Thirteen of the Amherst members of the Sevenoaks League Junior Development Divisions competed in the Kent Schools Under 11 Singles events on Tuesday, 29th January at The Howard School, Rainham.
There were seven groups of three in the Boys’ event and one group of three in the Girls’. Sam Arnott, Felipe Fujimori, Yiannis Papadopoulos and Alex Roberts Hutcheson qualified from their groups and went forward to the first round of the main competition. Sam, Yiannis and Felipe all went through to the semi finals. Sam beat Monty Mason, a very promising youngster from Marlborough House in one semi while Yiannis had to beat Felipe to get through to the final. There were a lot of good rallies in the final with Sam emerging triumphant to qualify for the National Finals in Wolverhampton on 27th April for the second year in a row. Felipe won the third place play off with Monty.
Lois Mugford found herself up against Lydia Wealands-White (Warden House) a vastly more experienced player. Lois didn’t manage to beat her but did win against Georgia Houchen (St John’s Primary) to take second place. In order to give the girls more sets, they joined in with the boys in the second stages of the competition.
Daniel Henderson won the Consolation event. He had the misfortune to be in the same group as Sam. In the final he beat Oliver Ames while Charlie Helmer won the third place play off with James Honey.
