DAVE KITCHENS REPORTS
Essex junior stalwarts Harry Kitchens and Renitha Srindran led the way triumphantly at the recent Redbridge Junior Open.
In the boys’ U15 event Harry, who was playing for the first time in almost a fortnight after picking up a niggling injury at regional training and then recovering from a heavy cold, was seriously feeling the effects in his first match. Looking and playing like he should really still be in bed, he soon found himself facing three match balls and looking down the barrel of a straight game upset defeat.
But from there, he dragged himself back from the brink in that match and soon found himself in the final. By now playing some disciplined and error free squash he won a tight 2-1 match to run out the winner. From match balls down to winning the event – not a bad effort young man.
Young Renitha in the girls’ U11 event is showing real promise at such a young age, played her matches with her usual happy demeanour – does she ever stop smiling? But, behind that cheeky smile hides a real competitor who just does not give up.
Chasing down absolutely every ball that she could, coupled with deft touches at the front of the court at the right times, resulted in her making her final with comparative ease. Renitha is not the Essex County U11 champion for no reason and just had too much for her opponent in the final to take the title. A pleasing result for her coaches, including Redbridge’s Dave Lazarus who also helps Harry.
Following Renitha on the other side of the girls’ U11 draw, and quietly progressing to her place in the final was another girl from Essex, Lara Newton. She played some great matches to reach the final of her event, applying herself well and with great determination but in the end just did not have enough for her more experienced opponent. She should though, be proud of herself and runner up finish.
In the boys’ U13’s, Zaid Mushtaq, one of the rising star’s out of the Connaught Club under the tutelage of coach Dave Webster, put together an impressive run of victories playing intelligent squash throughout. Showing great athleticism he is becoming known for and together with deadly accuracy at the front of the court he progressed through to the final. Sadly though, that was where it would end for him, as in that match he could not quite keep up the level of his previous rounds but a great runner up all the same.
The girls’ U13 saw Brooke Smith managing to work and battle her way through to the final of her event with some steady squash and trying to keep the errors down to a minimum, so important at this level. Her efforts did not go unrewarded and while she eventually found herself in the final she just could not get over the line to win it. But another great runner-up result for Essex.
Not to be out done on the finals front, the ever improving Amy Aspinall, coached by Lexden’s Paul Allen, in the girls U15 is making a name for herself as a real battler. Under the guidance of Paul, she is showing a maturity in her game that is beginning to shine through, and so it did as she made her way through her draw to take her deserved place in the final.
But, unfortunately that was where it was to end for Amy, as she just let a few too many errors creep into her final match that she could not recover from. Despite her determined efforts and never say die attitude she had to settle for runner-up. Still, a great effort.
Other Essex Placings
Boys U11 – Celeb Belcher 5th, Daniel Caton 6th, Armaan Sattar 7th, Oliver Harris 8th,
Arjan Kingra 9th , Abhinav Basak 10th , Max Newton 11th.
Boys U13 – Stanley Sykes 3rd , Neelan Gupta 5th.
Boys U15 – Brandon Higgins-Pearce 2nd Plate, Max Chilver 3rd Plate, Alfie Breese 4th Plate.
Boys U19 – Joe Blackmur 3rd, Elise Lazarus 7th, Rob Pearson 9th, Jamie Carroll 10th.
Girls U13 – Daisy Newton 3rd.
in preparation for the imminent British Junior Open, Elise Lazarus entered herself into the Boys U19 event. If the other boys thought they were in for a straightforward match they were mistaken and they certainly had to bring their A game, which is a compliment to Elise’s considerable talent. In the end she finished in a very credible 7th place.
Tournament organiser Dave Lazarus, ably assisted by Essex Junior Squash committee member Steve Aspinall, ran a very efficient one-day tournament. The matches were played in great spirit, competitive but fair fashion and a great time was had by all. Well done everyone.
HARRY
RENITHA
AMY
ZAID