The Dunlop English Junior Championships 2019 (EJC) came to a thrilling
climax in Hull today as ten juniors representing eight counties tasted
national success, with Essex’s Elise Lazarus capturing a record sixth
national title. Boys
Under 19 top seed Max Forster (N’bria) claimed his maiden national
title after overcoming second seed Lewis Anderson (Warks) 3-1. Forster
started the brighter of the two, clinching the first two games before
Anderson soon found his rhythm to clinch the third. Forster quickly
closed the door on a comeback and upped the ante to snatch the fourth
and the title winning: 11-9, 12-10, 9-11, 11-6
Forster said: “It feels great to win it. Lewis is a very tricky player
who has shots coming out from everywhere. Today I had the edge and
carried it through and won.”
It was an all-Essex affair in the Girls Under 19 final with top
seed Elise Lazarus and [2] Alice Green going head-to-head for the Steve
Hubbard Trophy. Green took control claiming the first, before Lazarus
replied to clinch the next three games and her record sixth championship
title: 9-11, 11-7, 12-10, 11-9.
The
18-year-old, who was playing in her last EJC said: “It feels amazing to
win it in my last year. I'm feeling quite emotional as I've played this
event so many times now and feel sad it's my last one."
Lancashire’s Saran Nghiem, the 3/4 seed who knocked out the top seed on
the way to the Girls Under 17 final, claimed her national maiden
title in style following a straight games victory over second seed Lydia
Robinson (Yorks): 11-3, 11-7, 12-10.
The Lancastrian said: "It's just surreal. I was pumped for the final
after beating the top seed yesterday. I played my best and it turned out
good."
Lincolnshire’s Ben Smith retained the Boys Under 17 title
following a convincing 3-0 victory over [2] Adam Goad (Cumb) winning:
11-5, 11-7, 11-7.
Smith said: "I came here hoping to retain the title and proved that I
could."
Yorkshire’s [2] Asia Harris dethroned Girls Under 15 defending
champion Torrie Malik in a topsy turvy four-setter that could have gone
either way winning 3-1: 10-12, 12-10, 15-13, 13-11.
An emotional Harris said: “It was a very hard match, it’s always close
between me and Torrie. It feels amazing to win.”
In the Boys Under 15 final, Sussex’s [1] Jonah Bryant claimed his
fourth championship title following a straight games victory over
British Junior Open Under 13 champion [5/8] Abd-Allah Eissa (Warks):
12-10, 11-9, 11-5.
Bryant said: "I’m really happy to win my fourth national title at 13.
Abd-Allah's improved a lot since last year's final - it was hard!"
Hampshire’s Alexander Broadbridge claimed his second national title in
the Boys Under 13 final following a clinical display against
second seed Harry Bloomfield (Glos), winning 3-0: 11-7, 11-5, 11-4.
Lancashire’s Charlie McCrone sensationally overpowered Girls Under 13
top seed Meha Shah (Warks) and claimed her second national title winning
3-1: 8-11, 11-8, 11-9, 11-7.
Commenting on her victory, the 11-year-old said: "It feels absolutely
amazing! I'm so happy. It all just clicked. There was no pressure going
in as number two seed. I was one-down, and Meha was playing absolutely
amazing and then it suddenly all clicked. I honestly didn't think I'd
come out with that result.”
In the Boys Under 11s, Warwickshire’s [5/8] Ismail Khahil
produced the biggest comeback of the day, coming from two games down to
edge top seed Dylan Kalar (Berks): 7-11, 10-12, 14-12, 11-6, 11-9.
Warwickshire’s [1] Mariam Eissa retained her Girls Under 11
national crown following a 3-0 victory over second seed Isabella Hutton
(Sussex) winning: 11-6, 11-3, 12-10.
Day twoof the Dunlop English
Junior Championships
in Hull saw all but one of the top seeds advance to the finals. Lancashire’s [3/4] Saran Nghiem caused the biggest upset of the day in
the Girls Under 17 semi-finals, toppling Hampshire top seed Maia Pannell
in straight games: 11-8, 11-9, 11-6. Nghiem will meet second seed Lydia
Robinson (Yorks) in the final who defeated [3/4] Amber Copley (Yorks)
3-1: 11-6, 11-3, 3-11, 11-5.
Boys Under 19 Boys Under 19 top seed Max Forster (N’bria) overcame a stern test
from Simon Herbert (Leics) winning 11-8, 11-7, 5-11, 11-8 to set up a
final showdown with second seed Lewis Anderson (Warks).
Girls Under 19 Girls Under 19 defending champion [1] Elise Lazarus (Essex) advanced
to her sixth championship final following a clinical display against
[3/4] Eve Coxon (Oxford): 11-9, 11-4, 11-2. Meanwhile, second seed Alice
Green (Essex) got the better of [3/4] Katie Maliff (Bucks), edging the
15-year-old in four, despite a slow start: 11-13, 12-10, 12-10, 11-8.
Boys Under 17 Defending champion Ben Smith (Lincs) overpowered [3/4] Hassan Khalil
(Warks) in straight games winning 11-5, 11-6, 11-5 to set up a final
showdown with [2] Adam Goad (Cumbria) - the 2019 Surrey Gold champion.
Boys Under 15 Top seed Jonah Bryant (Sussex) saw off a spirited challenge from
British National Under 13 champion [3/4] Yusuf Sheikh (Essex) winning:
11-3, 11-7, 10-12, 4-11. Bryant will meet British Junior Open Under 13
champion [5/8] Abd-Allah Eissa (Warks) in the final who edged second
seed Finnlay Withington (Lancs): 11-8, 11-6, 14-16, 11-8.
Girls Under 15 Top seed Torrie Malik (Sussex) remains on track to clinch her sixth
championship title after overcoming Amelie Haworth 3-0: 11-7,11-5,11-5.
The England No.1 will lock horns with Surrey Gold 2019 champion [2] Asia
Harris (Yorks) in what will be a repeat of the 2018 final in which Malik
triumphed.
Boys Under 13 The Boys Under 13 went according to seed with [1] Alexander
Broadbridge (Hants) booking his place in the final after dispatching
[3/4] Alex Banhidai (Essex) in straight games: 11-5, 11-5, 11-6.
Broadbridge, the Surrey Gold 2019 champion will meet [2] Harry
Bloomfield (Glos) in the final.
Girls Under 13 Top seed Meha Shah (Warks) advanced to the Girls Under 13 final
following a comprehensive 3-0 victory over [3/4] Megan Light (Hants) to
set up a final clash with former English Junior Under 11 champion and
Surrey Gold winner [2] Charlie McCrone (Lancs).
Boys Under 11 In the Boys Under 11 semi-finals, top seed Dylan Kalar (Berks) ended
the remarkable run of 17/32 seed Reuben Thain (Cambs), despite a stern
test, winning 11-7, 13-11, 11-8. Joining Kalar in the final is 5/8 seed
Ismail Khalil (Warks) who ousted second seed Jake Johnston (Surrey):
15-13, 11-5, 15-13.
Girls Under 11 Defending champion [1] Mariam Eissa (Warks) advanced to the Girls
Under 11 semi-finals after a comfortable 3-0 victory over [5/8] Bonnie
Elvin (Suffolk) 11-2, 11-5, 11-6 to set up a last-four showdown with
[3/4] Reka Kemecsei (Sussex) tomorrow. Meanwhile, 2019 Surrey Gold
champion [2] Isabella Hutton (Sussex) and Yorkshire’s [3/4] Fearne
Copley will contest the other semi-final.
