Glorious weather enabled the Grade 3 Great Missenden Open Junior Tournament to run for the week without disruption. With 266 players from all over the country, Kent, Cornwall, Jersey, Huntingdonshire and even Poland the tennis was of the highest quality with many local players featuring in the finals. Jack Haworth(Corby) son of Craig Haworth a former Gt Missenden and Bucks county player remained unbeaten in singles matches by winning both the U16 and U18 Singles events. In the morning in the U18 singles against James Gammell(Halton) Jack was always on the attack especially with his heavy left-handed outswinging forehand and James even though he produced some excellent retrieving was always on the back foot. Some erratic play by Jack and some excellent lobs by James allowed James to take the second set. However, Jack consolidated his game and dominated the 3rd set to win the contest 6 – 4, 3 – 6, 6 – 2. Jack’s afternoon match was another close encounter but this time against Kushal Kansagra(Milton Keynes). This game had a different rhythm to his earlier match and Jack found himself making unforced errors in the early part of the set and having difficulty with getting his first serve in court; but coming to the net helped him win the 1st set 7 – 6(3). Kushal was the more consistent player in the 2nd set so won it 6 - 3 and in the final set it was a see saw affair with Jack eventually serving and returning well to take the last 8 points in a row the set and the match 6-4.
The blue ribbon event, the Mens U21 Singles saw James Gammell (Halton) beat Tom Miller(Gt Missenden). Throughout the match both players struggled to win their serve but this was due to excellent service returns and good length ground strokes. There was little to choose between the two players with James winning 6 -4, 7 – 6 (0).
In the U14 Boys Singles Luke Purser (Win Tennis) beat Caleb Dyer (Letchlade) 7 – 5, 6 – 0. Caleb went off to a flying start going 3 – 0 up in the first set but as the set went on Luke became more consistent and with it more confident to take the set 7 -5. Once in the lead Luke didn’t look back and took the 2nd set 6 – 0.
The Boys U12 singles Joel While(Torquay) versus Oscar Glennister (Halton)was a see saw affair with long rallies in the first two sets, 6 – 3, 3 - 6 but in the 3rd set tie break Joel kept his nerve and whilst Oscar played confidently he became erratic thus Joel taking the final set 10 – 7.
Local player Ben Smith(GM) displayed his great promise in the Boys U10 final against another highly talented player Nathan Fernandez(Gosling). Ben an Orange 1 player had already beaten the No’s 3, 5 and 1 seeds to reach the final. Whilst Nathan won 4 – 0, 4 – 1the score did not reflect the quality of the match. Nathan hit his ground strokes to an excellent, consistent length and Ben was courageous and went for his shots and produced some excellent retrieving.
Mallika Sood(West Heath LTC) beat Lauren Webb (Gerrrards Cross) in a close Ladies U21 singles final 6 – 4, 7 – 6. Lauren played well in the 2nd set to come back from 1 – 5 down.
Tor Pisani (Halton) was unbeaten in the girl’s singles taking both the U18 and U16 titles. In the U18 event Tor beat Albina Yanko (Gosling) 7 – 5, 6 – 0. Both girls have strong serves although Tor had patches of serving double faults. However, she was the more consistent player and once the first set was over Albina’s head went down and Tor took the 2nd set easily. In the U16 final Tor having greater weight of shot beat in form Emily Arbuthnott (Batchwood). Earler in the day with her greater tournament experience and effective topspin Emily had comfortably beaten Annabel Westerman 6 – 1, 6 -1in the U14 final.
Another match where the score did not reflect the quality of the game was the Girl’s U12 final with Amelia Campbell (Langley) beating Larissa Gungah (Berkhamsted) 6 - 0, 6 - 2. Both players had forceful ground strokes but with Amelia showing a greater variety of play, producing angled drives and drop shots.
In the U10Girls final Essence Martin(WinX) showed her tremendous talent in beating Raia Jaggard(White Horse) 4 – 0, 4 – 0. Essence was quick around the court, hit forceful ground strokes and played every ball off the front foot.
New Events
This year the tournament introduced Under 9 and Under 8 singles events. These proved to be very popular and with an exceptionally high standard. In the U9 Angus Whittam (Halton) won through 5 rounds to beat Alistair Davies(Billericay TC) 7 – 1, 7 – 4. In the Under 8 event Miles Groom(Chesham Bois TC) Produces very entertaining tennis with a great variety of shots to beat Alexander Okonkwo (Maidenhead TC) 10 -
In the doubles events the U10Girls Monet Baptiste(Chiswic) and Essence Martins (WinX) beat Amy Allman(gosling) and Emily Honor(Stoney Stratford) 4 – 1, 4 – 1. This was an excellent match with both pairs volleying brilliantly, reading the game well and often intercepting shots at the net. The Men’s U21 doubles was an interesting and close affair with Stuart Pugh (Halton) and Daniel Lewis (Halton) versus James Blane(Halton ) and Owen Richards(Halton). With all four boys travelling down to the Torbay tournament together after the match; the contest was for the winners to have the cheapest hotel bedroom! Eventually Stuart and Daniel won 7- 5, 7 – 5!
