The County's most prestigious junior tennis tournament of the year, The Essex County Championships was hosted by Thorpe Bay LTC during the last week of August. The event drew almost 250 players from around the County across 21 events. Following on from 2014, the weather was against us for much of the week, with rain on 6 out of the 7 days. However, despite the inclement weather, Finals' Day took place on Saturday, as is tradition.
Play began with the 12 & Under finals, which saw Johnathon Price retain his title with victory over Samuel Constantinou in the Boys' event, whilst Evie Smart took the Girls title with victory over Kayleigh Hale.
Pictured: Matthew Doe
Matthew Doe secured the 14 & Under Boys' title with a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Neo Wren, whilst Ashley Hale took the Girls' event with a 6-1, 7-5 victory over Nyah Kauders. Neo later returned to partner Joseph Lampon to success in the 14 & Under Boys' Doubles with a straight sets win over Jamie Bixby and Jayden Tran. Joseph claimed his second doubles title of the day in the 14 & Under Mixed Doubles, teaming up with Annali Olivelle to defeat Josh Ratnage and Evie Smart in two close sets. The 14 & Under Girls Doubles final was also a closely fought affair, with Holly Lawrence and Tyra-Nicole Whyte beating Ashley and Kayleigh Hale in a deciding match tie-break.
The Boys' 16 & Under title was won by second seed William Butler, who beat unseeded Jacob Ducksbury in straight sets. Annali Olivelle, playing up from her customary 14U age group, took the Girls 16 & Under event with a comfortable victory over Zuzanna Glowacz.
James Caddies took the Boys' 18 & Under event with a 6-2, 7-6 victory over the newly crowned 16U champion, William Butler. Erica Izatt won the 18 & Under Girls title, defeating Annali Olivelle 6-3, 7-5. James then teamed up with Darien Lamb to take the 18 & Under Boys Doubles with victory over Toby Dunlea and Alex Curaba. The 18 & Under Mixed Doubles saw success for James Varda and Phoebe Collins, who defeated Josh Ratnage and Holly Freeman in the final.
The Open Men’s encounter was a repeat of last year's final between Matthew Pearce and Harry Randle, with Matthew clinching a 6-4, 7-6 win in an entertaining match. The final of the Open Ladies' event was contested by the top two seeds, Phoebe Collins and Worthy Goldman, with Worthy eventually succeeding 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 in a closely fought final.
The mini-tennis events were completed earlier in the week with successes for Toby Terrell in the 10 & Under Boys, Olivia King in the 10 & Under Girls, Scott Bowman in the 9 & Under Boys, Sophie Thompson in the 9 & Under Girls, Charlie Kauders-Boothby in the 8 & Under Boys and Kyla Eves in the 8 & Under Girls. Special mention goes to back-to-back winner Toby, who won the 9U event last year.
The trophy presentations were made by Essex Tennis President, Harry Brickwood and included special awards to William Butler (Most Improved 18 & Under Player), Matthew Doe (Most Improved 14 & Under Player), Samuel Constantinou (Best 11 & Under Boy), Kayleigh Hale (Best 11 & Under Girl) and Allison Small (Referee's Trophy).
The event was refereed by Mark Bragoli and Lesley and Ian Pitt, overseeing over 400 matches during the week. Special thanks go to the team of volunteers at Thorpe Bay LTC whose efforts enabled the tournament to take place, and also to the competitors and their parents for their continued support of this event.
Results
Open Women’s Singles
Worthy Goldman (Woodford Wells) beat Phoebe Collins (The Connaught Club) 2-6, 6-4, 6-2
18U Girls Singles
Erica Izatt (The Connaught Club) beat Annali Olivelle (Woodford Wells) 6 -3, 7-5
16U Girls Singles
Annali Olivelle (Woodford Wells) beat Zuzanna Glowacz (Westcliff Hardcourt TC) 6-1, 6-0
14U Girls Singles
Ashlie Hale (Ipswich Sports Club) beat Nyah Kauders (Hockley LTC) 6-1, 7-5
12U Girls Singles
Evie Smart (David Lloyd (Basildon) TC) beat Kayleigh Hale (Ipswich Sports Club) 6-3, 6-2
10U Girls Singles
Olivia King (Rochford TC) beat Aimee Bromfield (Woodford Wells) 4-0, 4-0
9U Girls Singles
Sophie Thompson (Grosvenor LTC) Beat Natalie Crawford (David Lloyd Club Southend) 7-4, 5-7, 7-5
8U Girls Singles
Winner: Kyla Eves (Westcliff Hardcourt TC) Runner-up: Ashleigh Tomlin
Open Men’s Singles
Matthew Pearce (Southend LTC) Harry Randle (Thorpe Bay LTC) 6-4, 7-6
18U Boys Singles
James Caddies (Gidea Park LTC) beat William Butler (The Connaught Club) 6-2, 7-6
16U Boys Singles
William Butler (The Connaught Club) beat Jacob Ducksbury (Chelmsfordians TC) 6-1, 6-1
14U Boys Singles
Matthew Doe (Great Baddow LTC) beat Neo Wren (Gidea Park LTC) 6-2 6-2
12U Boys Singles
Johnathon Price (Grove (Chelmsford) LTC) beat Samuel Constantinou (The Connaught Club) 6-0, 6-0
10U Boys Singles
Toby Terrell (Theydon Bois LTC) beat Scott Bowman (Earls Colne TC) 4-1, 4-1
9U Boys Singles
Scott Bowman (Earls Colne TC) beat Oliver Brooker (Harlow LTC) 7-2, 2-7, 11-9
8U Boys Singles
Charlie Kauders-Boothby (Hockley LTC) beat Oisin Coughlan (David Lloyd (Basildon)TC) 10-4
18U Boys Doubles
James Caddies & Darien Lamb (Gidea Park LTC/Westcliff Hardcourt TC) beat Alex Curaba & Toby Dunlea (Harlow LTC/Cranston Park LTSC) 6-3, 6-3
18U Mixed Doubles
James Varda & Phoebe Collins (The Connaught Club) beat Josh Ratnage & Holly Freeman (Cranston Park LTSC) 6-1, 6-0
14U Boys Doubles
Joseph Lampon & Neo Wren (Grove (Saffron Walden) LTC/Gidea Park LTC) beat Jamie Bixby & Jayden Tran (Gidea Park LTC/Aldersbrook LTC) 6-2, 6-2
14U Girls Doubles
Holly Lawrence & Tyra-Nicole Whyte (Cranbrook Castle LTSC/Woodford Wells) beat Ashlie Hale & Kayleigh Hale (Ipswich Sports Club) 5-7, 7-6, 10-7
14U Mixed Doubles
Joseph Lampon & Annali Olivelle (Grove (Saffron Walden) LTC/Woodford Wells) beat Josh Ratnage & Evie Smart (Cranston Park LTSC/David Lloyd (Basildon) TC) 6-4, 7-5