REPORT BY DAVID HARRIS
Bishops Stortford Squash and Racketball Club staged round three of the Essex Junior Squash Grand Prix series on Sunday, an event designed to provide competition for the next generation of young players.
Aimed at youngsters who have yet to wear county colours, the Grand Prix competition is being staged over six months at five different venues with points from each event counting towards an overall total.
A record number of entrants for GP3 meant the schedule included a total of 88 matches to be played in the 6 hours available. Thanks to some pro-active management by the EJS Committee, all games were completed earlier than scheduled.
The girls’ Year 10 and Under was a very competitive affair, as in Lexden, with the four girls from Woodford Wells, Mary Kate Lavery, Isabelle Locke, Anna Bantock and Catherine Lilyanagama battling it out for the GP win. For the second GP in succession, Mary Kate emerged victorious but the gap to the other girls is closing fast with Mary Kate dropping games to the other girls.
The girls’ Year 8 and Under category was contested hotly by two new players to the GP series. Henna Kaur Ranu taking the honours with Daisy Newton from Mersea finishing runner up.
The girls’ Year 6 category and Under was boosted by new entrants from Woodford Wells and Mersea squash clubs. Seven youngsters battled it out in this exciting group with two young rising Essex stars battling for the win. In the deciding match Brooke Smith (main picture) defeated Alice Lindsay 10/12 11/5 11/4 to clinch the group by 1 point.
In the Boys’ Year 6 and Under category 14 entries meant the group had to be split into two. New players from Mersea, Connaught, OTWS and Bishops Stortford Squash Clubs boosted this highly competitive and exciting age group and as the day progressed, it was obvious both group were going to the wire.
In the Red Group, the ever-improving talent that is Oliver Harris from OTWS clinched the win by 2 points over nearest rivals Sebastian Waugh from WW and Benjamin Kelling-Reis from Bishops Stortford. The key battles being Oliver’s 18-16 11-8 victory over Sebastian which was followed up with a 11/3 3/11 11/3 win over Benjamin.
In the Blue Group, an ever closer finish saw Charlie Broad from Kingswood pip Daniel Caton from Woodford Wells by a single point. Their group match proving to be the difference with Charlie winning 11/8 8/11 11/3 earlier in the day.
In the Boys’ Year 8 and under category, local lad Bastian Kelling-Reis) (pictured right) from Bishops Stortford won the group in his first appearance in the series. He won this group with victories over Fin Guest (11/1 11/3) and Joshua Lambert (11/1 11/2), new entrants from Mersea Squash Club.
The Boys Year 10 and Under category turned into a battle between the current Year 10 series leader, Luke Woolridge and new boy, Edward Brown from Brentwood School. Both Luke and Edward had taken maximum points leading up to their clash late in the day for what would be a group decider. Edward played some high quality length shots to the back of the court, continually putting Luke under pressure and as the game progressed this pressure told with Edward winning the match 11-5 11-7 and the group by 2 points.
The next round sees the EJS Grand Prix move to Woodford Wells on Sunday 19th April. Entry can be completed online at www.essexjuniorsquash.com
GRAND PRIX 3 RESULTS
Girls Year 6 and Under
1st Brooke Smith, 2nd Alice Lindsay, 3rd Olivia Broderick
Girls Year 8 and Under
1st Henna Kaur Ranu, 2nd Daisy Newton
Girls Year 10 and Under
1st Mary-Kate Lavery, 2nd Anna Bantock, 3rd Isabelle Locke
Boys Year 6 and Under – RED Group
1st Oliver Harris, 2nd Sebastian Waugh, 3rd Benjamin Kelling-Reis
Boys Year 6 and Under BLUE Group
1st Charlie Broad, 2nd Daniel Caton, 3rd Ross Jordan
Boys Year 8 and Under
1st Bastian Kelling-Reis, 2nd Fin Guest, 3rd Joshua Lambert
Boys Year 10 and Under
1st Edward Brown, 2nd Luke Woolridge
