After the usual busy Summer tournament programme, next week sees the climax to the holidays for our juniors with the annual Closed Tournament at the Ipswich Sports Club.
This Summer has been a highly successful one for Suffolk tennis at all levels, and this traditional end of season tournament provides a great opportunity to see the depth of talent now being displayed by our youngsters, who promise a rich future.
Ben Jones of Elmwood Tennis Club is the only defending champion, and hopefully the shoulder injury that saw him retire at Framlingham will not prevent his progress in the 16U Singles. Others to watch out for in this event are home club player Tom Belton, 14U top seed Kareem Shah, of David Lloyd, and Felixstowe’s Jonathan Simmonds, who captured the 14U title last August. Challenging Kareem Shah in the 14U should be Ross Spinner from Holbrook, and Adam Levey, of David Lloyd, together with the Sports Club pair of Zvonko Bencedic and Travis Ireland, the 12U runner-up last year.
Bencedic and Ireland head the list in the 12U, with Harper Mills (David Lloyd) and Luke Watson (Culford) also likely to do well. The 2013 9U champion Joshua Stokes looks strong in the 10U, whilst the 8U Girls’ Champion from Southwold, Louise Booker, should feature in the well-supported 9U Mixed Singles. There will also be 8U Mixed Singles, and it is the fun and excitement of the mini tennis game that attracts many newcomers to the sport.
Sad to report that yet again, after years of various national and local initiatives, there are far too few entries in the Girls’ events. The 14U Girls’ Singles should provide some absorbing competition, the David Lloyd trio of Georgia Harris, Harriet Petley and Hannah Stokes hoping to provide stiff opposition for Gosling’s Ione Charlton. It is good to see the powerful James Ling heading the 18U list, with his nearest challengers looking to be Ben Jones, Max Darrington (Ipswich Sports) and Jonathan Simmonds.
Play starts on Monday, and is scheduled to finish on Friday, weather permitting. Suffolk tennis fans are encouraged to pop up to Henley Road and see the stars of the future, who will hopefully carry on the good work of our current teams in the years ahead. Next week we will highlight the recent successes of our 35.O Ladies and Culford School, not forgetting our Seniors’ teams who have been performing creditably throughout the Summer.
Another highlight of this remarkable Summer was the 8Oth Birthday celebrations of St.John’s tennis club last Saturday. Both general club play and league matches are an integral part of the game in this country, and the St.John’s volunteers work hard throughout the year to provide both these elements. Those attending the celebrations were treated to a superbly staged Victorian tennis match, with appropriate costumes and wooden rackets, and a specially baked birthday cake was much enjoyed by all.