Warm sunshine blessed the 3rd annual Thorpeness Junior Tennis Tournament staged at the Country Club last week, this popular event growing in numbers every year and much enjoyed by enthusiastic competitors, parents and family members. There were a number of hotly contested and sporting encounters throughout a memorable week, Max Darrington and Nia Braidford, hot from the Aegon nationwide 14U County Cup competition, proving themselves the two outstanding players of the week by finishing with three titles apiece.
Max Darrington began an exhausting Finals Day by overcoming Stowmarket’s Jordan Peacock 7-5 6-2 in a rather tetchy 16U Boy’s Singles Final, then he defeated London’s talented Ben Jones 6-4 6-0 in a bruising 14U decider. Darrington teamed up with Luke Edmond to beat Jones and Ollie Skailes in the 16U Doubles Final, Jones finally getting his revenge at the end of the day when he and Matt Treacy overwhelmed Darrington and Sam Edmond 6-0
6-1 in the 14U category. Jonathan Simmonds emerged as the 12U champion after narrowly overcoming old rival Gabriel Watson.
In an outstanding Girls’ 14U decider, Nia Braidford fought back bravely to overcome close friend and doubles partner Philippa Clarke 3-6 7-6 (5) 6-3, having beaten Essex youngster Millie McIlraith 7-6 (5) 6-3. Braidford and Clarke then teamed up to capture the Girls’ 14U Doubles title against Georgia Harris and Millie McIlraith, Braidford and Clarke worthy recipients of two special awards, which were also presented to Luke Edmond and Jonathan Simmonds by former Grand Slam winner and Tournament Chairman Christine Janes. Full results :-
BS16U: Max Darrington bt Jordan Peacock 7-5 6-2
GS16U: Sophia Papworth bt Flora Hill 6-4 2-6 6-4
BS14U: Max Darrington bt Ben Jones 6-4 6-0
GS14U: Nia Braidford bt Philippa Clarke 3-6 7-6 (5) 6-3
BS12U: Jonathan Simmonds bt Gabriel Watson 3-6 6-3 (10-8)
GS12U: Nia Braidford bt Millie McIlraith 7-6 (5) 6-3
BD16U: Max Darrington + Luke Edmond bt Ollie Skailes + Ben Jones 6-4 6-7 (4) (10-3)
BD14U: Matt Treacy + Ben Jones bt Max Darrington + Sam Edmond 6-0 6-1
BD12U: Jonathan Simmonds and Gabriel Watson bt Seth Mayhew + Travis Green 7-5 6-3
GD: Nia Braidford + Philippa Clarke bt Georgia Harris + Millie McIlraith 6-2 7-5
BS16U Consolation: Connor Bligh
BS14U Conssolation: Paul Turner
BS12U Consolation: Ruben Voogt
GS14U Consolation: Victoria Christie
GS12U Consolation: Florence McCausland
Special Awards: Luke Edmond, Jonathan Simmonds, Nia Braidford and Philippa Clarke.