Stockton-on-Tees Junior 4 Star Day 2 – Sunday, 31 October 2010
The highlight of the second day at the Tees Active Ltd sponsored Stockton-on-Tees 4 Star Championships at Thornaby Pavilion was an epic final in the Junior Boys’ singles in which Sam Walker of Nottingham, seeded No. 1, beat Lewis Gray of Kent, seeded No. 2, at 11-9 in the 5th game. Walker seemed to be heading for a straight games victory when he won the first two games at 14-12 and 11-9, but Gray – noted for his tremendous fighting spirit – clawed his way back into the match by winning the next two at 11-9 and 11-8. The decider was equally as close as Walker clinched the title at 11-9.
In the semi final Walker beat Jared Patel of Essex in straight games, whilst Gray beat Scotland’s Scott Barton also in straight games. In the second round Barton had a straight games win over the third seed, Helshan Weerasinghe of Sussex.
In the Junior Girls’ singles Charlotte Carey of Wales picked up her second title by beating Ormesby’s Karina Lefevre by 3 – 1 in the final and her Welsh team mate Angharad Phillips in the semi final by 3 games to 1. Carey’s closest match was a quarter final win against Ormesby’s Jessica Dawson by 11-6 in the 5th game.
In the Grade 1 Boys’ singles Bradley Tuttle of Essex defeated Adam Harrison of Lincolnshire by 3 – 1 in the final. The closest matches were the semi finals in which Tuttle beat Ormesby’s Paul Smith at 11-8 in the decider, whilst Harrison beat another Ormesby player, Anthony Phoenix 11-9 in the 5th.
In the Grade 1 Girls’ singles the winner was Maria Tsaptsinos of Berkshire who beat Laura Higham of Surrey by 3 games to 1. Tsaptsinos beat Lucy Zhu of Suffolk in straight games in one semi final whilst Higham beat Scotland’s Rhian Williams 3 – 1 in the other.
The Cleveland County Association would like to thank all of the officials, the team of qualified umpires, volunteers, as well as the sponsors, Tees Active Ltd, who all combined to produce a successful event .
Final Results
Sunday
Junior Boys singles: Sam Walker (Nottingham) beat Lewis Gray (Kent) 12,9,-9,-8,9
Junior Girls singles: Charlotte Carey (Wales) beat Karina Le Fevre (Cleveland) 11,8,-6,8
Grade 1 Boys singles: Bradley Tuttle (Hertfordshire) beat Adam Harrison (Lincolnshire) 9,-6,7,7
Grade 1 Girls singles: Maria Tsaptsinos (Berkshire) beat Laura Higham (Surrey) 8,8,-6,9
Photograph
Junior Boys’ singles finalists Sam Walker and Lewis Gray pictured with the Mayor and Mayoress of Stockton, Councillor Colin Leckonby and Mrs. Marjorie Leckonby, and Cleveland County Chairman, Colin Davison.
By Alan Ransome