The ever popular destination of Bristol lived up to all expectations on day one of the third Grand Prix of the 2015/16 season. It would have been yet another Grand Prix to have over 200 entries had the schedule permitted, but sadly entries had to be declined and on this occasion we were reduced to just four short, at 196.

Men’s Band 1

Danny Lawrence took the prize money home after winning the Men’s Band 1 final against Men’s Band 2 champion, Callum Evans who did not give in and fought through the match becoming a tough opponent, but not managing to win any of the three sets.

Lawrence also passed the semi-final stage with a 3-0 score line over Dominic Sussex. A 3-1 score for him in the quarter-final, followed his winning streak that began when he became winner of group one.

Not so lucky as in the previous band, Callum Evans assured himself a place in the final winning 3-0 against Niall Cameron in the semi-final. Callum also won all three sets in the previous round battling past the winner of group three, Ryan Fellows. To reach that stage, Evans had taken the lead in group 5 and then another clear victory 11-6, 11-4, 11-2, his opponent in the quarter-final, Rajan Waterman.

Women’s Band 1

Nottingham University student Emma Ludlow won the Women’s Band 1 event beating Rachel Baker with a 3-2 score in a very intense and equal battle. Her previous win came easier as it was a 3-0 victory, passing Zoe Cheesman in the semi-final.

Taking home second place, Rachel Baker managed to get her place in the final after beating Emily Bolton in a tough semi-final where she lost two of the five sets played.

Men’s Band 2

Callum Evans was crowned the Men’s Band 2 champion after beating Calum Morrison in an intense match that ended when Evans won the fourth set of the final.

Evans started as he meant to go on; leaving runner-up of his group, Bradley Tuttle, behind after a clear 3-1 result. When the quarter-finals arrived, the number one England Cadet boy, Ethan Walsh lost against the Welsh champion 11-8, 7-11, 11-9, 11-7. The unstoppable band winner, Evans, sailed through his semi-final wining 3-0 against Zoltan Hosszu.

On the other side of the draw, Calum Morrison scraped past Dean Cundy to then meet Esben Larsen of Denmark and made his way to the semi-final having had won 3-1. Richard Carden then lost to Morrison 7-11, 7- 11, 11-9, 10-12.

Women’s Band 2

Beth Roberts won the Women’s Band 2 final taking all three sets over Emily Bolton. The champion to be, had a long challenging semi-final that she finally won 11-8, 8-11, 11-5, 10-12, 11-5 over Amy Blagbrough. Previously, Zoe Cheesman had tried to stop Roberts but only managed to take one out of the four sets played.

On her way to reaching the final, Emily Bolton started by beating Jersey player Kelsey LeMaistre 3-0 but then found it harder in her quarter-final. Playing Sally Hughes she started by losing the first 11-9, but eventually turned the score around, winning the next three sets.

Men’s Band 3

Bryan Kwan took the first place in Men’s Band 3 after a 3-0 final win against Scottish youngster Calum Morrison. Both finalists had made there way into the final winning all three sets in their semifinals; Kwan against Wojciech Placek and Morrison against William Hornsey.

The winner of this band had beaten Olly Tyndall in the quarter-final with a 3-2 score line, having earlier overcome Joel Webb and Craig Preece.

Runner-up in Men’s Band 2, Calum Morrison, after becoming winner of group 14, managed to beat Jonny Higgins , John Mcbeath and George Hazell en-route. Morrison beat Hazell in a quarter-final that concluded 11-5, 5-11, 11-5, 11-3.

Women’s Band 3

With a 3-2 final score, Kate Roberts won the Women’s Band 3 against Naomi Jackson who had taken her place in the final after beating Sally Hughes 12-10, 11-7, 12-10.  Previously Jackson became winner of group one and also passed Silvia Trenti in the quarter-final.

Winner of the band, Kate Roberts, won her semi-final 3-1 having beaten Holly Williams in a tight five set affair one round prior.

