The third and final day of the Dunlop British Junior Championships 2018
saw 10 players crowned across seven English counties as the junior
tournament in Nottingham drew to a close for another year.
Winning
performances from Scotland’s Georgia Adderley and Ireland’s Denis Gilevskiy also ensured that their respective countries topped the podium
on one of the most prestigious tournaments on the junior squash circuit.
The top two seeds from each age category dominated each of the finals –
with Lewis Anderson and Emma Bartley the only third-seeds to contest for
silverware on the final day of the competition.
And it was Warwickshire’s Anderson, last year’s BU17 champion, who
pushed Yorkshire’s Nick Wall all the way in a five-game epic in the
BU19, before the Yorkshireman secured his maiden BU19 title.
Wall recovered a two-game deficit – and defied a resurgent Anderson – to
secure an 11-8, 8-11, 9-11, 11-3, 11-9 victory in his second appearance
in as many years in the age-grade final.
The result saw Wall justify his top seeding in the tournament – and walk
away with the title after finishing runner-up in last year’s tournament.
“I
didn’t play my finest squash but I was happy that I still managed to get
the win,” said Wall.
“It means a lot to win the Don Sanderson and I’m happy that I could gain
my third British title in a match where I was behind and not playing my
best, but managed to dig in and get the win.”
Essex’s Alice Green was denied the GU19 title by Scotland’s [2] Adderley,
who added to her GU17 crown last year with an 11-4, 11-8, 5-11, 11-7
triumph over top seed Green.
“I’m really happy to win my second BJC title and overall, I’m really
pleased with how the event went,” said Adderley.
“It was a good match today and I managed to deal with the pressure Alice
was putting me under well.
“It was really great to have so much support and can’t wait for next
year.”
Elsewhere, last year’s BU15 champion Sam Todd showed little trouble in
transitioning up a category in the BU17 draw, the Yorkshire teenager
securing a comprehensive 11-2, 11-9, 11-9 victory over Lincolnshire’s
[2] Ben Smith. Todd said:
“It was great to win another British Championships without conceding a
game.”
“I’m pleased on my performance throughout the tournament.”
Meanwhile, Middlesex’s [2] Margot Prow stormed to the GU17 title after
beating top seed Maia Pannell (Hamps) in straight games, recording a
13-11, 11-7, 11-7 win.
Ireland's Denis Gilevskiy powered to an enthralling five-game triumph
over Sussex’s Jonah Bryant in the BU15.
The Irishman defied a comeback from a valiant Bryant to secure a 12-10,
11-5, 9-11, 8-11, 11-9 win.
And Sussex’s [2] Torrie Malik tasted victory in the GU17 after
overcoming Sulfolk’s [3] Emma Bartley 11-6 11-3 11-7.
Yusuf Sheikh took the BU13 title after battling from two games down to
overpower third seed Abd-Allah Eissa (Warks) in a five-game thriller.
Essex’s Sheikh recovered a two-game deficit after going down 12-14, 5-11
to win three consecutive games 11-7, 11-9, 11-5 and secure his maiden
BJC crown.
In the GU13, second seed Amelie Haworth added to the English junior
title she won in March with an impressive win over current England
number one and the tournament’s top seed, Meha Shah (Warks).
The result sees Hampshire hitter Howarth power to her maiden British
title, after securing an 11-7, 11-1, 11-9 victory.
Surrey’s Ronnie Hickling claimed the BU11 title with an 11-3, 11-9, 11-5
win over Berkshire’s [2] Dylan Kalar, while second seed Mariam Eissa (Warks)
was victorious in the GU11 final, edging out top seed Emily Coucher-Porter
11-9, 8-11, 11-7, 11-1 to take home her first title.
Final results
B11: [1] Ronnie Hickling 3-0 Dylan Kalar 11-3, 11-9, 11-5
G11: [2] Mariam Eissa 3-1 [1] Emily Coulcher-Porter 11-9, 8-11, 11-7,
11-1
B13: [1] Yusuf Sheikh 3-2 Abd-Allah Eissa 12-14, 5-11, 11-7, 11-9, 11-5
G13: [1] Amelia Haworth 3-0 [2] Meha Shah 11-7, 11-1, 11-9
B15: [1] Denis Gilevskiy 3-2 [2] Jonah Bryant 12-10, 11-5, 9-11, 8-11,
11-9
G15: [2] Torrie Malik 3-0 Emma Bartley 11-6, 11-3, 11-7
B17: [1] Sam Todd 3-0 [2] Ben Smith 11-2, 11-9, 11-9
G17: [2] Margot Prow 3-0 [1] Maia Pannell 13-11, 11-7, 11-6
B19: [1] Nick Wall 3-0 Lewis Anderson 11-8, 8-11, 9-11, 11-3, 11-9
G19: [2] Georgia Adderley 3-1 [1] Alice Green 11-4, 11-8, 5-11, 11-7
Alice
Green took a step closer to securing her third British Junior
Championship title as the Essex player stormed into the GU19 of the
tournament – where she will face Scotland’s Georgia Adderley.
