REPORT BY DAVE KITCHENS
BROTHER and sister Yusef and Eliza Sheikh pulled off a family double at the recent Redbridge Junior Squash Open, sponsored by Complete Waterproofing Service Ltd.
The event attracted a field of 80 and was run on a Monrad basis ensuring every junior played at least five matches. Because the format was best of three games, matches came round thick and fast.
Entries came from far and wide and amazingly all trophies were collected by the Home Counties. More importantly, from an Essex point of view, Yusuf and Aliza from Connaught led the way as they won the Boys’ U11 and Girls’ U13 respectively. Fantastic effort from both.
The other age group winners were;
Tom Dean from Kent won the U13 Boys.
Joe Baines-Dawson from Middlesex won the U15 Boys.
Abigail Wilkinson from Middlesex won the U15 Girls.
Margot Prow from Middlesex won the U17 Girls.
Torrie Malik from Sussex won the U19 Girls.
JAMES WYATT
James Wyatt from Surrey, who was an absolute class act, won the U19 Boys.
However, it has to be said that notwithstanding all the Essex contingent who gave it everything they had there were a number of standout performances and while not winning their respective events I feel their performances deserve to be mentioned;
Elli Barrott had a great tournament making the final of the Girls’ U15. I saw all of her final against Abigail Wilkinson, which ebbed and flowed with some great rallies. Elli had her chances to take home the silverware but she was squeezed out in three very tight games. She was very hard on herself afterwards but she shouldn’t have been as she left it all on court and you cannot ask more than that. A runner-up performance to be proud of young lady. Well done.
Other notable placings;
Alex Banhidai – 3rd Boys U11.
Edward Mason – 4th Boys U11.
Stanley Sykes – 3rd Boys U13.
Also, in the absence of a Boys U17 event, Essex had two ‘senior’ competitors that had to step up to the plate and play in the U19 event, Charlie Martin and Harry Kitchens. Bearing in mind both lads have only just turned 15 and were primarily up against opponents at the top of the 17 age group in terms of their age or were bonefide U19 players, they gave a great account of themselves and each of their opponents new they had to bring their ‘A’ game to get past them. Some didn’t.
Very credibly Charlie had a finishing place of 6th and Harry was 7th.
Well done to all of the Essex players and well done to organiser Dave Lazarus who did a great job.