GUERNSEY juniors took the top three places in the under-17s section of the Credit Suisse Trust Junior Open at Beau Sejour. Winner was Henry Birch who beat Sam Shields in a tough five-set final. Ben Brehaut finished third.

Birch and Shields’ clash was by far the best match of the tournament as the former came from being 2-0 down to win 3-2.

Over 20 visiting competitors travelled to play in the open, some of which hold a single-figure ranking on the national circuit.

In the under-11s mixed section Issey Norman-Ross reached the final where she was beaten in straight sets by Mathew Mullen from Essex.

This was a very good match but Mullen proved too strong for Norman-Ross despite some close games.

It was an all-England final in the under-13 girls between Harriet Ingham and Emma Wardle.

Guernsey hope Natalie Dodd had lost to Wardle 3-1 during the earlier rounds and Dodd and Katie Simpson placed third and fourth respectively in this section.

In the under-15 girls, played as a round robin, the UK girls dominated once more.

Local player Katie Ozard placed fourth overall having lost to Wardle in a close four-setter. Earlier she had beaten Natalie Dodd 3-2.

Guernsey’s Sarah Hughes won the under-17 girls, beating Heather Latcham from Wales 3-0 in the final.

Hughes did not drop a game the whole weekend and director of island squash Peter Bridgeman said that despite having a quiet season, tainted by injuries, she has played very well and should continue to perform well next season.

Ozard finished fourth in the same competition.

England player Dave Wardle beat James Brehaut in the final of the under-13 boys’ event.

Their first game was fairly tight but Wardle seemed to have better tactics and pulled off the victory.

‘Brehaut was certainly good enough to beat his opponent,’ said Bridgeman, adding: ‘It just didn’t seem to go his way on the day.’

There was another UK victory in the under-15 boys’ event, with Michael Duke beating Richard Norton.