The final showdown in the GU19 will be a repeat of last year’s GU17
final, which saw Adderley victorious.
Top seed Green defeated [3/4] seed Eve Coxon in straight sets (11-4 11-8
11-9) on the second day of the championships in Nottingham, while
Adderley overcame a stern challenge from [3/4] Katie Wells (Lincs).
“I’m really pleased to be through to the final against Georgia
tomorrow,” said Green, speaking after her match.
“It was my first time playing on this glass court but I felt comfortable
and in control.
“I’m looking forward to the final and I would be very proud to become
British Champion.”
The BU19 final looks set to be an entertaining encounter between last
year’s BU17 champion, [3/4] Lewis Anderson (Warks), who overcame second
seed Jared Carter (Hamps).
Anderson
will be up against top seed and favourite Nick Wall (Yorks), after the
Sheffield hitter saw off Alasdair Prott to earn revenge over losing to
the talented Scottish player in what was a repeat of last year’s BU19
final.
“It’s always tough against Jared,” said Anderson, who was pleased with
his composure on the court.
“He is a very solid player physically and mentally and is hard to break
down.
“I knew against him that I had to keep my discipline and keep errors to
a minimum because otherwise he would have a very good chance of beating
me.
“I had to be mentally very strong because I have never beaten him so he
always has that psychological edge.
“Nick and I have only ever played once I think as under-11’s, so I can’t
really remember it. It is going to be a very tough game for me as he is
very strong around the middle.”
Speaking after the semi-final, Wall was pleased with how he executed his
game plan and is relishing the chance to have another shot at the BU19
title.
“I feel like I played well and exactly how I wanted to against Alasdair
and played a controlled game where he was doing most of the work,” he
said.
“I’m happy with how I’m playing and feeling good going into the final
against Lewis.
“He’s somebody who I haven’t played very much but I think it will be an
entertaining match and interesting to play as we are both lefties.
“I’m very hungry to win the title this year after falling short in the
final last year.”
In the GU17, top seed Maia Pannell (Hamps) powered to victory over [5]
Lauren Robinson (Yorks) to set up a final clash with second seed Margot
Prow (Middx).
Meanwhile Yorkshire’s Sam Todd has the opportunity to clinch the BU17
crown at the first time of asking after the top seed overpowered a
valiant [11] Franklyn Smith (Sussex).
Todd will face third seed Max Forster (Northumbria), who saw off second
seed Ben Smith (Lincs).
The biggest shock of the day came in the GU15 as Suffolk’s [3] Emma
Bartley overcame determined top seed Asia Harris in a five-game thriller
(9-11 11-7 7-11 11-9 11-7) to seal her place in the last two.
Third seed Bartley will lock horns with Sussex’s [2] Torie Malik, who
defeated [4] Saran Nghiem (Lancs) in straight games.
“It was a tough five-gamer but it was good to win,” said a relieved
Bartley.
“I feel confident going into the final. I haven’t played Torie in a
while so it will be a good match.
“Hopefully I can play as well as I did today.”
Meanwhile, Denis Gilevskiy is one win away from adding to the BU13 title
he secured last year after the Irishman stormed into the BU15 final
after overcoming [6] Thomas Ramsay (Cambs).
Standing in Gilevskiy’s way will be second seed Jonah Bryant (Sussex),
who overcame Finnlay Withington (Lancs) in straight games.
In the GU13, it will be another battle between the top two seeds as [1]
Meha Shah (Warks) will face [2] Amelie Howarth (Hamps) face each other
for the title.
In the BU13, third seed Abd-Allah Eissa (Warks) knocked out second seed
Alexander Broadbridge (Hamps) in straight games (11-2 11-2 11-6) to set
up a last-two clash with top seed Yusuf Sheikh (Essex), who overcame
Merseyside’s [4] Cory Harding.
A stage behind the other draws in the GU11, [7] Isabella Hutton (Sussex)
and top seed Emily Coucher-Porter (Oxford) will go head-to-head in the
first semi-final, while Jaspeet-Kour Nahal (Yorks) will face [2] Mariam
Eissa (Warks) in the other.
