Pictured are Peter Odegbami Winner and Lee Allen Runner Up and with Jamie Willson Team Captain, are Winner David Wright and Runner Up Harry Randle. Another most successful Senior Men’s – 18U Junior Spring Singles Tournament was run at Redbridge Sports Centre over the weekend of the 13th/14th April 2013. The event was well received by both Senior and Junior Players alike. The Senior Players determined not to be beaten by their Junior counterparts. The Junior Players equally determined to prove a point or two by competing to their highest playing levels against their more experienced peers.
Jamie Willson, the Essex Senior Men’s Captain and Graham Ray who organised the event, were delighted with the performance of all the Players . The standard of tennis was excellent indicating the strength of the Men’s game within Essex and importantly the Southend-on-Sea area.
There were notable local achievements from Harry Randle of Thorpe Bay LTC. Harry was the runner-up in the main event to David Wright from the Redbridge ‘Compete’ Tennis Academy, who was making a successful and welcome return to competitive tennis within Essex. It was a closely fought final, with David finally being hailed the victor winning 6-3, 6-2. Harry’s tennis has much improved, primarily due to his tennis playing whilst attending Loughborough University. He is rapidly becoming a force to be reckoned with in the local area and within Essex.
Peter Odegbami of Westcliff Lawn LTC, won the playback consolation event finally overcoming the improving Louis Lee-Allan from the Essex Golf and Country Club 6-4, 6-4. This again was a hard fought final with many long high playing standard rallys.
Third place went to Sam Bayda of Westcliff Hardcourts LTC. Unfortunately Sam’s opponent, Peter French from Clearview LTC, Brentwood, had to withdraw from the play-off through injury sustained in the semi-final with David Wright.
The fifth and sixth place playoff was contested by Leon Smart of Canvey Island and Thomas Pudney of Garons LTC and Thorpe Bay LTC. Leon was the eventual victor winning 6-1, 6-2. Thomas showed his young talents to the full and has become a player to watch for the future.
Other local involvement included the gentlemanly John Western, still capable of play to a high standard and the young but ever improving Andrew Berry, both from Westcliff Hardcourts LTC.
The event was well received by all the players involved. Essex Men’s Tennis continues to thrive. Future events in the approaching Summer 2013 Season include Essex Representative Matches against Cambridge University, Norfolk and Hertfordshire who are the National County Champions in both Singles and Doubles Competition.
‘The Futures Bright – The Futures Essex’.
Graham Ray