Dorset once gain had a host of representatives in the Junior Nationals held at Roehampton and the West Hants Club throughout August 2011. There were a number of performances of note during the three week program of national’s championships, but the number of players participating in main draw and qualifying programs is a great testament to the high quality work done by the coaches and clubs of Dorset.
Harry Butler, coached by James Pankhurst at West Hants, won through 3 matches in the U12 Qualifying draw knocking out the 8th seed in the process, Julian Robinson 7-6 6-1. After taking his place in the main draw he came up against Jack Molloy of Buckinghamshire losing in two tight sets 7-5 6-3. Losing in the first round of the main draw allowed him a place in the consolation draw, where he made the final beating Julian Lewis of Kent and local Dorset rival Ben Patten. He eventually went down 5-4 5-4 to Ruairidh Fraser from the North of Scotland in the consolation final.
Another notable performance came form Adam Watson who, as number one seed in the qualifying draw for the U18 won through two matches comfortably to make the main draw. Watson beat David Wright of Essex in straight sets before overcoming Adam Glynn (Dorset), after losing the first set 4-6 6-2 6-2. Watson then went on to win his opening round in the main draw against Alexander Gasson of Hants and Isle of Wight 6-4 6-4. He eventually succumbed in the last 16 of the main draw losing against the number 1 seed, Luke Bambridge 6-2 2-6 6-1. Bambridge eventually went to the final of the event. Losing 6-4 6-1 to unseeded player from Buckinghamshire Toby Martin.
Other qualifiers into the main draw events during the week came in the shape of Dan Gilbert of Southbourne tennis club who qualified into the U16 Nationals main draw and Josef Dodridge who qualified for the main draw in the same event.
For a full summary of individuals and progress can be found by age group below: -
U9 (Orange) Events
- Toby Samuel – Won consolation of Main Draw B in invitational U9 boys invitational orange event.
U12 Events
- Mischa Hobbs – 1st Round Qualification Draw of U12 Girls Singles
- Natalie Carter – 2nd Round Qualification Draw U12 Girls Singles
- Freddie Powell - 1st Round Qualification Draw U12 Boys
- Finlay Bygrave – 2nd Round Qualification Draw U12 Boys
- Harry Butler – Won through 3 matches in qualification draw and lost in 1st round in 2 tough sets and then lost in final of main draw consolation U12 Boys Singles
- Ben Patten – Main Draw round 1 and semi finals on consolation of main draw in the U12 Singles.
U14 Events
- Ellie Baker 2nd Round Qualifying U14 girls singles.
- Anna Battersby 1st Round Qualifying U14 girls singles
- Jessica Mendoza Lewis 1st Round Qualifying U14 girls singles
- Piers Farhang 2nd Round Qualifying U14 Boys Singles
U16 Events
- Hannah Gamage 1st Round Qualifying U16 Girls Singles
- Joseph Dodridge – Won through 2 matches in qualifying and lost in 1st Round Main Draw U16 Boys Singles.
- Ryan Frankel – 2nd Round Qualifying U16 Singles
- Daniel Gilbert – Won through 2 matches in qualifying and lost in 1st Round Main Draw U16 Boys Singles
- Adam Glynn – Main Draw Round 1 U16 Boys Singles.
U18 Events
Adam Watson – No 1 Seed in qualifying of U18 boys wining two matches to make main draw losing in 2nd Round to No 1 seed
- Adam Glynn – 2nd Round Qualifying U18 Boys Singles
- Tim Prosser – 1st Round Qualifying U18 Boys Singles
- Piers Herfet Jones – 1st Round Main Draw U18 Boys Singles
For full results of the Dorset players in the AEGON Junior Nationals Pleas click
http://www.lta.org.uk/players-parents/Competition/AEGON-Junior-Nationals/Draws-and-Results/