NORTHUMBERLAND JUNIOR OPEN.
The Northumberland club in Jesmond was the host to the Northumberland open on the Easter weekend. The event was an ENGLAND SQUASH Bronze level sanctioned event for U19/U15 and U11 at which national ranking points were up for grabs. With a strong entry from local players and players travelling from all around England the competition was of a very high standard.(All Northumbria players highlighted in RED)
MIXED U11 – Joe Dale (D&C) bt Adam Bainbridge (Northumbria) 3-1
This mixed event ended up being dominated by the boys with Adam Bainbridge coming through the top half beating Hayden McLean and Adam Gardner both from Durham and Cleveland. Gardner took out the top seed in the quarters. Joe Dale seeded 2 also progressed beating Northumbrias Alex Robinson in the semis. The Final started with Bainbridge taking the first playing really well before Dale took control in the remaining 3 making few mistakes and serving very well and taking the title.
GIRLS U15 -Helen Dowson (D&C) bt Maria Bainbridge (Northumbria) 3-1
Helen Dowson was top seed and duly reached the final beating Yorkshires Katie Campion performing very well winning 3-0. The other semi was all Northumbria and was probably the match of the tournament between Lucy Beecroft and Maria Bainbridge. Beecroft led 2-0 and looked to be coasting through before the fight back, Bainbridge took the next 2 and got level, in the 5th Beecroft raced to a 8-1 lead before the second fight back began, Bainbridge took the next 9 points progress to the final, what a match. The final Dowson won the first but Bainbridge continued her good form and took a tight second before Dowson took control again winning through 3-1.
BOYS U15 – Ross Macdonald (Yorks)bt Jonny Honeyman (Cumbria) 3-2
Local interest in this event ended in the semi-final with Harry Carr losing to top seed Jonny Honeyman, although Carr did very well to reach that stage. The final was between the top 2 seeds and a repeat of last years final. Honeyman led 2-0 but Macdonald was never far away and fought back to 2-2. Honeyman took a lead in the last with both players looking very edgy with many mistakes, with a 7-2 lead Honeyman had his chances but the Yorkshire player dug deep and took the fifth 9-7 and the title.
GIRLS U19 – Hannah Cliff (Northumbria) bt Sarah Dowson (D&C) 3-0
Sarah Dowson made the final by beating fellew Durham player and number 1 seed Heather Graham 3-2.Hannah Cliff had to beat 2 Oswald sisters to progress first beating Anna and then Sarah in 2 tough matches. In the final despite spells of great play Dowson could never sustain it enough to take a game from the very steady Cliff, Cliff moved very well and didn’t miss when it counted, she won 3-0 and took the title back to Tynemouth.
BOYS U19 – Lewis Dougherty( Lancs) bt Richard Shellam (Northumbria 3-2
An event with some very gruelling matches! The semi final between Richard Shellam and Dan Ward the longest of them all. It was a repeat of the U17 final earlier in the year and was just as close. Ward started very well keeping the ball tight and forcing errors from Shellam, the first and second both went to Ward but were tough games physically. In the 3rd Shellam stepped up the court as Ward tired taking that game 9-2 . Ward gave it all he had in the 4th getting to 6-6 he had his chances but Shellam shut the door winning that one and the 5th making no mistakes when it counted. Meanwhile Dougherty beat number 2 seed Tom Boyle in the other semi 3-1. The final started at a high pace with Shellam setting it. Shellam took the first and had a big lead in the 2nd before Dougherty came back to pinch it 10-9. Shellam was by now tired and despite taking the 3rd he was always looking like his semi had taken too much out of him, Dougherty won the 4th and 5th with little resistance but lots of patience to win the match and tournament.
Plate Results
Boys u19 – winner Robin Crease (Isle of Man)
Runner up – Chris Clinton
Boys u15 – winner Owen Barrett (Manchester)
Runner up – Andrew Howes
Girls u19 winner – Anna Oswald
Runner up – Rachael Oswald
Girls u15 winner – Jane Oswald
Runner up – Charlotte Cooper
Mixed u11 winner – Greg Bojke
Runner up – Dan North
Many thanks go to sponsors STR Enterprises for their support and to Jim Douglas who ran a very enjoyable event.
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