A most successful Senior Men’s – 18U Junior Winter Series Singles Tournament was run at Redbridge Sports Centre over the weekend of the 9/10th February 2013. The event is part of an on-going integration of the involvement of our most talented 18U Junior Players into the Senior Ranks.
Graham Ray is a Team Selector on both the 18U Junior County Team, Captained by Will Calvert, and also a Team Selector on the Senior Men’s County Team, Captained by Jamie Willson. All parties were involved in the running of the event designed to provide important feedback to team selection in both categories. The 18U JICC is rapidly approaching where it is important to have the correct team selected to give Essex Tennis the best opportunity of success. A similar event is scheduled for April 2013 again to be run at Redbridge Sports Centre.
There was some great tennis played over the weekend with notable achievements from Richard Wire who beat Marshall Tutu in the Final which went to a tense 3rd Set Champions Tie Break. Lewis Thompson became the 3rd Place Winner beating Mark Klein in entertaining match where youth prevailed over the experience of age.
Essex Tennis has found a new player, Shamael Chaudhry, coached by Tony Lloyd at Reid’s Tennis Academy. He had a great weekend beating the ageless Peter French in the 1st Round and then losing narrowly to Lewis Thompson in a 3rd Set Champions Tie Break tie in the Quarter Final. Shamael went on to narrowly lose to Harry Randle in the Consolation Play-Back Final.
These events are physically demanding and so injuries are prevalent. Fortunately, due to the popularity of these events, they are over subscribed with entries and Andrew Berry was called up to play on the Sunday where he played Thomas Pudney in a what was a Southend Area ‘Derby Match’ which Thomas Pudney was the eventual victor.
In summary, a most successful weekend providing great competition, involvement of Junior Players with established Senior Players and vital feedback information for team selection.
Graham Ray
Pictured above are , Marshall Tutu, Richard Wire and Lewis Thompson