An impressive 50 juniors competed in the final Norfolk Junior Squash (NJS) Grand Prix of the 2011-12 Season. Played at East Anglia Tennis & Squash Club (EAT&SC) Norwich, on Sunday 15th July, the youngsters contested an exhausting 84 matches.
For the second season in a row Adam Sinkins dominated the Series. Competing in his final NJS GP, the 18 year old from Fakenham lost just one match in 8 Grand Prix to record a remarkable 7 series wins. Martin Jolley, also from Fakenham, established himself as the clear runner up, finishing 2nd in the last 4 Grand Prix. With Sinkins moving on next year, Martin will have high hopes of claiming his first ever GP win next season.
In Group 2 Johnnie Carmichael-Plester clinched the group with an enthralling 5 game victory over Prakrit Kumar. The group also contained five girls, showing the strength of the girl’s junior scene in Norfolk.
Josh Hall and Craig Smith produced a cracker to decide the winner of Group 3. Josh’s 5 game victory handed him his second group win of the season and he should be looking to establish himself in the top groups next season.
Group 4 was no less competitive and saw yet another 3-2 match to decide the group. This time Lloyd Potter just got the better of another rising female star, beating Bronwyn Moxey.
Groups 5 and 6 contained 9 players each, and gave every player 4 matches. Ollie Farmer beat Olivia Boyce and Dylan Cutting to top Group 5. Raunaq Rai defeated Mae Betts and Lucy Cox on his Grand Prix Debut to top Group 6.
The closeness of the matches this season highlights the competitive structure of the Grand Prix system in which all players are graded, and play players of a similar ability. This helps players progress as they play competitive matches at every meet.
This season’s final Grand Prix standings have been submitted to England Squash & Racketball for inclusion on the National Ranking Database. This fantastic initiative will hopefully see Norfolk’s presence on the National Rankings increase substantially, and future Grand Prix attendances thrive.
Many thanks to Tournament organiser, Tony Henden, and the Norfolk Squash Rackets Association for scheduling these events.
Group 1 Final Placings
1. Adam Sinkins (Fakenham), 2. Martin Jolley (Fakenham), 3. Milo Butler (EAT&SC), 4. William Henden (Broadland), 5. Giles Evans (Barnham Broom), 6. Jamie Foyster (EAT&SC), 7. Sam Henden (Broadland), 8. Robert Davis (Barnham Broom).
Group 2 Final Placings
1. Johnnie Carmichael-Plester (EAT&SC), 2. Prakrit Kumar (EAT&SC), 3. Sam McCluskey (Harleston), 4. Bonnie Butler (EAT&SC), 5. Danielle Perry (Downe House), 6. Katie Cox (EAT&SC), 7. Ailish Reeson (Barnham Broom), 8. Lucy-Ann Williams (EAT&SC).
Group 3 Final Placings
Joshua Hall (Broadland), 2. Craig Smith (Fakenham), 3. Liam Bond (Bannatynes), 4. Simon Broom (Rossis), 5. Daniel Heffer ( EAT&SC), 6. Philip Davis (Barnham Broom), 7. Liam Mooney (EAT&SC), 8. Edmund Youngs (EAT&SC).
Group 4 Final Placings
1. Lloyd Potter (Harleston), 2. Bronwyn Moxey (Broadland), 3. Bradley Nobbs (Fakenham), 4. Claire Jolley (King’s Lynn), 5. Oliver Gollop (Broadland), 6. Robert Thirst (Broadland), 7. Spencer Muddel (Broadland), 8. Ross Wilson (Water Lane, Lowestoft).
Group 5 Final Placings
1. Ollie Farmer (Harleston), 2. Olivia Boyce (Reepham), 3. Dylan Cutting (Barnham Broom), 4. Ollie Millar (Broadland), 5. Josh Wigging (Fakenham), 6. Callum Carter (Fakenham) 7. Will Hobson (Sportspark), 8. Kirstie Johnson (Broadland), 9. Henry Cutting (Barnham Broom)
Group 6 Final Placings
1. Raunaq Rai (EAT&SC), 2. Mae Betts (Reepham), 3. Lucy Cox (EAT&SC), 4. Jeminie Maconochie (Reepham), 5. Harry Busby (EAT&SC), 6. Edward Brice (Harleston), 7. Harry MacKenzie (Sportspark), 8. William Ford (Harleston), 9. Ranya Kumar (EAT&SC).
Pictured: Adam Sinkins (L) with Mark Heazle – Norfolk Junior Squash’s Development Officer