The race for the overall prize money stepped up a notch at the Doncaster Dome Leisure Centre on day two of this seasons sixth Grand Prix. Another win for Tom Jarvis puts him within touching distance of Ryan Jenkins in the overall Men’s Singles standings and Kelly Sibley extended her advantage over Charlotte Carey in the Women’s Singles, courtesy of her third title of the season.
The penultimate Grand Prix will be taking place in Blackpool on Saturday 7th & Sunday 8th May, and the closing date has been extended to Wednesday 20th April. Entries have also just opened for the season finale in London, with the Jean Brown Arena being used to host the event.
Click here to enter the Blackpool Grand Prix.
Click here to enter the London Grand Prix.
Men’s Singles
Tom Jarvis claimed his third straight Men’s Singles title, following on from his first ever Grand Prix victory in Bristol and then his second in Nottingham. Jarvis blew Ismaila Akindiya away in the final, winning 11-4, 11-9, 11-2.
The 16 year old English international had a smooth ride through to the semi-finals beating Shayan Siraj in three, Aaron McKibbin in four and player of the weekend Ethan Walsh in three. He then faced the leader on this seasons race for the overall prize money, Ryan Jenkins. A victory for Jarvis would help close that gap and put him in a good position to make a late charge to be overall champion. Jenkins won games two and three in deuce to open a 2-1 lead, but the Lincolnshire lad showed great spirit to fight back with an 11-6 fourth and 11-5 decider.
In the other half of the draw Ismaila Akindiya, winner of the Men’s Band 1 title in Nottingham earlier this year, beat Matthew Leete to set up a last 16 clash with Scotland’s Craig Howieson. A fantastic 3-2 victory meant a quarter-final match against friend Adeoye Adewale. This time a 3-1 win was enough to progress, and only Chris Doran stood between him and his first final. Doran took the first game 13-11, but then Akindiya appeared to find yet another level, taking the next three ends 8, 9, 9.
Women’s Singles
Kelly Sibley made it three out of three on this year’s circuit after claiming the title at Doncaster thanks to a 3-1 win over Charlotte Carey. This backed up her two previous wins in South Shields and Nottingham, and extended her lead at the top of the overall standings.
Sibley cruised through her group with five wins from five, Karina LeFevre the only person to record an end against her. Sibley then made light work of youngster Mollie Patterson in the semi-final winning 3-0. Patterson can, however, take pride from the performances that saw her reach the semi-final stage.
In the bottom half of the draw, Carey also came through her group unscathed, and like Sibley only dropped the one end to Mollie Patterson. In the semi-finals Carey beat winner of group 3 Maria Tsaptsinos in a tight three setter, 11-9, 13-11, 11-8.
Under 21 Men’s Singles
Wales did eventually get a winner on day two at Doncaster, as Callum Evans took home the Under 21 Men’s Singles trophy after a 3-0 win against Josh Harland.
Champion, Evans, won from the second seed spot and made the final after consistent play got him through some tough looking matches against Will Hornsey, James Garrod and Gabriel Achampong.
Josh Harland, winner of group 9, first beat a tired looking Ethan Walsh 3-1. He then won the Cleveland derby against Billy Forster by the same score line, and secured his final place with another 3-1 win, this time against Matt Leete.
Under 21 Women’s Singles
Emma Ludlow staged a miraculous comeback to defeat Mollie Patterson in the U21 Women’s Singles final. Trailing 2-0, Ludlow levelled thanks to 11-4 and 12-10 ends. She then saved numerous match points before eventually sealing it 12-10 in the fifth.
Ludlow stumbled in her groups, finishing runner-up to Bhavika Mistry. However, she rediscovered her form to dispatch winner of group one Isobel Ashley 9-11, 5-11, 11-7, 11-9, 11-9.
Patterson beat Mistry in the other semi-final 11-6, 11-7, 11-5 after finishing runner-up in her group.
Mixed Veteran Singles
Jannik Larsen finished the stronger in a very close Mixed Veteran Singles final beating Tomasz Rzeszotko 5-11, 11-7, 12-10, 4-11, 11-9.
Danish-man Larsen, who has been a terrific supporter of the Grand Prix series this season, cruised through to the final not dropping a set. He beat Tony Whelan in the quarter-finals and Shaun Bibby at the semi-final stage.
Rzeszotko, often the winner of the Veteran’s title, has to make do with second place this time around. En-route to the final he beat Samson Bekele 3-1 and David Randerson 3-0.
Open Doubles
The number one seeds lived up to their billing in the Open Doubles, with Craig Howieson and Sean Doherty being crowned champions. The Scottish pair beat Charlotte Carey & Joe Killoran in the final.
Howieson and Doherty weren’t ever in trouble and they eased their way to victory. Their biggest challenge came in the semi-final against the partnership of Kenny Lindsay and Ryan Fellows. Although all three ends were close, 12-10, 12-10, 11-8 the result never looked in doubt.
Carey and Killoran on the other hand did not find things easy going, but battled their way through to the final. They came from 2-0 down against Ryan Jenkins and Cherith Graham to top the group, and then repeated the performance in the semi-final, again coming from two behind, this time against Chris Doran and John Taylor.
Results
Men’s Singles
Tom Jarvis (Li) bt Ismaila Akindiya (NGR) 3-0 (11-4, 11-9, 11-2)
Women’s Singles
Kelly Sibley (Wa) bt Charlotte Carey (WAL) 3-1 (11-9, 6-11, 11-8, 11-3)
Under 21 Men’s Singles
Callum Evans (WAL) bt Josh Harland (Cv) 3-0 (11-4, 14-12, 12-10)
Under 21 Women’s Singles
Emma Ludlow (IRL) bt Mollie Patterson (Nk) 3-2 (5-11, 12-14, 11-4, 12-10, 12-10)
Mixed Veteran Singles
Jannik Larsen (DEN) bt Tomasz Rzeszotko (Ch) 3-2 (5-11, 11-7, 12-10, 4-11, 11-9)
Open Doubles
Craig Howieson (SCO) & Sean Doherty (SCO) bt Charlotte Carey (WAL) & Joe Killoran (Ch) 3-0 (11-5, 11-7, 11-6)
Player of the Weekend
Ethan Walsh (He)