Tuesday 15 June 2010
The write up of the Eon Media Humber Junior Closed are now in and available for you to view. Photos will appear shortly...
Following the hugely successful Allam Humber junior squash open event Hull and East Riding squash club hosted the 3rd Humber junior closed tournament sponsored by Eon Visual Media Ltd, this weekend.
The event attracted 60 juniors (50 last year) over the Saturday and Sunday from the Humber area covering the East Riding of Yorkshire, Hull and North & East Lincs, all competing for to be the Humber's finest at their respective age group. The event attracted players competing in the Under 9, 11, 13.15,17and 19 age groups. The under 9 and under 19 being new age groups this year.
The opening rounds of the under 9 boys were hotly contested seeing Zac Toes (David Lloyd), Matthew Harding (Total Fitness), Jacob Earles(Hull and East Riding) and Jack Cone (Total Fitness) reaching the semis. Zac and Jacob ended up in the final. Zac seemed to like taking his games to the wire, a set down in his final 3 matches, again didn't disappoint the crowd winning 2-1 with Jacob (6years old) making a valiant comeback just falling short in the final set.
The girls under 9s saw and vastly improved Satarra Thacker upset the favourites finishing second behind Lydia Robinson. Lydia won all her games demonstrating a great flare around the court.
The boys Under 11 had James Crowther from Hull & ER as hot favourite in his last year in this age group. He contested the final against the much improved fellow club member Thomas Earles(Hull&ER). James bowed out of the U11s with the title and now sets his sights on the U 13s.
The girls U11final was a much awaited contested between training partners Aisha Forster (Hull & ER/ Anlaby) and Sarah Findlay (Hull & ER) the reigning Allam open U11 champion. Aisha was the favourite but Sarah started the better winning the first set with some determined squash. Aisha rattled by this fought hard to level 1-1. The important 3rd set was again closely contested going to Aisha, which gave her the confidence to pip Sarah in the 4th set to win a great final 3-1. Aisha's first tournament win.
Under 13 girls had a very strong entry. England ranked players in both groups. The games did not disappoint the big crowd with local girl Zoe Kaiser (Hull & ER/ Anlaby) winning a great semi against Lucy Soulby (AF/ David Lloyd) both girls playing some spectacular squash. Zoe was joined in the final by Lucy's elder sister Millie (AF/ David Lloyd) who was pushed all the way by Hornsea's Charlotte Fish. Charlotte now concentrating more on her squash as her main sport showed great athleticism losing 3-1.
The final on the show court was won by Millie 3-0 holding off a spirited fight by Zoe in the 3rd. Millie's title hatrick.
The boy's under 13 was always looking to be a head to head with local national stars Ben Robinson (David LLoyd) and Yusef Forster (Hull and East Riding/ Anlaby)). The tension was apparent when the boys walked on court, Ben being the number 1 seed after recently pipping Yusef in a ranking event. Yusef was extremely focussed on the day and started extremely well with strong quality squash. Ben never gave up but could not rattle Yusef's focus for the trophy, Yusef winning a great contest 3-0.
In the boys under 15s early rounds went as seeded. A close semi was fought out between Alex Dunn (Hull & ER) and James Robinson (David Lloyd). The game was always on a knife edge going down to the wire with both boys desperate to have a shot at the hot favourite Nathan Kaiser (Hull & ER/Anlaby) in the final. Alex eventually won 3-2. Alex and Nathan contested the final and although Alex played great attacking squash it was Nathan's speed and experience that got him the title 3-0.
There was an girls under 15 event which saw Jessie Clutterbrook (Total Fitness) still new to the game but vastly improved take on Kacey Henderson (Hull and East Riding). Kacey's power was too much on the day for Jessie taking the title 3-0.
The boys under 17 event was a very strong contest. The early games were played as a round robin with the number 1 and 2 playing a final on the show court. The top 2 were the strongest boys Matty Craven (Hull and East Riding) and David Hardy (Ferriby). The boys both wanted this title and started with very determined squash. David's long reach and consistent game eventually wore Matty's enthusiasm down. David winning 3-0.
The final age group was the under 19s. This proved an incredible close event. 2 groups with top England ranked players Sam Haycock (Grimsby) Charlotte Kirkwood (AF/David Lloyd) and Farouk Forster (Hull and East Riding/Anlaby). The semi went to plan but not after Alex Griffiths (Ferriby) gave Farouk a huge battle. Farouk 2-1 down and 9-5 down in the 4th somehow dug himself out to win a fantastic contest 15-13 in the fifth.
The semis did not disappoint the audience. Farouk again involved in another great match with Charlotte Kirkwood. This time Charlotte was 2-1 down with Farouk looking very strong and favourite to win. Charlotte, England no 7 and runner up last year produced some startling squash to take the semi 11-9 in the 5th. The other semi saw Anlaby's Andrew Stretton put in a great performance to push favourite and holder Sam Haycock. Sam winning 3-1. The final a repeat of last year saw Charlotte play a superb match, playing at the top of her game. Sam was taken by surprise and tried all he knew to rock Charlotte out of her zone. The 3rd was always going to determine the outcome as Sam's game started to come together. Charlotte new she had to win this set to secure the title. This she did winning a great contest 3-0.
Other notable efforts went to James Rudge (Total Fitness) beating Owain King (Hull & ER) in the under 13 boys plate final, Matthew Fish (Hornsea) winning the under 15 plate final against Matthew McDonnell (Hull & ER).
Eon also awarded 2 trophies for fair play on the day. These were awarded to David Hardy and Matthew Fish for the sporting conduct during the event.
The whole event proved a great success with top players from the area contesting the trophies. We also saw new stars of the future in the under 9s.
