The Junior County Closed took place last weekend 29th/30th of September at the Northumberland Club Jesmond, with DB GLAZIERS as the events sponsors. With entrants encouragingly up on last year to almost 90 it was to be a successful event.
Boys U19 – Richard Shellam bt Dave Elsender 3-0
Boys U17 – Richard Shellam bt Dave Elsender 3-1
plate- Stuart Proctor bt Cole Windscheffel 3-0
The boys U19 and U17 finals were the repeat of last year with defending champion in both events seeded one and last years double runner-up Richard Shellam at two. The U17 final was played first , they had disposed of Alex Storey and Chris Clinton in the semis. Dave started well leading 8-2 in the first before shellam came straight back winning 10-8 and the second 9-0. Elsender won the 3rd and led 8-5 in the fourth before Shellam again came back and took it 10-8 and the title. The U19 was a round robin with both players winning there other to matches to make their match the decider. The match didn’t live up to the standard of the previous one with both players a bit jaded. Shellam proved the stronger winning this match 3-0 despite cramping a little in the 2nd.
Girls U19 – Hannah Cliff bt Sarah Oswald 3-2
With a small but high quality entry for the girls U19 it was played in a round robin format. Hannah Cliff the favourite beat Ashley Hay 3-0 and Anna Oswald 3-1to set up the decider against Sarah Oswald who had beaten Hay 3-0 and sister Anna 3-1. Oswald started the final really well controlling the game getting to a 2-0 and 8-4 match ball lead. Cliff then somehow made a remarkable come back to win 3-2 and win a great match.
Boys U15 – Sean Millington bt James Breakey 3-2
plate – Mark Dinsley bt Sean Hood 3-0
This event had our biggest entry with 18 competitors. There was an early upset with Elliott Park beating Mark Dinsley 3-2 in the first round. The top seeds however progressed with Sean Millington and James Breakey the top two seeds beating Northerns 3/4 seeds Harry Carr and Simon Newby in the semis. The final was always going to be close with Breakey leading 2-1 Millington fought back to win a very close 3-2. Dinsley after the disappointment of losing first round won the plate beating newcomer Sean Hood 3-0.
Girls U15 – Rachael Oswald bt Samantha Ward 3-0
plate – Nazia Zahed bt Beth Robertson 3-1
It was good to see 3 newcomers in this event for Phillipa Williams, Nazia Zahed and Beth Robertson it was their first county closed, Zahed and Robertson made the plate final with Zahed winning 3-1, hopefully they’ll be back next year. The main event final was between favourite Rachael Oswald and much improved Sam Ward, they had beaten Catherine de Kiewiet and Maria Bainbridge respectively to reach the final. Rachael won 3-0 with the 2nd and 3rd games being very close.
Boys U13 – Stephen Twaddle bt Simon Grabham 3-1
plate- Adrian de Kiewiet bt Adam Proctor 3-0
Again a big entry with 16 and again the top two seeds made the final. Number one seed Twaddle beat club mate Richard Ridgeway 3-0 in the semis and Simon Grabham beat Tommy Williams 3-1.Twaddle started as favourite and duly delivered winning 3-1 with Grabham winning the 3rd game. The plate event final was between the two players who were knocked out by the top two seeds, Jesmonds Adrian de Kiewiet beat Westoes late reserve entry Adam Proctor 3-0.
Girls U13 – Lucy Beecroft bt Jayne Oswald 3-1
Again a small but high quality entry, a round robin of 5 was played. There was an upset with Jayne Oswald beating number two seed Maria Bainbridge 3-2 and therfore making the match between Oswald and Lucy Beecroft the decider. Along with most of the games in this event it was close with Beecroft the favourite winning through 3-1 ans taking the title.
Mixed U11 – Lucy Beecroft bt Dan Wareing 3-0
plate – Daniel North bt Stephanie Howes 3-1
This year the evnt was mixed and both finals were between a girl and a boy. The main final saw Lucy Beecroft soon to be 11 beat Dan Wareing 3-0 with Beecroft playing very well and not letting Wareing get close in any game. The plate was abit closer with Stephanie Howes taking the 3rd game before Daniel North took it 3-1.
Mixed U9 – Joe Wareing bt Adam Robertson 2-1
Jane Dennis a coach at the Northumberland ran the first U9 event on Sunday afternoon. With 10 players playing off in round robin groups to decide the finalists the top two were Joe Wareing from Jesmond and tynemouths Adam Robertson. Robertson took the first game before Wareing came back to win Northumbria’s first ever U9 county title.
A big thanks goes to all those who helped over the weekend. Both Richard Vitty and Jason Follin gave up a weekends coaching so their players could play this event and they were there throughout to help out. Sara Potter despite not quite being fit enough to play herself helped out all weekend. Also thanks to DB GLAZIERS for their sponsorship this year.
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