The passing weekend saw the University of Essex (Colchester), host the U11 & U13 Boys and Girls North Essex Squash Academy Championships. The event was a great success with over 32 local youngsters participating in what, for most of them, was their very first squash competition!!
Academy Director Chris Vine said ”it was pleasing to see so many young squash players taking part and this year we had a good number of U11 players too. Many of the players involved were from primary schools in the Colchester area and had first experienced squash when the Academy took Mini Squash into schools, using the school hall as a ‘makeshift’ court to deliver taster sessions”.
The Boys U11 event was won this year by Harwich Squash Club’s rising star Conor Adams, who defeated potential future Essex Junior County squad member Harry Burr from Epping, in a closely fought final.
The U13 Boys title was won by Ardleigh’s William Southworth, emerging as the eventual winner in a four-man “top box league” – despite losing one of his four matches against fellow Essex team-mate Andrew Oram, and then subsequently defeating Alex Shuter, and Conor Adams.
The U13 Girls event was won by Frinton’s Rhea Mitchell, with Harwich’s Chloe Rudkin-Brown, runner-up.
This annual event is a great opportunity for local youngsters to experience friendly and competitive squash as a pre-cursor to being involved in future County competitions and leagues. Next up is the North Essex Junior County “Club” League at various venues around the NE Essex Area.