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British U13/U17 Championships, 23-26 Oct 2008,
Wimbledon |
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Quarters & Semis:
Today saw the Quarter Finals and the Semi Finals of the Tecnifibre
British Junior Championships get underway. Wimbledon Health &
Racquets Club was treated to some outstanding Junior squash as the
top players fought for a place in tomorrow’s finals.
The Boys Under 17 category started the day with 5/8 seed Nathan Lake
(Glos) defeating the number 1 seed Nicholas Hopcroft (Surrey) 3-1 in
a 52 minute Quarter Final. Nathan moved through to the Semi Finals
where he faced former U13 and U15 Champion James Earles (Yorkshire).
Earles has had an excellent tournament so far and moved into the
Semi’s without dropping a game and he continued in that fashion,
with a 3-0 victory over Lake and booking his place in the final.
9/16 seed Declan James (Nottinghamshire) came close to upsetting the
seeds further in his Quarter Final against Robert Downer
(Hampshire). Downer was 2-1 down and saved 3 match balls, levelling
at 2-2 before taking the fifth 11/5 in 53 minutes as James ran out
of steam. Downer then moved on to face Charles Sharpes (Surrey) who
had earlier beaten David Wardle (Surrey). Downer and Sharpes played
a breath taking Semi Final, Sharpes clinching it 11/9 in the fifth
game with both players leaving the court to a standing ovation.
The Girls Under 17 Category also provided an upset as 9/16 seed
Emily Whitlock (Cheshire) beat top seed and former U13 and U15
National Champion Millie Tomlinson in a superb 5 set thriller,
Whitlock coming back from being 2-1 and 8-2 down. She then moved
through to the Semi’s to face the 3/4 seed Tesni Evans (Wales) who
previously beaten Rebecca Quiney (Glos) in her Quarter Final.
Whitlock carried her excellent form through to the semi, taking 42
minutes to defeat Evans 3-1. She now goes into the final looking to
add the U17 National Championship trophy to the U13 title she won in
2006.
Whitlock will face tough opposition in the final from number 2 seed
Julianne Courtice (Glos). Courtice appearing in her first National
Championship Final after coming through her semi final against
Harriet Ingham (Surrey) 3-0.
The Boys Under 13 category saw the two top seeds come through the
draw to face each other in the final. The number 1 seed Russell
Clark (Derbyshire) has hardly been troubled so far beating his semi
final opponent Andrew Taylor (Middlesex) and his Quarter final
opponent Alex Noakes (Oxfordshire) in 22 and 20 minutes
respectively. He is sure to face a tougher test in the final with
number 2 seed Hamish Falconer (Lincolnshire) who also got through
his semi final in 20 minutes against George Parker (Leicestershire).
Number 1 seed in the Girls Under 13 Category, Eleanor Lake (Glos) is
also looking to claim her first National Championship Title. After
defeating Rhianne O’Donnell 3-2 in her Quarter Final match and
Eleanor Epke 3-0 in her Semi. She now faces 3/4 seed Katie Wilson
(Surrey) who despatched number 2 seed Lucy Beecroft (Northumbria) in
her Semi Final. |
Rounds 1 & 2:
The second day of the Tecnifibre British Junior Championships: Under
17/13’s started today with a full schedule of matches at Wimbledon
Health & Racquets Club. Yesterdays qualifiers returned with the top
seeds joining them as the main draw got underway.
Charlie Lee (Surrey), Joe Lee’s younger brother continued his
winning streak in the Boys Under 13 beating 9/16 seed Jack Payne and
booking himself into the last 16 where he now faces a tough test
against 3/4 seed Andrew Taylor (Herts). Top Seeds Russell Clark and
Hamish Falconer also made it through into the last 16 with ease,
neither dropping a game.
The Boy’s Under 17 category saw Tom Dwyer (Lancashire) continue his
run with an unexpected victory against 5/8 seed Oliver Holland. Tom
competed in the Hi-Tec World Championships in Manchester last week
as a local player and he now moves into the last 16 of the main
draw. Alex Lemom (Essex) was another qualifier to take a place in
the last 16, after his opponent and 9/16 seed Sam Huxtable (Wales)
unfortunately had to retire through injury midway through their
match. The only other non seed to cause an upset was Wimbledons own
Laurence Bruggemann (Surrey), beating Niall Engerer (Essex) and
moving through to face his fellow county team player David Wardle
(Surrey).
The Girls Under 13 category also welcomed another member of the Lee
family into the tournament, Rosie Lee (Surrey). Rosie who is
Charlie’s older sister also made it through to the last 16 with a
tough 36 minute, 5 set match against 9/16 seed Mari Taylor
(Leicestershire). She now faces another tough test against 5/8 seed
Rhianne O’Donnell (Somerset).
The Girls Under 17 event is going to the seeds plan, each seeded
player winning their first match and moving through into round 2
where they are sure to face tougher opposition. |
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