Essex’s Elise Lazarus captured an amazing fourth British Junior Closed title on Sunday after powering through the Tecnifibre Championships in Manchester without dropping a single game.
The 14-year-old from Redbridge Squash Club (pictured above second right) added a second U15 title to the two U13 crowns that she already held producing some imperious squash. Karina Tyma, the 3/4 seed from Avon, did well to reach the final, knocking out no.2 seed Ellen Cooper (Yorkshire) on her way, but found England ranked No.1 Elise a hurdle too far and was beaten 3/0 in 28 minutes.
It was an amazing performance by Elise, who has played very little competitive squash over the past year. Despite a curtailed programme, she looked focussed and sharpe beating Lowri Waugh (Northumbria), Kiera Marshall (Worcs), Laura Neill (Northumbria) and Gloucester’s Carys Jones on the way to the final.
Essex also came away with a third place spot thanks to Owain Taylor who performed superbly in the Under-19’s. Representing Wales, Owain (pictured left) was involved is one of the tournament’s most brutal and entertaining matches, a punishing 86-minute 3-2 third round win over Kent’s Bradley Masters. Sadly, that physical challenge took it’s toll on Owain, who was unable to repeat the feat in the semi final against eventual winner George Parker.
However, he still had one final win in the locker taking out number two seed Conor Sheen of Merseyside 3-0 in the third-fourth play off.
Ellie Hewes lived up to her Under-13 seeding finishing seventh while Alice Green finished a creditable 9th in the Under-15’s and Ollie Green 13th in the Under-13’s.
Leicestershire’s top seed George Parker was formidable throughout, winning the Don Sanderson Trophy without dropping a game to add to the U17 trophy he lifted in 2012. Patrick Rooney, of Merseyside, gave his all in the final, but was unable to trouble the favourite, who triumphed 11-7 11-4 11-4 in 27 minutes.
In contrast, Kent’s Georgina Kennedy had to work much harder to win the girls’ trophy, as she came back from 2/1 down to defeat top seed Lily Taylor, of Leicestershire. It was Kennedy’s third national title, following her successes at U17 level in 2012 and U15 in 2011.
This year’s U17 trophies went to Hampshire’s Kyle Finch, last year’s U15 champion, and Kent’s Amelia Henley, the defending champion.
Finch justified his position as top seed in his section by winning the final 3/1 against 5/8 seed Charlie Lee (Surrey), who had upset second seed Robbie Keefe (Hampshire) and 3/4 seed Harry Falconer (Lincolnshire), both 3/2 in a combined 185 minutes. He also pushed Finch in the final, winning the first game, but Finch hit back to claim the next three, including a crucial third 13-11, and triumph after 60 minutes.
GEORGE PARKER powers to victory against Patrick Rooney
Meanwhile, Henley comfortably retained her trophy with a 3/0 win over Mari Taylor (Leicestershire) in the final, after Taylor had surprised second seed Elin Harlow (Wales) in the semi-finals.
The U15 boys’ titles wea won by Yorkshire’s Nick Wall, his first national crown. He had a fantastic run to the final, not losing a game, but then he was tested by no.2 seed Jared Carter (Hampshire). Wall edged the first 13-11 and also won the second, before Carter fought back to take the third, only for Wall to rally and win the fourth 11-6 and the match after 36 minutes.
Yorkshire’s Sam Todd and Wales’ Layna Beattie are the U13 champions, with Todd atoning for last year’s final heartache.
He faced second seed Adam Goad (Cumbria) in the final and was too strong and determined from the start, taking the first 11-6 and powering through the second 11-3. Goad put up more opposition in the third, but Todd still won it 11-8 and with it his first British title.
Meanwhile, Beattie reached the girls’ final after beating top seed Lucinda Cross (Durham & Cleveland) 3/1 in the semi-finals and then despatched second seed Margot Prow (Middlesex) 3/0 in 24 minutes in the final.
Essex Amy Aspinall had plenty to smile about, despite not reaching the latter stages of the Under-15 event. She met up up top England star and former world number one James Willstrop who took time out to pose for a picture with the young Essex player, along with his dad, top coach Malcolm Willstrop. Here they are pictured together.