There were a host of close-run finals in two memorable days of competition at the Nottingham Grand Prix, with Evie Collier and Tomasz Lewandowski taking the top singles prizes.

Men’s Singles

Mike O’Driscoll was edged out by Tomasz Lewandowski as he narrowly failed to add to the title he won at the Crawley Grand Prix. Lewandowski both led and was behind before finally clinching a 3-2 (8-11, 11-9, 11-9, 8-11, 11-7) victory.

Lewandowski came through the top half of the draw by defeating series champion and current leader Chris Doran in four games, clinching it 11-8, 5-11, 11-7, 11-6. It was also four games for O’Driscoll in his last-four clash against Mateusz Golebidwski, which he won 11-2, 9-11, 11-8, 11-6).

Women’s Singles

Evie Collier won the event thanks to a 3-1 final victory over Band 1 champion, former Moldova international Elena Todirca. Collier took the victory 11-1, 6-11, 11-9, 11-5.

Collier said: “It’s great to play in my own home county, I haven’t been able to play in many GPs this season, but hope to attend in some of the remaining events.

“The standard of play was excellent and it was good to see and play with some new players. Although many of the games in the run-up to the finals were close, the toughest was definitely the final. Elena played in a different style which meant that I had to concentrate harder in order to win.  There were several points during the game that I won after rallies which gave me the self-confidence I could achieve the top spot.”

Both semi-finals went the distance, Collier overcoming Deruiqi Yang 4-11, 11-9, 11-7, 4-11, 11-8 and Todirca defeating Yolanda King 13-11, 3-11, 10-12, 11-7, 11-8).

We regret that, due to technical problems, we are unable to share a video of the women’s final.

Under-21 Men’s

The final went all the way and it was a home victory for University of Nottingham student Gabriel Achampong, who defeated Israel Awolaja 3-2 (13-11, 8-11, 8-11, 13-11, 11-5).

Achampong had a real tussle with James Hobson in the semis, coming from two down and holding his nerve in a protracted deciding set to win 3-2 (9-11, 8-11, 12-10, 11-7, 16-14).

Awolaja was also behind, twice, in his semi-final against Josh Bennett before he prevailed 3-2 (7-11, 11-7, 8-11, 11-7, 11-9).

Under-21 Women’s

Danielle Kelly enjoyed a 3-0 victory over Beth Richards (2, 7, 9) to take the trophy.

The beaten semi-finalists were Lara Whitton, who fell 3-0 (11-3, 11-5, 11-7) to Richards, and Letitia McMullan, defeated 3-1 (11-6, 11-7, 7-11, 11-3) by Kelly.

Veterans

Simon Griew was winner on the day as he triumphed over Ben Willson in another close final – this one going to 3-2 (3-11, 11-4, 11-9, 12-14, 11-8) in Griew’s favour.

In the semi-finals, Griew edged out Rajinder Singh 3-2 (7-11, 11-5, 9-11, 11-6, 14-12), while it was three straight (7, 6, 11) for Willson against Ryan Stockham.

Open Doubles

The round-robin event was won by Chris Doran & Ethan Chapman, who finished ahead of Liam McTiernan & Joe Pilkington

Men’s Band 1

Callum Evans denied Adam Harrison a home win as he beat the University of Nottingham student 3-0 (4, 9, 11).

But most of the drama had come in the semi-finals, where Evans defeated Andreas Wenzel 3-2 (11-9, 11-5, 17-19, 10-12, 11-5) and Harrison beat his former varsity colleague Liam McTiernan in a decider (12-10, 7-11, 11-7, 9-11, 11-4).

Women’s Band 1

Elena Todirca beat Mollie Patterson 3-1 (7-11, 11-7, 19-17, 13-11) to win the title. She had earlier beaten Yolanda King 3-2 (6-11, 11-9, 11-5, 7-11, 17-15) in the semis while Patterson beat Letitia McMullan in three.

Men’s Band 2

Andreas Wenzel was the victor and Zak Cantor the runner-up – Wenzel prevailing 3-1 (9-11, 11-4, 11-5, 11-4) in the final.

Women’s Band 2

Mollie Patterson beat her Band 1 victor Elena Todirca on her way to winning the lower Band. She came through a semi-final in five (11-6, 8-11, 6-11, 13-11, 11-5) to set up a final against Raquel Sao Pedro, which Patterson won 3-1 (9-11, 11-8, 11-7, 11-3).

Men’s Band 3

Band 4 semi-finalist David Gofton went better in the higher Band, taking the title with a 3-0 (11-8, 11-1, 12-10) victory over Thomas Earley.

Gofton had a remarkable quarter-final against Ho Yin Lee, eventually getting over the line 3-2 (11-8, 11-6, 8-11, 10-12, 18-16).

Women’s Band 3

Raquel Sao Pedro was again a beaten finalist as she was defeated by Natalia Ianau in a real battle that went to five games. Ianau came from 2-1 down to win it 3-2 (11-6, 5-11, 8-11, 14-12, 11-9).

Men’s Band 4

Luke Greenfield came through in five sets against Rory Scott, claiming the title 3-2 (8-11, 11-5, 8-11, 11-3, 13-11). Greenfield also needed five in the semi-finals, coming from behind to defeat David Gofton 3-2 (11-4, 4-11, 8-11, 11-9, 11-6).

Women’s Band 4

Swetha Katri was the winner but it took five sets to get the better of Lara Whitton, Katri eventually emerging 3-2 (11-8, 12-14, 9-11, 11-5, 11-9).

She also needed five in the semis, where she overcame Susie Dilloway (10-12, 11-3, 8-11, 11-5, 12-10).

Men’s Band 5

Masahiro Takano was the winner, defeating Mihnea Dascalu in three straight (11-6, 14-12, 11-9).

Men’s Band 6

Masahiro Takano completed a double as he defeated Gellert Moravcsik in three (4, 2, 5) in the final.