British Junior Open Championships 2013
BRITISH JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS 2013
The British Junior Real Tennis Championships were held at Queens Club over the week-end of 16th-18th August.
The British Junior Real Tennis Championships were held at Queens Club over the week-end of 16th-18th August. Young players from many different clubs including 2 from Washington USA and 2 from La Bastide in France competed against each other for the coveted titles.
Once again there was a strong entry in the under 12’s section which is a great sign for the future of the game. The round robin groups produced finalists Huw Thomas (Seacourt) and Alfred Backhouse (Radley). The final was much closer than the score suggests with Huw going on to win the title 8-3. There was also an Under 12 Girls Plate Final in which Hannah Parry (Bristol) bt Amy Pye (Prested) 6-3.
In the under 14’s section, Nick Milton from The Hyde Club played Ben Yorston from Radley. These two youngsters produced some amazing tennis in a thrilling final. Ben raced off to take the first set 6-2 but Nick fought back to take the second 6-4. It was now all on the final set and that went all the way to 5-5all before Nick clinched the title 6-5!
The Under 16 final produced another thriller between Murray Lane (Prested) & Hugo Hodgson (Petworth). The first 2 sets were shared so once again it was all on the final set. Murray held his nerve and produced some powerful hitting to come through and win the decider 6-3. In the Girls Under 16 Plate final Georgie Willis (Seacourt) bt Eve Shenkman (Manchester) 8-5 in an excellent match.
The Under 18 section was wide open with the 3 top seeds Henry Mullan (Bristol), Charlie Braham (Petworth) and Levi Gale (Hyde) all very closely matched. They were joined in the semi finals by Sam Willis (Seacourt) who fought his way through from the preliminary rounds. All 4 of these boys should go on to be stars of the future but after some great tennis it was Charlie & Levi who got through. The final produced some top class tennis. Levi won the first set 6-2 and nearly won the match in the second set before Charlie stepped up a gear to take it 6-5. In the deciding set Charlie gained in confidence and powered on to win the set 6-3 and take the coveted Under 18 Salver.
All in all, the standard of the junior game continues to rise and the future of the game looks secure. Once again thanks must go out to Neptune for their generous sponsorship and support and to the Queens Club for hosting the event.
The results were as follows:-
U12 British Championship Huw Thomas (Seacourt) bt Alfred Backhouse (Radley) 8-3
U12 Girls Plate Hannah Parry (Bristol) bt Amy Pye (Prested) 6-3
U14 British Championship Nick Milton (Hyde) bt Benedict Yorston (Radley) 2-6 6-4 6-5
U16 Girls Plate Georgie Willis (Seacourt) bt Eve Shenkman (Manchester) 8-5
U16 British Championship Murray Lane (Prested) bt Hugo Hodgson (Petworth) 4-6 6-4 6-3
U18 British Championship Charlie Braham (Petworth) bt Levi Gale (Hyde) 2-6 6-5 6-2