|
|
|
Sun 4th Nov,
Finals:
G17: [3/4]
Georgina Kennedy 3-0 [1] Lucy Beecroft
11/6, 11/8, 14/12 (27m)
B17: [1] George Parker 3-1 [3/4] James Evans
11/5, 13/15, 11/3, 11/9 (47m)
G19: [1] Emily Whitlock 3-0 [2] Victoria
Temple-Murray
11/6, 11/3, 11/3 (24m)
B19: [1] Oliver Holland 3-1 [5/8] Richie
Fallows
11/8, 11/3, 6/11, 11/2 (52m)
G13:
[1] Elise Lazarus 3-0 [5/8]
Ellen Cooper
11/0, 11/1, 11/8 (14m)
B13: [5/8] Jordon Williams 3-0 [2] Jared Carter
11/5, 11/9, 11/7 (21m)
G15: [1] Amelia Henley 3-0 [2] Elin Harlow
11/4, 11/3, 11/3 (20m)
B15: [1] Robbie Keefe 3-0 [2] Jamie Todd
11/5, 11/6, 11/8 (35m) |
Congrats to the eight British Junior Squash Champions crowned
today in Manchester
Photo Galleries
U17/U19 reports
U13/U15 Reports
|
|
U15 and U13 Champions |
|
 |
|
G17: [3/4] Georgina Kennedy 3-0 [1] Lucy Beecroft
11/6, 11/8, 14/12 (27m)
Kennedy adds U17 title
 Georgina
Kennedy, last year's U15 champion, added the U17 title to
her collection with a straight-games win over top seed Lucy
Beecroft in the first final at the NSC.
Beecroft, U15 champion two years ago, struggled to impose
hersefl on the match in the first two games as Kennedy
comprehensively won the front-court game and did some tremendous
retrieving too.
The top seed settled in the third, going ahead early and
establishing leads of 9/4 and 10/7, but couldn't convert as
Kennedy won point after point at the front of the court.
From 12/11 down the 3/4 seed saved a fifth game ball with a
winning return of serve, fired in a volley drop to earn a first
match ball, and took it with another winning dropshot.
 "I
couldn't have done it without my coach Ben Ford! Lucy has the
best racket skills I've ever seen, so I was just trying to keep
the pace high, trying to take away her time, and it was working
in the first two games.
"When I was down in the third I really didn't want it to go to
another game, if she came back to win that one I knew she could
come back all the way. I was a bit lucky with a couple of shots
towards the end but I was so pleased to finish it in three.
"I really didn't expect to win this, it didn't even cross my
mind - I had a tough quarter-final, then to beat the top two
seeds in the semis and final is just fantastic."
 |
|
 |
|
B17: [1]
George Parker 3-1 [3/4] James Evans
11/5, 13/15, 11/3, 11/9 (47m)
George grabs a first title
 No
upsets in the second final, and a first-time winner as top seed
George Parker came through a tough four games to beat 3/4 seed
James Evans.
Parker was comfortable enough in winning the first, but Evans
fought back well to win a nip and tuck second that went point
for point.
Parker was back on top in the final two games though, always
ahead and cutting short an attempted Evans comeback as a loose
drive resulted in a stroke on match ball.
 "I
thought I played well for most of the match, but it got a bit
scrappy in the second when I was playing his game rather than
mine.
"I managed to keep my head better than I sometimes do, and
turned it round in the last two games.
"In previous years I've been reaching the semis but now I've
been preparing and training in a much more professional way,
that, and the support I've had from England Squash which has
made me ten times the player I was, made the difference."
 |
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
G19: [1]
Emily Whitlock 3-0 [2] Victoria Temple-Murray
11/6, 11/3, 11/3 (24m)
Pre-eminent Emily does it again
 That's
four British Junior Championships in a row for Emily Whitlock,
after another impressive performance in the final against second
seed Victoria Temple-Murray.
Emily doesn't beat you with a barrage of winners,
Egyptian-style, rather she just keeps putting the ball where
you'd least like it to go, and she did that in her usual
efficient manner today (although her mum, here on coaching duty
this weekend, wanted her to play more straight drops).