Men’s Band 4

Carl Baldry took the Men’s Band 4 title after a final win over Liam Rowson 11-7, 11-9, 9-11, 11-5. Baldry had his ups and downs in the semifinal against Mark Collins which he won 3-1 and previously, in the quarter-final match he also won 3-1 but this time against  Wojciech Placek. On his way to victory, the champion passed Ben Foss with a tight 3-0 after beating Matthew Daish 5-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-7.

Liam Rowson won group 14 and after winning three matches in a row, he reached the semi-final which was played against Zac Dowling and ended in a tight 3-2 win. Before that Rowson passed Luke Jones 3-2, Samuel Chesterman 3-1 and Lewis Carby by the same score line.

Women’s Band 4

Eight year old Anna Hursey won the final of the Women’s Band 4 against the winner of group three, Edyta Schmid. Hursey lost the first set 11-7, won the second 12-10 and easily sailed through the rest of the match winning 11-4 and 11-6. The quarter-finals didn’t come easy for young Hursey who prevailed in a tight 11-6, 12-10, 7-11, 12-10 match against Scotland’s Beth Richards. Another tough contest awaited Hursey in the semi-finals, where she won 3-2 over Holly Williams.

The runner-up, Schmid, obtained a deserved place in the final after passing Emma McSorley 3-2 and Grace Potter 3-1.

Men’s Band 5

Michael Hugh won the Men’s Band 5 event beating Finn Morgan-Bayliss with a 3-0 score. The winner also won the semi-final match against Michael Harvey, defeated Paul Karabardak in the fourth round after leaving previous opponents Paul Lavery and Jeff Rigby behind.

Second one in line, Finn Morgan-Bayliss won 11-5, 11-2, 11-5 against Louie Evans in the semi-final after beating Lewis Carby, Sam Weaving and Andy Smith, leaving them all behind  with the same 3-0 score line.

Men’s Band 6

Michael Hugh, winner of group three, was the man to win the Men’s Band 4 final with a clear 3-0 against Louis Price. Not as easy, Hugh got his pass to the final beating Finn Morgan-Bayliss in a close 3-1 semi-final. Those hadn’t been the first good victories of the day for Hugh as he had previously passed through the quarter-final winning 3-0 over Michael Harvey and previously, the same 3-0 score was set against Brett Heppenstall.

In the other half, Louis Price had it a bit harder. In the semi-final match he won a very tight five setter against Paul Laverty. He also beat Ryan Moore, 3-1 this time and earlier he faced Steven Macfarlane. Price began by losing the first 12-10 but managed to carry on and finish with a more comfortable 11-6, 11-6, 11-4.

Results

Men’s Band 1
Danny Lawrence (K) bt Callum Evans (WAL) 3-0 (11-9, 11-9, 11-7)
Women’s Band 1
Emma Ludlow (IRL) bt Rachel Baker (Ch) 3-2 (11-6, 9-11, 11-9, 5-11, 11-6)
Men’s Band 2
Callum Evans (WAL) bt Calum Morrison (SCO) 3-1 (11-7, 11-1, 5-11, 11-5)
Women’s Band 2
Beth Roberts (WAL) bt Emily Bolton (Cu) 3-0 (11-8, 11-7, 11-5)
Men’s Band 3
Bryan Kwan (Mi) bt Calum Morrison (SCO) 3-0 (11-8, 14-12, 11-9)
Women’s Band 3
Kate Roberts (WAL) bt Naomi Jackson (Dv) 3-2 (8-11, 11-5, 5-11, 11-9, 11-7)
Men’s Band 4
Carl Baldry (Co) bt Liam Rowson (Li) 3-1 (11-7, 11-9, 9-11, 11-5)
Women’s Band 4
Anna Hursey (WAL) bt Edyta Schmid (Ha) 3-1 (7-11, 12-10, 11-4, 11-6)
Men’s Band 5
Michael Hugh (Dv) bt Finn Morgan-Bayliss (Do) 3-0 (11-9, 11-8, 11-5)
Men’s Band 6
Michael Hugh (Dv) bt Louis Price (Av) 3-0 (11-7, 11-4, 11-5)

The next stop on the Grand Prix circuit see’s us visiting South Shields. To find out more and enter the comeptition please click here.

For a list of the latest Grand Prix points (up to and including Aldershot) please click here.