Day one of the Blackpool Grand Prix saw impressive performances across the board from the Scottish contingent, namely Rebecca Plaistow who won both bands 3 & 4. Dylan Curry took home the winning trophy for men’s band 2, whilst Keir Morton took runner-up in men’s band 3.

Men’s Band 1

Number 2 seed Ryota Kawai showed no sign of faltering as he comfortably won Men’s Band 1 with a 3-0 defeat of James Hobson. Kawai looked in control of the match throughout and looked in great form which will bode well for tomorrows Men’s Open event.

Winner Ryota Kawai (right), runner-up James Hobson (middle) and Board Member Tom Purcell (left)

 

Women’s Band 1

Emily Bolton wrapped up the Women’s Band 1 event winning all bar one of her matches in the round-robin format. Bolton was taken close by eventual runner-up Yolanda King, and beaten by Lynda Flaws in a match which may well contain the set of the weekend (a thrilling 27-25 end, taken by Flaws). However Bolton showed enough to hang on for a well deserved first place.

Winner Emily Bolton (left) and runner-up Yolanda King (right).

Men’s Band 2

Having played against one another in the group stages Dylan Curry and Naphat Boonyaprapa met again in the final of the Men’s Band 2 event at Blackpool. After beating Boonyaprapa in the groups Curry will have felt confident. This confidence showed as Curry dispatched his opponent with a convincing 3-0 win.

Winner Dylan Curry (right) and runner-up Naphat Boonyaprapa (left)

Women’s Band 2

Charlotte Bardsley won the Women’s Band 2 for the second Grand Prix in a row. Following on from a successful showing at Tipton, Bardsley locked up the band 2 win in Blackpool by beating opponent Bhavika Mistry 3-0 (11-7, 11-9, 11-8).

Winner Charlotte Bardsley (left) and runner-up Bhavika Mistry (right)

Men’s Band 3

Joe Killoran beat Keir Morton in three to seal the Men’s Band 3 Final. Killoran controlled the game throughout giving Morton little chance to make his mark, taking the three games 11-5, 11-7, 11-7.

Winner Joe Killoran (left) and Runner-up Keir Morton (right)

Women’s Band 3

Rebecca Plaistow made it a double, winning the Band 3 event to add to her Band 4 win earlier in the day. Plaistow continued an impressive day by beating Andrea Harrison 3-0 in the final. Harrison came close in all three ends but couldn’t quite capitalise.

Winner Rebecca Plaistow (right) and Runner-up Andrea Harrison (left)

Men’s Band 4

Timothy Franke beat Jason Thompson to win the Men’s Band 4 final. Thompson won the first set with relative ease, only for the young German to come back strong and win three consecutive ends 11-5, 11-3, 11-6.

Winner Timothy Franke (right) and runner-up Jason Thompson (left)

Women’s Band 4

Rebecca Plaistow came away the win in an exciting final to the Women’s Band 4 event. Opponent Janet Adams started off the stronger of the two players taking the first and third end to take a promising 2-1 lead. However a commanding 11-1 win in the fourth end seemed to swing the momentum for Plaistow as the Scottish player went on to take a 3-2 win. Plaistow has now made that back to back wins in band 4 after also winning in the previous Grand Prix at Tipton.

Winner Rebecca Plaistow (right) and runner- up Janet Adams (left)

Men’s Band 5

Shaun Ellis was the victor in the Men’s Band 5 after beating opponent Zak Cantor in four. Cantor started off strong, winning the first end with ease. Things didn’t look good for Ellis as he took a tumble in the second end which caused the Yorkshireman some obvious discomfort. However Ellis found his groove and after a tight 14-12 win in the second he seemed to take control, taking the 3rd and 4th ends to 8 and 6 respectively.

Winner Shaun Ellis (lLeft) and runner-up Zak Cantor (right)

Men’s Band 6

Matthew Fields beat Zeshi Wang to win the Men’s Band 6 event. Both players wre seeded in the lower end of the draw but overcame the odds to reach the final. Wang took a tight first end 12-10, however Fields seemed to find another gear as he motored on to a 3-1 victory.

Winner Matthew Fields (left) and runner-up Zeshi Wang (right)

 

Results
Men’s Band 1
Ryota Kawai (Mi) bt James Hobson (Y) 3-0, (11-4, 11-4, 12-10)
Women’s Band 1
Emily Bolton (Cu) won Round Robin. Yolanda King (Su) runner-up.
Men’s Band 2
Dylan Curry (SCO) bt Naphat Boonyaprapa (Ng) 3-0 (11-4, 11-5, 11-9)
Women’s Band 2
Charlotte Barsley (St) bt Bhavika Mistry (Np) 3-0 (11-7, 11-9, 11-8)
Men’s Band 3
Joe Killoran (Ch) bt Keir Morton (SCO) 3-0 (11-5, 11-7, 11-7)
Women’s Band 3
Rebecca Plaistow (SCO) bt Andrea Harrison (La) 3-0 (11-8, 11-7, 11-9)
Men’s Band 4
Timothy Franke (GER) bt Jason Thompson (Wo) 3-1 (7-11, 11-5, 11-3, 11-6)
Women’s Band 4
Rebecca Plaistow (SCO) bt Janet Adams (Y) 3-2 (7-11, 11-5, 8-11, 11-1, 11-7)
Men’s Band 5
Shaun Ellis (Y) bt Zak Cantor (La) 3-1 (4-11, 14-12, 11-8, 11-6)
Men’s Band 6
Matthew Fields (La) bt Zeshi Wang (Av) 3-1 (10-12, 11-6, 11-5, 11-5)