County Championships
report by Phil John
The Junior and Veteran events in the County championships were held in Warwick on Sunday after being snowed off in December. The Junior competitions were dominated by Lillington Free Church TTC and all players mentioned hereafter were from that club apart from the named exceptions.
The Junior Boys singles pitted Jack Green against Rugby’s Sam Cafearo in the semis, Green winning in straight games. With three initial groups affording three winners, Josh Yarrow had a walk-over to the final but had the coveted scalp of Ricardo Bolanos in his initial group. However, Green’s experience told in the Final and he won 7,10 and 11.
The Junior Girls competition was played in a round robin with Emily Beasley taking the title, Milly Green in second spot, Ciara Hancox in third and Katie Singleton 4th.
Ricardo Bolanos reached the semi-final of the Under 15 boys where he dispatched club-mate and rising star Joe Shrimpton in three. Josh Yarrow won the other semi, 3-1 against Colebridge’s Nathaniel Saunders with Bolanos going on to win a close Final 3-2.
The Under 15 Girls singles was also a round robin. Milly Green finished in pole position from Erin Darwen ( second) and Eleanor Fletcher (third).
The Under 13 Boys singles was the only title to elude the Free Church club, Nathaniel Saunders of Colebridge taking the title in straight games against Chris Ho.
The Under 13 Girls singles attracted just two entrants, Eleanor Fletcher beating Erin Darwen 4,8,-6,-9,7. There were no under 11 girl entries!
The under 11 Boys title was lifted by Daniel Stone who overcame Wajid Wafiq of the Crown club in Birmingham 11-8 in the 5th after being 0-2 down in games.
The Junior Boys Restricted Singles was a triumph for Josh Yarrow who beat Rugby’s Dan Burgess in the Final. In the Junior Girls Restricted Final Emily Beasley defeated Milly Green.
The Veterans events combined men and women. Rajinder Singh of Smithswood overcame St Georges’ Mark Jackson in a semi-final and faced club-mate Michael Browne who had defeated Stephen Robinson of Bourneville in his semi. Browne took the title 8,-10,2,6.
The over 40 doubles brought local success as County Council’s strong pairing of Nilton Green and Simon Griew dispatched Mark Jackson and Phoenix’s Ryan Stockham 11-7 in the 5th in the semi and then went on to beat Anthony Ellis and Ben Willson of Colebridge, who had conquered Michael Browne and Stephen Robinson in their semi, in the final by the same margin.
In the over 50s the semis were between Michael Browne of Smithswood and Griew, and Stephen Robinson of Bournville and Diane St Ledger, of Smithswood. Griew and Robinson tasted victory and Griew took his second title after accounting for Robinson 3-1.
The over 60s was another opportunity for St Ledger to gain a semi-final berth but she could not get the better of Phoenix’s Paul Calloway. In the other semi Stephen Taylor of Streetly triumphed against Michael Credland of Colebridge but eventually ceded the title to Calloway.
The over 70s event was a round robin. Robert Watts of Barnt Green became champion after winning all four matches but the next three players all won two. David Smye of Massey-Ferguson claimed second on countback, Roger Ellerington of Smithswood finished third and Victor Cracroft of Colebridge ended up in 4th.
