James Defusto from West Bridgford took the honours at this year’s Junior County Closed with two singles victories in the under 16s and under 18s Boys Singles. In both finals he was up against last year’s winner in both events and No 1 seed, Christopher Wood from Kirkby-in-Ashfield. Defusto won the U16s 6-2 6-4 in the first final on Saturday morning. He then made a hasty trip home to find a replacement pair of shoes as he had worn a hole in the sole of one shoe. The U18 Boys singles final was played at midday and again Defusto had the upper hand winning 6-3 6-2.
Christopher Wood had some consolation for missing out on the singles titles by teaming up with his sister Rebecca to beat Donovan Cellupica-Towers & Dominique McLean 6-0 7-5 to win the U18 Mixed Doubles title. Rebecca also took the U21 Ladies Singles by beating McLean. But the score was reserved in the U18 Girls Singles when McLean won a tight match in a close 3rd set tie-break.
Georgia Lawson won both the U12 & U14 Girls Singles titles beating Alice Hill both times, while Claire Godber beat Amber Williams in the U16 Girls Singles final. Johnny Burke from Southwell beat Marcus Walters in the U14 Boys Singles & Cameron Ravenscroft took the U12 Boys Singles, beating Joseph Theaker in a close 3rd set.
Andrew Higham teamed up with Abdul Hassan to win the U18 Boys Doubles. While the U14 Girls Doubles went to Ellie Brazil & Amy Harrold-Vaux and the U14 Mixed Doubles went to Daniel Blackburn & Etianna Whitaker. The U14 Boys Doubles was won by Benjamin Towle & James Ockelford won beat Cameron Ravenscroft & Daniel Blackburn.
In the U10 Girls Green Ball event the title went to Helena Constantinou, who beat Holly Spencer in the final 5-3, 4-0. The U10 boy’s event was contested by Joshua Barnes and Harry Harrold Vaux with Joshua being crowned the winner coming out on top in a nail biting third set match tie break to 10 points. Joshua eventual won the match 4-5, 5-3, 10-8.
The U9 event, played at the Park Tennis Club saw players competing in a best of three tie breaks to seven points format.
In the U9 Girls Orange Ball event, Anna Buckley continued her successful summer season with another win beating fellow Nottingham Tennis Centre training partner Helena Constaninou in the final 2-7, 7-3, 7-0.
In the U9 boys event Kieran O’Driscoll-Pabla, another Nottingham Tennis Centre player battled through a knockout format tournament to eventually beat Joshua Selby Smith from Farnsfield in the final 7-0, 4-7, 7-5.
The U8 event was played at Nottingham Tennis Centre indoors with sponge balls on Thursday 1st September with players playing quick fire, first to 10 point match tie breaks. For many of these players it was their first experience playing in the Nottinghamshire County Closed. The U8 Girls winner was Jasmine Ramsden who won all of her matches against the other girls with Millie Mae-Mathews runner up and Charlotte Cassidy in third place.
In the boys event it was Robert Dowsett and Owen Ashwell battling it out in the final after both boys won their respective round robin boxes undefeated. The final was a fantastic spectacle for all watching with Owen Ashwell winning the deciding point at 9 – 9 taking the match 10-9.
Rick Britton, LTA councillor for Nottinghamshire presented the prizes on the Finals Day.