Johnson lands British Universities singles

ELENA JOHNSON has become the British Universities champion. The 19-year-old Guernsey star, who is studying at Birmingham, continued her excellent form of late to come out on top of a field of 104 players at Nottingham University over the weekend.

Seeded 3/4 in the individual tournament, Johnson received a bye through the first round before earning comfortable victories over Isa Guha, Hayley Cowin, Helen Ashdown and Frances Heslop to reach the last four.

But the major test for the Island Games gold medallist was to come in the semi-finals. Her opponent was number one seed, defending champion and Scotland international Kathryn Graham.

The Stirling University student took a tight opening set 13-11 but Johnson hit back in the second, winning it 13-10 and she had established an early 3-0 lead in the decider when Graham retired.

'Elena said that she felt she was flying at that point. She felt good and she felt fit,' said Anne Johnson, Elena's mother.

'Kathryn is a Scottish international and she is also older than Elena. For her, that is a big scalp, however she got it.'

In the final, Johnson faced her unseeded Birmingham University colleague Mary Le Druillenec and it turned out to be a one-sided affair with the Sarnian cruising to an 11-2, 11-2 win.

She also reached the final of the mixed doubles event with Gert Kunka.

However, the Birmingham pair had to settle for second place as they lost to number two seeds Danny and Emma Hendry from Loughborough.