earlier British Champs