And in the BU11, top seed Ronnie Hickling (Surrey) faces [4] Jake
Johnston in an all-Surrey semi-final clash, while [3] George Griffiths (Hamps)
will challenge Berkshire’s [2] Dylan Kalar for a place in the final.
Yorkshire’s
Nick Wall powered into the Boys Under 19s quarter-final of the Dunlop
British Junior Championships (BJC) as the three-day event saw lift-off
across Nottingham.
The 18-year-old from Sheffield overcame [20] Jack Mitterer (Kent) 11-5,
11-8, 11-7 to book his place in the last eight, where he will face
Welshman [9] Lewis Poole.
The result means top seed Wall remains on course to amend the BU19
heartache he suffered at last year’s tournament, when he finished
runner-up to Tom Walsh (Sussex) at Manchester’s National Squash Centre.
And following his straight-game victory, the teenager is relishing the
opportunity to do battle with Poole in an intriguing first match-up
between the pair.
“It’s good to get a match under my belt and I’m happy to get a three-nil
win – it’s always nice to get that in the first round,” said English
Junior BU19 champion Wall.
“I’ve tried to keep it quite light this week so I’m fresh going into the
tournament.
“I’m feeling confident going into the quarters, I’m playing well.
“I haven’t played Lewis before as he’s from Wales.
“You can never take any match for granted especially in the under-19s as
everyone’s so physical, which can make it quite close.”
Wall's triumph was an exciting glimpse of the hot crop of home talent
gracing the junior circuit – some of whom are already impressing on the
senior stage.
Elsewhere in the BU19, Wall’s fellow Yorkshireman [5] Ben Sockett also
booked his place in the last eight, where he will face last year’s BU17
champion, [3/4] Lewis Anderson (Warks).
Fourth seed Alasdair Prott – one of three Scots to be left in draw –
will lock horns with [6] Joshua Owen (Warks) while [30] Kai Bentick (Middx)
faces [18] Samuel Gibbon (Durham & Cleve).
In the GU19, two-time BJC winner and top seed Alice Green (Essex)
cruised into the last eight after overcoming [16] Megan Thomas (Hamps)
11-4, 11-5, 11-7 to tee up a tie with [18] Brieanna Boo Burki (Surrey).
“It’s always an enjoyable game against Megan and I’m now looking forward
to my match tomorrow,” said 17-year-old Green, whose successful year on
the court has seen her chalk up an impressive PSA ranking of 122.
“I feel confident in my preparation for this tournament and hopefully
this will show in my upcoming games.”
It is a strong quarter-final showing from Essex players, with [25] Amy
Aspinall, [29] India Webb, [26] Piper-Rose Tatum all progressing.
But hot on Green’s heels is Scotland’s [2] Georgia Adderley, who saw off
[15] Phoebe Colman (Surrey) to draw Ireland’s [7] Sophie O’Rourke in the
last eight.
Meanwhile,
Yorkshire’s Sam Todd marked his debut in the BU17 with a straight-game
victory over Sion Evans (Wales), to later dispatch Daniel Haggarty (Warks)
in three and set up a quarter-final showdown with Scot [8] Andrew Glen.
“I felt very comfortable during my match and kept my consistency
throughout,” said Todd.
“I’m feeling very confident going into the quarters and I’m hoping for a
good performance.
“My preparation has been the best I could hope for, with good support
along the way.”
The two-time BJC winner will be joined by [11] Franklyn Smith (Sussex),
who faces [4] Adam Goad (Cumbria).
Sixth seed Hassan Khalil (Warks) will do battle with [3] Max Forster (Nbria)
and [29] Toby Ponting (Hamps) will face [31] Billy Miles, among the
other last-eight matches.
In the GU17, [1] Maia Pannell (Hants) safely progressed to play Scot [7]
Lucy Murchie, while second seed Margot Prow (Middx) will face [11] Amy
Pullen (Bucks).
Intriguingly, players from a total of 11 different English counties will
feature in the GU17 last eight – a testament to the wealth of talent
across the country.
In the BU15, Ireland's Denis Gilevskiy [1] remains on course to earn
consecutive BJC silverware, with the European number one cruising into
the last eight, where he will meet Welshman [7] Lewis Daniel.
Second seed Jonah Bryant [2] faces [10] Ashley Hughes in a crunch
all-Sussex encounter, while [4] Finlay Withington and [5] Ben Beachill
will battle it out in a Lancashire-Yorkshire contest.
The GU15 will see top seed Asia Harris take on [8] Layla Johnson in an
all-Yorkshire tie, while [2] Torrie Malik (Sussex) will play [6] Amy
Royle, also of Yorkshire.
