Hat-trick of titles for exceptional Loveridge

THE Alice Loveridge juggernaut keeps on rolling. Guernsey's table tennis sensation at the weekend competed at the Stockton-on-Tees Junior Four-Star Championships.

The 12-year-old double national age group champion overcame top players from the British Isles to pick up the under-18 and 13-years-old titles and the grade one open crown as well.

She walked from the competition that featured more than 60 players with three of the four titles on offer.

'It was a very tiring weekend but it was great to play so many matches over two days against so many talented players,' said Loveridge.

'I really did not expect to win any of these titles. It made the long journey even more worthwhile.'

The Grammar School student has recently twice beaten the island men's champion, Phil Ogier.

She carried this form into the championships to take the under-13 award when she got the better of England's number two Lucy Davidson in straight sets in the final.

The English number one, Emily Bates, was defeated by Ireland's top player Chloe Nealon in the earlier rounds and Davidson knocked out Nealon in the semi-finals.

In the under-15 tournament, Loveridge did not taste such success as she fell to Rebekah Griffith of England in the semi-finals.

On to the second day and the under-18 event.

On her way to the final, the Sarnian, who was giving away six years to her opponents in some rounds, overcame two top English and two top Scottish players in some very close matches.

In the final, she came up against Jordan Layfield. Loveridge defeated the England player 3-1.

Now on a roll, Loveridge faced seven more tiring games in the grade one competition before she took care of English player Stacey Furnival, 3-1, to take the top spot on the podium.

Through support from local stockbrokers, Cenkos, Loveridge is now able to attend more of these top tournaments in the UK.

'We're delighted to do that for her,' said Cenkos' Jon Ravenscroft. 'It's great to see her talent flowering.'