The Essex County Junior Closed Tournament came to a satisfactory finish on Saturday 29th August 2009. The entries, particularly in the 10 and under events were down this year. As usual Thorpe Bay LTC courts were in first class condition and with only 3 ten minute rain breaks, the Tournament ran smoothly, with the last match on Finals Day finishing at 8.00pm.
Andrew Berry (Westcliff Hardcourts) comfortably won the 11 and under event. Georgia Wheatley (Thorpe Bay) had a long three set match against Shannon Newnes (Redbridge) in the girls 14 and under event and justified her as No 1 seeding.
Tom Reynolds (Connaught) had an excellent week. He firstly beat higher rated John Western (Hockley) in the semi-finals and then went on to beat David Wright to win the final of the 21 and under singles. Another decisive winner was Lewis Thompson (Woodford Wells) who won the 14 and under single event without dropping a set. Joel Cannell (DL Chigwell) was another player who did not drop a set on route to winning the 12 and under singles event. Eva Dench (Connaught) played 4 rounds to win the 16 and under girls singles, losing only 9 games.
Thorpe Bay player Harry Randle had a very successful week with some great wins over higher ranked players but ran out of steam on the last two days. He lost in the final of the boys 16 to Robert Collins (Great Baddow) and the semi-final of the boys 18 and under to Marshall Tutu (Redbridge). Harry had the consolation of winning an easy match in the boys 18 and under doubles with Robert Collins.
Two players from the Southeast corner competed in the 21 and under singles, Faye Watts (Westcliff Hardcourts) after having a bad first match in the her 18 and under final played very well. She beat Christie Brackett (DL Basildon) and then paired up with her to win an exciting match in the girls 18 and under doubles. Faye playing with “stand in “ player David Wright won the last match in the Tournament, the 18 and under mixed doubles which was an extremely high standard game.
We would like to add a big thank you to all the volunteers at Thorpe Bay LTC who without them, this Tournament would not have happened. The Tournament desk was run with its usual efficiency by Russell Pickup (Tournament Chairman), Michael Baggs (Club Chairman), Kaye Gordon (Club Membership Secretary) and Marion Hopson (Tournament Secretary) which helped give Tournament Referees Lesley and Ian Pitt an easy path. Also all the court supervisors and Jan Barton and the ladies who kept us fed all the week.
The player of the Tournament was shared between Harry Randle and Tom Reynolds (Connaught) who both played extremely well and the Referees Trophy was given to Joseph Baum (Connaught).
2nd September 09
Lesley Pitt
Tournament Referee
See Results