Jack Tacon won the under-15 boys’ title after winning the deciding game against Lewis Stubington 9-0 in a match lasting more than an hour. (Picture by Adrian Miller, 0485104)
FIVE home players claimed titles as the Credit Suisse Guernsey Junior Open saw more than 40 taking part in an England Squash bronze sanctioned event, and also competing for UK ranking points.
There were 12 UK ranked players participating in a very strong event, 11 having travelled from the UK to compete against Sarnians. Jamie Brouard took his first title in the very close under-11 event, beating Brent Oldfield 3-0 and Jack Turvey 3-1.
The under-13 boys event saw James Durbin, who travelled from Yorkshire, comfortably beat Sarnians Jacques Scowen and Charles Stenner. Stenner put up a brave fight in the final, although he was unable to match the skill and determination of the visitor. Durbin is ranked 28 in the UK and his presence at the tournament gave the Guernsey players a target to aim for over the summer.
The girls’ under-15 saw four of the eight from the UK. The final saw UK number 28, Elizabeth Ashworth from Kent, take on number 30, Katherine Jensen, of Guernsey.
Jensen started the match well and gave Ashworth a real run for her money, narrowly losing the first game 9-7.
The second ended in the same scoreline after Jensen had rattled her opponent into some unforced errors before Ashworth regrouped and regained her control.
It was now a mountain to climb for the home player who, despite giving 100%, faded towards the end of the match and lost the third game 9-4.
The under-15 boys’ category was the closest.
Favourite was top seed Jack Tacon, Guernsey, closely followed by UK rival Lewis Stubington.
Also in contention for the title was Harry Martel, who has beaten both in their most recent encounters.
This event was played on a league basis so that all players had to play each other.
In the first round Martel, who had not been well, took on Stubington, and although he put up a brave fight, unfortunately he was not at his best and went down 3-1.
In the second round matches Martel looked a lot sharper and took on an in-form Tacon.
In an excellent display of court craft and determination, both players entertained a large viewing gallery, with the top seed going on to win the match 3-1.
‘This match was a real credit to the standard of squash that both players are displaying at the moment,’ said organiser and coach Martin Watts.
The deciding match between the top two seeds lasted more than an hour and with two different styles of play – Stubington’s skill and attacking shots against Tacon’s retrieving ability – it was thoroughly entertaining.
The match swayed back and forth and needed a fifth game to decide the outcome.
A tight game was expected, but in front of his home crowd, Tacon produced his best squash of the weekend and did not let his opponent in as he took it 9-0.
James Brehaut comfortably won the under-17 boys event, once again showing his talent and natural ability, winning all his matches for the loss of only a few points.
Charlie Bailey, who is ranked 55 in the UK, had moved up an age group and was, unfortunately, no match for Brehaut.
The other Sarnians in the category struggled to impress, but the next best placed, Zak Parsons, finished fourth.
‘A real eye opener for the Guernsey players in this age group and a real incentive to get their skates on,’ said Watts.
The girls’ under-17 and -19 events were combined to allow players to have more matches over the weekend, although prizes were awarded for separate age groups.
In the younger category, Issey Norman-Ross beat Catherine Finlayson, of Hampshire, 3-0 in a display of determined squash. She closed her opponent out and did not allow her to play.
Natalie Dodd, in the under-19s, started slowly against Francesca Ritchie, ranked 29, from Surrey, and seemed surprised by her opponent’s determination.
The Guernsey girl ranked 16 had to call on her experience from previous tournaments to fight for the second game, coming back from behind to snatch the game 10-8.
That was a crucial time in the match, giving Dodd the confidence to go on and play to her potential and pressure Ritchie into making mistakes.
Article posted on 29th May, 2008 - 2.29pm
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