Alex Banhidai leads Essex trophy charge at Bishops Stortford

ESSEX players were out in force at this year’s Tom Elton Barratt Junior Squash Championships at Bishops Storford on Sunday collecting a hatful of trophies.

Alex Banhidai, who trains at Stortford but plays for Essex, was in convincing form in the boys’ Under-11’s coming through the field unscathed to finish in top spot. He is pictured above collecting his trophy from Katie Singer, Tom Elton Barratt’s sister.

Connaught’s Renitha Srindan maintained her fine form of late by winning the U-11 girls. Lara Newton pushed her hard and finished second.

JOSEPH BLACKMUR collects his Under-19 trophy from Katie Singer

Colchester’s Tim Bacon edged out Edward Wheeler to take the U-15 trophy and that was followed by a cracking match between two Essex team-mates, Joseph Blackmur (right) and Aaron Allpress in the U-19’s. Aaron, England U-17 ranked 11, started favourite and opened a healthy lead in the first game. But a valiant fightback from 9-2 saw Joseph take the game 11-9.

Aaron bagged the second 11-8 but it was another tightly contested affair. The decider was equally tense with Kingswood’s Joseph eventually taking the honours 11-9 in a performance that belied his U-17 ranking of 27.

The Essex winners’ list was completed by Connaught’s Aliza Sheikh who pipped Lucy Cox to the U-13 girls’ trophy.

The event, superbly run as ever by Andrew Mulvey and his team at Storford, was a one-day bronze which attracted 56 players from nine counties. Part of the entry fee plus donations were given to the CRY charity www.c-r-y.org.uk

WINNERS:

BU11 Winner, Alex Banhidai, (Runner Up, Edward Mason)
BU13 Winner, Tom Dean, (Runner Up, Caleb Boy)
BU15 Winner, Tim Bacon, (Runner Up, Edward Wheeler
BU19 Winner, Joseph Blackmur, (Runner Up, Aaron Allpress)