Talented juniors bode well for future

SEBASTIAN SMEED and Alderney's Katie Clark were the overall winners of the Ipes Island Under-Eight Mini Tennis Championships. Thirty-six competitors, including 12 Ridunians supported by their coach, Rosemary James, played in the events organised for boys and girls in three age groups - seven-and-under, eight-and-under and a section for 10-and-under newcomers.

The championships are the primary starter event in the Guernsey calendar and the round-robin format followed by knockout and consolation events ensured everyone kept playing to the end.

Mini tennis is now taught using three different speed balls and three different sizes of court, allowing youngsters to progress more gradually into the full-court game.

It was clear to all watching that the mini tennis court is a great place for young players to consolidate their understanding of the tactics of the game.

In the boys' eight-and-under final, Smeed took the first game comfortably 7-2, moving opponent Joshua Shand from side to side.

To his credit, the left-handed Shand chased everything that was thrown at him in the second game and at one point led 4-3.

However, Smeed continued to apply the pressure and came out a 7-4 winner.

Third and fourth places were secured respectively by Alderney's Daniel Drake and Anthony Palmiero, who both came through a high-quality quarter-final.

The girls' eight-and-under competition was a round robin and Clark took the honours, although she was tested, especially by eventual runner-up Atlanta Allen.

The seven-and-under groups provided some of the main highlights as the youngsters showed that they already had in place several of the skills required to become good players.

Millie Wood, daughter of island player Jimmy, took the girls' title as well as competing in the higher age group.

The boys' final was one of the tournament's longest matches and Drake from Alderney faced Brent Oldfield, the same opponent whom he had defeated in the eight-and-under quarter-final.

A determined Oldfield took the first game but Drake hit back to level the match.

Midway through the decider, the pair were still even and then Oldfield decided to take to the net, which proved to be the turning point and he ran out the winner.

The 10-and-under newcomers event, aimed at those not yet playing full-court tennis regularly, had a big entry.

Two Alderney players reached the boys' final, which comprised mainly long rallies, with Alex Finding defeating Rian Drake 10-8, 7-5.

Chloe Khaira came out on top of the girls' round robin.