 "It's
not as easy as people think, there's a lot of pressure hen
people just expect you to win, and I haven't even won all the
age groups in this event!
"Jahangir said that squash is 80% mental, but I think with me
it's 90% - I may be ranked 29 in the world but the way I look at
it I'm still that little kid with the temper, and there's 28
people better than me!
"I'm really glad to have ended my national junior career here
with a win, there's just the BJO in January to go now, and I'm
so grateful to everyone who's helped but particularly my parents
who have given up so much time and so many weekends, I don't
know how they put up with me - all the juniors should be
grateful to their parents who sacrifice so much for them."
Ollie completes the set
 Ollie
Holland completed his set of national junior titles as he won
the last match of this year's event, and up and down final with
England teammate Richie Fallows, who had survived two tough
five-setters yesterday.
Holland started well enough, but Fallows fought back to lead 8/5
in a tight second game. Six points in a row for the top seed
looked to spell the end of Fallow's challenge, but he was 6/1 up
in a flash in the fourth, then 10/3 and although Holland saved
three game balls we were heading into a fourth.
The comeback never materialised though as Ollie asserted from
the outset, quickly 8/1 up and not long after collecting another
title.
 "People
always assume it's not easy playing a close friend," said the
winner, "and they're probably right!
"It was a bit of a nervy start for us both, and a bit of argy
bargy but it was all pretty harmless.
"At 5/8 down in the second I started to find my length and put
him under more pressure.
"Then in the third I just saw the finishing line too early and
changed my game completely.I knew what I had to do and it all
came together in the end.
"I'm playing full time now, but these junior events and titles
are still very important. It's been a good weekend, thanks to
all the sponsors and organisers who have me it so enjoyable."
 |
|
 |
|
Northern reports and photos by
Emily Clark and Tom Roalfe |
|
U13/U15 reports
Girls under 13 Final
European no°1 Elise Lazarus defended her title as British
Junior Champion against Ellen Cooper in emphatic style. There
were some really good rallies but Ellen found it difficult to
get anything past Elise.
 Ellen
put up a brave fight but was unable to contain Elise. Elise won
the first two sets comfortably only conceding a few points but
then commented that she lost her concentration a bit in the
final game as she became more tired.
When interviewed Elise said “Ellen played well, because I was
no°1 seed the crowd always supports my opponent but I just get
on with it”.
When asked about the tournament as a whole Elise told us that it
had been a fantastic experience and a honour to be able to play
at such a fantastic venue with good facilities. She then went on
to say that the standard of refereeing was exactly what you
would expect of a gold ranked competition.
Boys under 13 Final
Welsh no°1 Jordon Williams convincingly beat Jared Carter
in straight games.
Credit must be given to Jared for his ability to make Jordan
work for every single point. Jordan is exceptional at getting
around the court; he seems to manage to get everything back.
He now has become the first ever Welshman to win the Under 13
category and only the second Welshman ever to win any of the
boys categories in the British Junior Championships.
Jordon’s mum later commented saying “it was the best I’ve ever
seen him play and I am so proud of him.”
Girls under 15 Final
British no°1 Amelia Henley had a great match against Elin
Harlow from Wales. Amelia beat Ellen 3-0.
The girls had long rallies but Amelia had the edge, she managed
to stick to her game plan which was to do plenty of volleys,
however the high number of lets and strokes interrupted the game
play.
Later she commented saying “it was a good game, I usually have
close games against Elin and this was one of them.” Also, she
said “the facilities are great and so are the refs.”
Elin had a great run in the tournament and was really pleased by how good
the crowd support was.
Boys under 15 Final
Robbie Keefe, British no°1, played Jamie Todd in a
thrilling final at the Northern. Although the score was 3-0 the
game was very close and rallies were long.
Robbie commented saying that he “played better in the 1st and
2nd game than in the 3rd” and he “wouldn’t say he was happy with
his performance but it was strong enough.”
He said “I really like the facilities here and its one of my
favourite venue’s to play at, also the refs are very
persistent."
|
 |
|
 |
|
