Archive News
Final Norfolk squash grand prix goes out west
The final Norfolk Junior Squash Grand Prix of the season took place at King's Lynn and Fakenham on July 20 with Bradley Garrett returning to winning ways in Group 1.
Over 40 players contested the Grand Prix, held for the first time ever at Pulse 8, College of West Anglia, King's Lynn, as well as at Fakenham Squash Club.
GROUP 1
Group 1, played at King's Lynn, lasted all day with some very exciting close matches. The second round of matches found Alex Foster (Cromer), Harry Taylor (Outwell) and Bradley Garrett (UEA) all fighting for the last Grand Prix win of the season. The group was very closely contested with results chopping and changing but the quality of squash was of a high standard and enjoyable to watch. As the 2nd round of matches were again played in a round robin format there was to be no final and all results counted for final placings.
The 1st match saw a comfortable 3-0 win for Bradley against Alex (11-7, 11-8, 11-8) but shortly after Alex recovered from 2-0 down against Harry to record a 5-11, 7-11, 11-8, 11-8, 11-6 win. Meanwhile other placings were also being fought hard for with the ever-improving Jordan Creed recording wins over both Tom Belshaw and Alex Oliver while Rhodri Oliver played well and recorded two good wins to finish 7th.
Another tremendous 3-2 match was contested between Sophie Hodges and Adam Sinkins for 8th place with Adam coming out the victor 11-7, 5-11, 11-5, 5-11, 11-6. The last match of the day was between Bradley and Harry who were fighting for the top spot. Again this was another outstanding game of squash with the winner of group 1 being Bradley (4-11, 11-9, 12-10, 14-12).
GROUP 1. FINAL PLACINGS:- 1. Bradley Garrett 2. Alex Foster (Cromer) 3. Harry Taylor (Outwell) 4. Jordan Creed (Bannatynes) 5. Alex Oliver (Greshams/Cromer) 6. Tom Belshaw (East Anglia ) 7. Rhodri Oliver (Greshams/Cromer) 8. Adam Sinkins (Fakenham) 9. Sophie Hodges (Reepham).
GROUP 2
Group 2 was a really strong group with some exciting squash being played. Round 1 went according to the seedings and the top three went through as winners. The 2nd round saw some tough games with Alex Coburn winning both his matches 3-1 and 3-2 to finish 7th. 8th place was contested between Lewis Sturman and Robert Davis with Lewis edging a 3-2 win.
The match of the group would have to be between Leyton James and Jamie Foyster with Jamie coming out on top winning 11-8, 13-15, 7-11, 11-7, 11-7. Great game boys! Daniel Roberts had a good day and finished 6th. The top three spots were contested between Jenny Hodges, Connor Doy and Joe Groom with Connor finishing in top spot with wins over both Jenny and Joe.
GROUP 2. FINAL PLACINGS:- 1. Connor Doy (Fakenham) 2. Jenny Hodges (Reepham) 3. Joe Groom (Fak) 4. Jamie Foyster (East Anglia) 5. Leyton James (Fak) 6. Daniel Roberts (Barnham Broom) 7. Alex Coburn (Barnham Broom) 8. Lewis Sturman (Fak) 9. Robert Davis (Barnham Broom).
Groups 3, 4, 5 & 6 were played at Fakenham and included two completely separate incidents which highlighted two extremely important aspects of junior squash play.
Firstly, in a tremendous Group 3 match, Ollie Bacon-Hilton had worked his way to match point at 10-9 in the fifth set against William Henden, and served a hard flat serve which was too hot for William to handle. Unfortunately for Ollie, the serve had just clipped the service line and was called down giving William a reprieve. With all Junior matches now using American (point per rally) scoring, this tied the match at 2-2, 10-10, and William was able to serve out the match for a lucky but nonetheless well-deserved victory. So make sure you serve in, especially at match point, is the moral of this story.
Secondly, in the final match of Group 4 between Giles Evans and Milo Butler, with both players playing their best squash to date, Giles looked set to square the match at 2-2 when he accidentally struck Milo full in the face with his racket. Milo's protective goggles caught the full force of the racket head, causing cuts and severe bruising above and below his left eye.
Although these types of incident are rare, it emphasizes the importance of not only wearing goggles, but goggles that comply to the British Standard, and have lenses covering the eye. Had this not been the case there is no telling what damage might have been to Milo's left eye. Moral of this story, make sure you are wearing your goggles in all junior match situations.
Elsewhere, William went on to clinch Group 3 in another exhausting five-game thriller against Sam Lanham. Jake Bond won Group 4 for his second group win in a row, and will be rewarded with some stiffer competition next time out. Philip Davis was at long last able to gain his first group win, but was made to work every step of the way by Jade Spalding, Liam Mooney and Jessica Arneil with all three matches going to the deciding game. In contrast Group 6 saw newcomer Jack Barter, making a first ever appearance from a Premier Rackets Junior, make a comfortable start to his Grand Prix career by claiming the group win without dropping a game.
FINAL PLACINGS
Group 3
1. William Henden (EAT&SC), 2 Sam Lanham (F), 3. Ollie Bacon-Hilton (F), 4. Josh Brownlow (H), 5. Sam Henden (EAT&SC), 6. Alex Green (H).
Group 4
1. Jake Bond (Ban), 2. Giles Evans (BB), 3. Milo Butler (EAT&SC), 4. Daniel Foyster (EAT&SC), 5. Izaak Butler (EAT&SC), 6. Jack Andrews (H).
Group 5
1. Philip Davis (BB), 2. Liam Mooney (EAT&SC), 3. Jessica Arneil (Ban), 4. Rebecca Samuel (Bec), 5. Jade Spalding (F).
Group 6
1. Jack Barter (Premier Rackets, Sedgeford), 2. Alice Fuller (Ban), 3. Danie Fuller (Ban), 4. Toby Bennett (Ban), 5. Liam Bond (Ban), 6. Lydia Brownlow (H).
P.S. I am happy to report that Milo made a prompt and full recovery from his incident and Ollie handled his defeat with great sportsmanship accepting the call made by his clubmate without question.
