EIGHT Essex juniors head for the Edgbaston Priory Junior Open Silver this weekend carrying hope and form into the event following the action of last weekend’s Essex Junior Closed.
Here, Dave Kitchens runs the rule over the draw and offers some insight into what’s in store for our players. Dave will also be reporting from the event so watch out for his words next week.
Boys U13;
Ollie Green – Seeded 1
Joel Braddock – Seeded 5/8
Both lads appear to have straightforward matches into the last 16 (Full Monrad), with a potential Quarter Final match up as they are in the same section of the draw. It will be a repeat of Sunday’s Essex Junior Closed final which was extremely close, despite the 3-0 scoreline in Ollie’s favour.
Boys U15
Harry Kitchens – Unseeded but drawn against a 9/16 seed in Dan Haggerty, a lad that Harry has a winning head to head record against. Still a tough match, but a chance of an upset and getting into the last 16 against the 3/4 seed Nathan Mead , a previous National U13 finalist. Harry’s in good form right now so if he gets a chance against Mead he may cause him problems.
Sujan Srindran is unseeded and has a testing opening match against 3-4 seed Ben Sockett.
Boys U17
Aaron Allpress – Seeded 5/8 and unbelievably is draw again against Jack Newey whom he lost to at the recent Devon & Exeter Silver, so chance of an immediate re-match and to reverse that disappointment which he will relish.
Girls U15
Ellie Hughes – Seeded 9/16 and has a bye straight into the last 16 and Monrad, much to the delight of Dad Andrew. She is on a major winning streak with The Welsh Open U13 and Essex County Closed U13 back to back. Can she make it three in a row ?
Amy Aspinal – Unseeded and drawn against a 5/8 seed Lydia Robinson which will be a test for Amy, but she is playing well and could cause an upset.
Girls U17
Alice Green – Stepping up an age category to U17 and seeded 9/16 which should be straightforward for her, and potentially a path that leads to another match up (semi) with her great adversary Jasmine Hutton and the chance of a result reversal from Devon & Exeter.