Penzance Tennis Club was the venue for the ‘Bolitho School’ Junior Open Tennis Tournament from 16th to 22nd August 2009. This year the Lawn Tennis Association upgraded the Tournament to Grade 3 Accreditation. This attracted a much larger entry than in many previous years, with a corresponding higher standard of play. With over one hundred and fifty entries, players arrived in Penzance from the Midlands, Yorkshire, Lancashire, Essex, Kent, Worcestershire and London together with a twenty-two strong contingent from Ivybridge. Also local clubs such as Bodmin, Truro, Newquay and Falmouth were well represented.
With such a strong entry, it was feared that Penzance players would find the increased standard difficult to claim much success. This was, however, not always the case.
The first day was given over mainly to the under 9 and under 10 events. In the under 9 mixed singles, Penzance player, Tim Rutherford, only recently promoted to this event, won one of the round-robin sections, but lost in the semi-final to Daniel Hocking; Daniel losing to the eventual winner, Elliot Riley, in the final.
Oshi Leverton (Bodmin) beat Ciaran Newman (4-1, 4-2) to win the boys under 10 competition and Ellie White claimed the girls’ event.
By Wednesday, with the more senior events well under way, there was a break for the 8 and under mixed singles to be decided and success came to a Penzance player. With an unbeaten record to get to the final, Tim Rutherford again played Daniel Hocking but this time in the final. Reversing the result of their previous match in the under 9 event, Tim won 10-5 to take the title.
As the other events progressed it was necessary to use the courts at the Bolitho School for the consolation events. Chairman of Penzance Tennis Club, Bob Ratcliffe, stated, ‘I have attended many of the consolation events this week to oversee play, and found the standard in these events as good, if not better, than the main event last year’. David and Natalie Ward, parents from Kent, reported that they thought it was a great idea that the organisers had provided consolation events. Their son, Elliot, beaten in an earlier round, was able to play for the rest of the week, thus extending their ‘tennis holiday’ and gaining Elliot valued experience.
As finals day approached it became clear that Penzance players had provided stiff opposition in many of the events, particularly the girls. Though both beaten in the singles event, the doubles team of Sarah Arnold and Imogen Harry convincingly outplayed two girls from the Millfield School Academy in the semi-final of the 18 and under girls’ doubles and overwhelmed Stephanie Ellmer and Charlotte Sandy 6-0, 6-0 in the final.
In the 12 and under girl’s singles though Penzance’s Amy Johns beat the top seed she narrowly lost to Elaine Whittaker in the final 6-2; 7-5. Stepping up to the next age group Amy, though unseeded, reached the semi-final without dropping a set. Showing maturity beyond her age, Amy then beat the number 2 seed, Joanna Kondratowicz in three sets in the semi-final and Jaonna’s twin sister, Monika Kondratowicz, the top seed, 6-2; 6-4 in the final.
In the final event of the afternoon Amy and her partner Rebecca Ley beat the Kondratowicz twins by default. In the presentation that followed Amy also received the Most Improved Penzance Player Award (Girls) to complete a most successful week.
Other Penzance successes belonged to Emily Wicks (Penzance) who partnered Adam West (Ivybridge) in winning the 18 and under mixed doubles; Daphne Luke (Penzance) won the 18 and under girls’ consolation and Kieran Walsh, though runner-up in the 18 and under boys’ consolation was presented with the Most Improved Penzance Player Award (Boys).
Hayley Marshall from Codsall in Staffordshire, was to be applauded; having taken the under 16 girls’ title she then became the under 18 girls’ champion. In both finals she beat Mia Loye from Ivybridge. Mia, however, during the presentation ceremony, was awarded Most Improved Player (Girls).
Oskar Wynne, from Devon, narrowly beat Adam West to win the Boy’s 16 and Under title but found the power of Roy Knight (Bodmin) too strong in the 18 and Under Boy’s Singles. Roy won 6-2,6-3. The 18 and Under Boy’s Doubles went to Adam West and Ben West.
A comprehensive list of all the main event results follows;
18 and Under Boys’ Singles
Roy Knight bt Oskar Wynne 6-2,6-3.
18 and Under Boys’ Singles Consolation
Rhys Dunford bt Kieran Walsh 6-2,6-1.
18 and Under Girls’ Singles
Hayley Marshall bt Mia Loye 6-4,6-3.
18 and Under Girls’ Singles Consolation
Daphne Luke bt Charlotte Sandy 6-4, 0-6,1-0(1).
18 and Under Boys’ Doubles
Adam West and Ben West bt Jason Colmer and Ryan Colmer 7-5,6-1.
18 and Under Girls’ Doubles
Sarah Arnold and Imogen Harry bt Stephanie Ellmer and Charlotte Sandy 6-0, 6-0.
18 and Under Mixed Doubles
Emily Wicks and Adam West bt Imogen Harry and Roy Knight 6-3, 6-3.
16 and Under Boys’ Singles
Oskar Wynne bt Adam West 7-6(2), 7-5.
16 and Under Boys’ Singles Consolation
Bill Donaldson bt Conor Polyblank 6-1,6-2.
16 and Under Girls’ Singles
Hayley Marshall bt Mia Loye 6-2, 6-1.
16 and Under Girls’ Singles Consolation
Monika Kondratowicz bt Sunny Parker
14 and Under Boys’ Singles
Jared Linzell bt Ben Ward 7-5, 2-6,7-6(7).
14 and Under Boys’ Singles Consolation
Emerson Styles bt James Wood 6-4,6-2.
14 and Under Girls’ Singles
Amy Johns bt Monika Kondratowicz 6-2,6-4.
14 and Under Girls’ Singles Consolation
Ella Riddle bt India Rojano 6-0,6-1.
14 and Under Boys’ Doubles
Dillon Hart and Ben Ward bt Lewis Parker and Emerson Styles 6-0, 6-0.
14 and Under Girls’ Doubles
Amy Johns and Rebecca Ley bt Joanna Kondratowicz and Monika Kondratowicz 4-4(Retired).
14 and Under Mixed Doubles
Lola Randles and Ben Ward bt Hester Luke and Dillon Hart 6-0,6-3.
12 and Under Boys’ Singles
Erik Wilson bt Jac Davies 7-5,6-1.
12 and Under Boys’ Singles Consolation
Mark Rushton-Woods bt Kristian Newman 7-6(4),6-2.
12 and Under Girls’ Singles
Elaine Whittaker bt Amy Johns 6-2,7-5.
With the prize giving coming to a close Penzance Tennis Club believed it necessary to award prizes where true sportsmanship had been demonstrated. The prizes had been donated, very generously, by Mr. Graham Johns and were awarded to Sunny Parker, Erik Wilson, Lola Randles and Oskar Wynne.
Penzance Tennis Club would like to thank their main sponsor – The Bolitho School, the Tournament Referee, Mrs Sue Eames and a special thanks to Mrs. Lesley Harry, the Chair of the Junior Tournament Committee, whose quality of work and dedication led to the huge success of the Tournament.