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Williams family double brings fitting end to junior squash season
A very special Williams family double act provided a fitting highlight to the final Norfolk Junior Squash Grand Prix of the 2010-11 season at EAT&SC, Norwich.
The Tournament, on July 17, was also notable for the arrival of a new crop of young female players, four group wins for the home club and six closely contested groups.
In group 1, Alex Williams, playing in his last Grand Prix, was eager to go out on a high, and Adam Sinkins was equally determined to confirm his position at the top of the Grand Prix Rankings. These two duly made it through to the final, but not before the improving Jake Bond had put in a great performance in losing 7/11,11/9,11/8,11/7 to Alex.
Having already won an impressive five Grand Prix this season, Adam started as favorite, but right from the start Alex was clearly focused on the task and contested every point with total commitment and took the first game 11/8. Further long and hard fought rallies continued in the second game which went right to the wire, with Alex again clinching the crucial points to take the game 13/11 and lead 2-0. Amazingly the pace and commitment continued throughout the third game in which Adam saved match balls to win 14/12, and recover to go 1-2 down. With the match looking to swing Adam's way, Alex's determination and will power increased to give every point his total focus. Pushing Adam to all four corners of the court and using his great reach, power and touch to great effect. He was not to be denied and clinched the match 11/8,13/11,12/14,11/8 for a hugely deserved Grand Prix victory.
The match was a great advert for Norfolk Junior Squash, and if our juniors can continue to demonstrate this level of effort, commitment and sportsmanship in the future, the future looks bright indeed. Martin Jolley confirmed his progression with a highest ever 4 th place finish, and David Gorrod also enjoyed two competitive matches in his first appearance in the top group.
Group 1 Final Placings:
- Alex Wlliams (EAT&SC)
- Adam Sinkins (Fakenham)
- Jake Bond (Bannatynes)
- Martin Jolley (King's Lynn)
- Giles Evans (Barnham Broom)
- David Gorrod (Bannatynes)
Group 2 produced the second EAT&SC group winner when Izaak Butler justified his top seeding and produced wins over Ailish Reeson (3-0), Sam Henden (3-1) and Robby Coates (3-0). One of the best performances of the Tournament came from 10-year-old Sam McCluskey who, after losing narrowly to Robby Coates, over-powered Liam Bond 11/5,11/5,11/4 and then stepped up to another lever altogether to overcome Jesse Baker 12/10,9/11,12/10,11/9 to confirm his all round squash improvement. He also provided the most hilarious incident of the day. After losing hold of his racket after clattering it against the side wall, he found himself in the frustration position of then having to play the next shot with no racket. His natural instinct was to run straight to the ball and carry on the rally with a left foot volley. Fortunately for the marker, and his opponent, his footballing skills did not quite match up to his squash skills, and he hit his shot down. Sympathetic laughter and warm applause followed, but his competitive nature and enjoyment for the sport were there for all to see.
Group 2 Final Placings:
- Izaak Butler (EAT&SC)
- Robby Coates (EAT&SC)
- Sam Henden (Broadland)
- Prakrit Kumar (EAT&SC)
- Sam McCluskey (Harleston)
- Jesse Baker (Wymondham Leisure)
- Ailish Reeson (Barnham Broom)
- Liam Bond (Bannatynes)
Lucy-Ann Williams stepped in as a late replacement for Bonnie Butler and like her brother was also determined to put in a good performance. After two comfortable wins she found herself well behind in the third game of her final to the steadily improving Ryan Stringer. She was then however, able to put together a string of points to pinch the third game 13/11, and follow this with a convincing 11/4 scoreline in the fourth game to clinch the match and the group. So the Williams' double was complete and EAT&SC had their third group win.
