The annual Lionel Cox event for 10, 11 and 12 & Under Boys and Girls was held over the weekend of the 1st & 2nd May. Essex won the competition last year and this year were out to retain the title. Teams were:
Boys Teams
10 & Under Boys
Edward Pudney/Harry Hylton/Toby Dunlea
11 & Under Boys
Jack Blackwell/Ajay Modwhadia/Jacob Ducksbury
12 & Under Boys
James Caddies/Andrew Berry/Nick Wade/Oliver Norton
Girls teams
10 and Uunder Girls
Michaela Brown/Charisma Nuqui/Katie McGarrigle
11 and Under Girls
Millie Mcilraith/Hannah Thompson/Tanisha Schumacher/Emily Carrington
12 and Under Girls
Olivia Sofroniou/Erica Izatt/Nephe D'Viana--Horne
The omens were not good even before we started the event 2 of the under 12 boys team not available for second days play & then a disaster when Tommy Smalley the number one under 11 boys player pulled out on the Thursday before with a wrist injury.
Undeterred we started the first round of matches on the Saturday the Boys started off the event with 1 win in under 10 age group & a loss at under 12s boys & narrow loss under 11s on a champions tie break third set Third match.
A better afternoon in our second round the boys under 10s carried on winning ways with a narrow win & the under 12 boys a 2 to 1 win, it could have been a very good afternoon but again our under 11 boys team lost 2 to 1 with a Third set third match narrow loss. We finished the first day a little down but where confident of better things to come. All still to play for on the second day.
The Sunday morning saw torrential rain the conclusion of the box league matches looked in doubt our under 12s boys kicked of the day with a Indoor match against Norfolk a sharp shoot out first to 4 unfortunately the result going against us 2 1. The under 10s went from strength to strength with yet another convincing win followed by a 3 nil win for under 11 boys
It was important that where possible we finish top of our group in order to achieve lowest possible score. & finished as followed
10 & Under Boys play off for first & second spot against Herts
11 & Under Boys finished third in group with a play off for 5th & 6thd spot re Bucks
12 & Under Boys finished third in group with a play off for 5th & 6thd spot re Cambs
The final session Sunday afternoon was to be a nail biting affair with three teams (Thanks to our Girls) with a chance of winning the overall event. 12 & under & 11& Boys up first & unfortunately lost both not a great start however the 10 & under boys triumphed over Herts to win the 10 & under boys event. After all the setbacks to the Boys teams a good result & a great team effort
The girls kept Essex in contention but this was not enough & for this year Essex had to be content with Second Place to Hertfordshire.
Colin Clay
Team Captain – Lionel Cox Boys