Southend youngster Harry Kitchens has bagged bragging rights at home after beating his dad Dave in the ‘C’ final of the Hunts County Squash Club Racketball Open.
The father and son duo doubled up at the Cambridgeshire event entering two categories apiece. Harry, who finished third in the National U-13 Racketball Championships in March this year, went for the B and C events while Dave competed in the Over-50’s and the C event.
On paper, that may have sounded like a good idea but in reality it set the pair up for a grueling day’s racketball. Harry notched up eight best of three matches while Dave went one better playing nine. Harry performed well in the B event but came up against strong and experienced opposition. Dave meanwhile finished third in the over-50’s.
However, the C division saw the Kitchens carve their way through to the final where they eventually faced one another. With no hint of dad offering son an easy ride, the two players battered the life out of one another, competitiveness between them being fierce. Harry, aged 13, proved the stronger on the day winning 11-9, 14-12. Reports that Dave made Harry walk home proved untrue.
Harry is pictured above with club pro James Powley.