Meanwhile, Torrie’s younger brother [5] Bailey safely progressed to face
top seed Yusuf Sheik (Essex) in the BU13 while the top GU13 seed,
Hampshire’s Amelie Haworth, will face Scot [7] Robyn McAlpine.
And a year on after it was introduced at the BJC, there were no major
upsets in the Boys Under 11s, with top seed Ronnie Hickling (Surrey)
safely progressing through.
The
finest juniors from across Britain will compete at the 2018 edition of
the Dunlop British Junior Championships with former champions Nick Wall
and Alice Green headlining the boys and girls Under 19 draws
respectively from 26-28 October in Nottingham after the draws were
revealed today.
The three-day event, now established as one of the biggest domestic
junior tournaments on the British circuit, will see players as young as
eight battling across ten categories at the University of Nottingham,
Nottingham Squash Rackets Club and Duffield Squash Club.
Two-time
champion Nick Wall (Yorks) tops a hotly contested Boys Under 19 draw and
is seeded to lock horns with England No.1 and second seed Jared Carter
(Hants) in the title decider in what could be a repeat of the Boys Under
17 final two years ago in which Wall prevailed. Looking to challenge the
top seeds is last year’s Boys Under 17 champion [3/4] Lewis Anderson (Warks),
the current Dutch Junior Open 2018 Under 19 champion.
Two-time champion [1] Alice Green (Essex) and [2] Georgia Adderley
(Scot) are seeded to meet in the Girls Under 19 final in what could be a
repeat of last year’s Girls Under 17 final which saw Adderley emerge
victorious. Hot on their heels will be 15-year-old Katie Malliff
(Bucks), seeded 3/4 who sensationally overpowered Green in the Girls
Under 17 final of the English Junior Championships (EJC) back in March.
Last year’s Boys Under 15 champion Sam Todd (Yorks) moves up to the
Under 17 category and tops the draw. Challenging the two-time British
Junior Open (BJO) champion and looking to clinch his first British
National title is second seed Ben Smith (Lincs) - the current England
number one and EJC Boys Under 17 champion. Meanwhile, [3] Max Forster (Northd),
the 2016 British National Boys Under 15 champion will be lying in wait
and looking to upset the proceedings.
In the Girls Under 17 category, [1] Maia Pannell (Hants) is in prime
position to take the title but will face stiff competition from [2]
Margot Prow (Middx) who has overcome Pannell in all previous
head-to-heads.
The Boys Under 15s looks set to be a fierce affair between the current
European number one [1] Denis Gilevskiy (Ire) - winner of the BJO Boys
Under 13 2017 title, and second seed Jonah Bryant (Sussex), the current
Boys Under 13 BJO champion.
In what promises to be a hotly contested draw, the Girls Under 15 sees
[1] Asia Harris (Yorks) seeded to lock horns with [2] Torrie Malik
(Sussex) - the current European number one. September’s South West Gold
event saw Harris sensationally edge Malik in the Girls Under 15 final
and exact her revenge after falling to her back in March at the English
Junior Championships final.
Hot favourite to claim the Boys Under 13s is last year’s runner-up [1]
Yusuf Sheikh (Essex), the current England number one. Sheikh is likely
to face a titanic challenge from 3/4 seed Abd-Allah Eissa (Warks) – the
European number one, current Dutch Junior Open and South West Gold Under
13 champion, as well as Hampshire’s [2] Alexander Broadbridge, a former
English Junior Under 11 champion.
Girls Under 13 top seed Amelie Haworth (Hants) will be looking to clinch
her first British maiden title after claiming the EJC Girls Under 13
title in March. However, South West Gold 2018 champion [2] Meha Shah (Warks)
– the current England No.1 will be looking to mount a challenge
alongside Welsh No.1 [3] Ellie Breach.
If all goes to seeding, the Boys Under 11 title decider could be a
repeat of last month’s South West Gold final with [1] Ronnie Hinkling
(Surrey) and [2] Dylan Kylar (Berks) set to do battle once again - where
Hinkling, the current England number one triumphed.
England number one Emily Coulcher-Porter (Oxon) tops the Girls Under 11s
draw and is seeded to meet second seed Mariam Eissa (Warks) in what
could be another thrilling showdown. Last month saw Coulcher-Porter edge
Eissa, the current English Junior Under 11 champion in five in
September’s South West Gold final.
Main draw action starts at 9am on Friday 26th October. Finals are
scheduled for Sunday 28th October on the all-glass show court at the
University of Nottingham. All spectators wishing to see the best of
British are welcome free of charge.