The final match of the day saw Emily Arbuthnott and Harry Mabbitt(Dunstable) beat Ellie Muir(GM) and Tom Miller. Emily and Harry won the first set comfortably but with Tom hitting some hefty ground strokes and Ellie volleying superbly the match soon became 1 set all. Ellie and Tom raced to a 6 – 3 lead in the final set tie break only to see their lead disappear and Emily and Harry win the next 7 points and the match.
The Prizes were presented by Diane Wingfield of The Wingfield Building Company and in addition the tournament was sponsored by Edei, Gordon’s Builders Merchants, Grant and Stone and Wycombe Recycling. The tournament was refereed by Peter Greatorex.
Great Missenden Open Junior Tournament Results 2011
Singles
Mens U21 James Gammell (Halton) bt Tom Miller (Gt Missenden) 6 – 4, 7 – 6 (0)
Boys U18 Jack Haworth (Corby Tennis Centre) bt James Gammell (Halton) 6 – 4, 3 – 6, 6 - 2
Boys U16 Jack Haworth (Corby T C )bt Kushal Kansagara (Miltom KeynesTC) 7 – 6 (3), 3 -6, 6 – 4.
Boys U14 Luke Purser (Win Tennis) bt Caleb Dyer (Dukes Meadows Lechlade) 7 – 5, 6 - 0
Boys U12 Joel While (Leverton Williams) bt Oscar Glenister (Halton) 3 – 6, 6 – 3, 10 – 7
Boys U10 Nathan Fernandez (Gosling) bt Ben Smith (Gt Missenden) 4 – 0, 4 – 1.
Orange(U9) Angus Whittam(Halton) bt Alistair Davies(Billericay TC) 7 – 1, 7 – 4.
Red (U8) Miles Groom(Chesham Bois TC) bt Alexander Okonkwo (MaidenheadTC) 10 - 6
Ladies U21 Mallika Sood(West Heath LTC) bt Lauren Webb(Gerrards X Bull Lane) 6 – 4, 7 – 6( 7)
Ladies U18 Tor Pisani (Halton) bt Albina Yanko (Gosling) 7 – 6 (7), 6 - 0
Girls U16 Tor Pisani (Halton) bt Emily Arbuthnott (Batchwood) 6 – 3, 6 - 3
Girls U14 Emily Arbuthnott (Batchwood) bt Annabel Westermann (Halton) 6-1, 6-1
Girls U12 Amelia Campbell (Langley) bt Larissa Gungah (Berkhamsted) 6-0, 6-2
Girls U10 Essence Martins(WinX) bt Raia Jaggard(White Horse TC). 4- 0, 4 – 0.
Doubles
Mens U21 Stuart Pugh (Halton) and Daniel Lewis (Halton) bt James Blane(Halton ) and Owen Richards(Halton) 7- 5, 7 - 5
Ladies U21 NOT PLAYED
Mixed U21Harry Mabbitt(Dunstable) and Emily Arbuthnot(Batchwood)bt Tom Miller(GM) and Ellie Muir(GM) 6 - 2, 3 – 6, (10 – 6).
Boys U15 Alexander Fage (Halton) and Callum Mckinlay (Halton) bt Nathaniel Ballard(Harbour Club Chelsea) and Caleb Dyer(Dukes Meadow) 6 – 0, 6 - 1
Girls U15 NOT PLAYED
Mixed U15 Michael Turner (Gt. Missenden) and Emily Arbuthnott (ElleswickLTC)
Boys U12 Jack Cheal (Riverside LTC) and Oscar Glenister (Halton)bt Charlie Seddon and Darshan Shah 6 – 3, 6 – 2.
Girls U12 NOT PLAYED
Mixed U12 NOT PLAYED
Girls U10 Monet Baptist(Chiswick) and Essence Martin(WimX Connaught)bt Amy Allman(Gosling) and Emily Honor(Stoney Stratford) 4 – 1, 4 -1.
Boys Consolation Harry Osborne (GM) bt Chris Anderson(Esporta Sandhurst) 6 – 2, 6 - 2
Girls Consolation Brittany de Silva (David Lloyd Finchley) bt Sophie Russell(Halton) 6 – 1, 6 – 3
Boys U10 Consolation Aiden Varella(Grainville TC Jersey) bt Brendan Emmanuel (Moor Park)3 – 5, 4 – 1, 10 - 3
Girls U10 Consolation Alexandra Hilldrith(Dunstable) bt Amy Allman(Gosling) 4 -5 (7), 4 – 0, 4 - 2