The Albany Equiom Junior Open was blessed with good weather and all matches were completed to schedule at the weekend.
Will Broadhead deserves a special mention for playing two finals on Saturday as he was in the IOM Junior Golf Championships on Sunday. A lot of our juniors lead hectic sports lives but that is good – healthy body, healthy mind. Will won the Boys under 18 singles beating Adam Pyatt-Coppell in three sets. After a break he went back on court to play Sean Drewry in the Boys under 14 event. Sean played extremely well and won after a close first set 7/5 6/1, although I think Will had “run out of steam”.
One encouraging aspect was the under 8 girls as there were 6 players and this meant they could at last have their own event rather than playing in with the boys. That means next year the under 9 girls will have good competition and there are some promising girls who will play under 8 next year, so the tournament will grow. That is something the sponsor and the club both want.
When play was completed the prizes were presented by Mrs Sheila Dean of Equiom Trust Company Ltd. The presentation was followed with the usual Finals Day tea, which was soon demolished by hungry youngsters. Equiom are sponsoring this event for 2013 and 2014. A new event was under 8 for beginners – playing their first competition and run as a round robin the winner was Aaron Hempsall with Jack Edmonds 2nd.
Most promising players were Millie-Jo Purves and Jason Cole.
Results from all the finals: Boys Singles under 8 Zac Walker bt Sam Skelcher-Maxwell 5/10 10/9 10/7; Boys under 9 Oliver Wait bt Oliver Dean 4/2 4/0; under 10 (mxd) Amelia Garrett bt Harry Walters 4/4(8-6) 4/4(8/6);Boys under 12 r/robin 1st Max Walker (4 wins) 2nd Jay Skelcher-Maxwell (3 wins); Boys under 14 Sean Drewry bt Will Broadhead 7/5 6/1. Girls singles under 8 r/robin winner Kitty Thomas (5 wins) r/up Anika Colligon (4 wins); under 9 winner Hollie Robertson r/up Amaline Batty; under 18 Laura Feely by Sarah Breed 6/0 6/3; Doubles Under 9 (mxd) r/robin winners Saul Parry/ Zac Walker (3 wins) r/up Charles Kinrade/ Hollie Robertson (2 wins);under 14 Sean Drewry/Calvin Smith bt Adam Pyatt.
Coppell/Matthew Shopland 6/1 6/1. On behalf of Albany, Club President, Bryan Sharp thanked Mrs Dean and Equiom for the sponsorship, Referee Paolo Bagnato who was assisted by Sally Walker and Tracy Simmons. Also all the umpires Margaret Drake, Martin Feely, Will Broadhead, Sean Drewry, Max Walker and Sasha Thomas
Forthcoming events; Isle of Man LTA Veteran Closed Championships to be played at Castletown from 11 – 19 August. Albany members are usually good to support this event and with some success. Entry details on LTA website.
The triangular club competition between Albany, Castletown and Ramsey for the Todmorden Shield, will be played this year at Castletown on Sunday August 26. Spectators are always welcome to go along and support their team.
Also note the club’s Senior and Junior Closed Championships will be held Monday 17 to Sunday 23 September. Entry for this event is free.