Group 3 Final Placings:
- Lucy-Ann Williams (EAT&SC)
- Ryan Stringer (Potters)
- Liam Mooney (EAT&SC)
- Daniel Heffer
- Joshua Hall (Oasis)
- Claire Jolley (King's Lynn )
- Charlie Simpson (EAT&SC)
- Verity Kelly (EAT&SC)
With no EAT&SC players in group 4, an alternative destination for the trophy was assured. The exact winner was not however, decided until the very end of the final match in the group. Jake Sheard (Fakenham) had had two very comfortable wins in making the final, and was looking as if he should have been playing in a higher group. On the other hand, Lloyd Potter from Harleston had narrowly beaten Spencer Muddel 6/11,11/8,11/7 to make the final. Lloyd started the stronger though, and took the first game convincingly 11/4. From this point on it was anyone's match and the scores swung back and forth until Lloyd was delighted to clinch the match 11/4,8/11,11/9,7/11,11/9, and provide further well deserved recognition to Ben Jackson and the Junior Squash Club at Harleston.
Group 4 Final Placings:
- Lloyd Potter (Harleston)
- Jake Sheard (Fakenham)
- Bronwyn Moxey (Broadland)
- Spencer Muddel (Broadland)
- Ollie Farmer (Harleston)
- Sami Wright (Broadland)
- Thomas Holland (Barnham Broom)
- Emily McCluskey (Harleston)
Five Broadland players competed in group 5 against two from EAT&SC and one from Fakenham.
James Peterson (seeded 8) was over the moon with his first round win against the No.1 seed Robert Thirst (Boadland), before going on to enjoy the longest match of the group against Jedd Scott (Broadland) for 3 rd /4 th position. Jedd won 15/13,9/11,11/9,7/11,11/5 with both boys thoroughly enjoying their day's squash. The surprise package of the group was however, seven-year-old Joseph Henden. Having recently stepped up to a full size racket he was enjoying his newly found power and reach. This was enough to give him straight game wins over Harry Stiles and James Peterson and take the first game 11/9 in the Final against the older Bradley Nobbs. Bradley proved one step too far for Joseph and was able to gain the upper hand and record a well deserved 9/11,11/9,11/7,11/7 group win.
Group 5 Final Placing:
- Bradley Nobbs (Fakenham)
- Joe Henden (Broadland)
- Jedd Scott (Broadland)
- James Peterson (EAT&SC)
- Amberly MacKenzie (EAT&SC)
- Harry Stiles (Broadland)
- Robert Thirst (Broadland)
- Patrick Bird (Broadland)
The other success story of the day was the first time appearances of four young ladies from Reepham Squash Club and one from EAT&SC, who were competing against three other young players who have only recently started their squash tournament careers. The eight players concerned provided a fantastically close series of matches with 8 of the 12 matches going down to the deciding game.
The five debutants all acquitted themselves well with two of them making the group's Final. Rebekah Elphick (EAT&SC) who had recovered from 1-0 down to win her semi-final 9/11,11/4,11/7 against Lydia Gotts-Woolner (Broadland), and Mae Betts (Reepham) who had done like wise with a 3/11,12/10,11/8 comeback against Kye McCort-Hall (Broadland). The Final series of matches for all positions proved to be equally close and exciting, and all deserve special mention
Final Placings:
Final Rebekah Elphick beat Mae Betts 11/3,11/3,9/11,6/11,11/5.
3rd/4th Kye McCort-Hall beat Lydia Gotts-Woolner 11/6,11/7,8/11,9/11,11/4.
5th/6th Jemenie Machonochie(Reepham) beat Ranya Kumar(EAT&SC) 7/11,11/4,11/4,4/11,11/4 and
7th/8th Ursula Langley (Reepham) beat Imogen Langley(Reepham) 9/11,11/9,11/8,11/9
With the County and Regional Closed Tournaments coming up in September, both of which carry National Ranking points) before the Grand Prix Series recommences later in the year, it is hoped that all of Norfolk's jniors will enter these events to continue their enjoyment and development, and at the same time help to promote squash in Norfolk.
Thanks to EAT&SC for hosting the event and to David Youngs and Izaak Butler for their tournament organization.
Tony Henden
NJS Tournament Director
The top three from Group 1, Jake Bond, Alex Williams and Adam Sinkins
Family double: Alex and Lucy-Ann Williams with their winners trophies
