19 Welsh players, including trio of sisters, compete at Safir Open 2025
19 Welsh players made the journey to Orebro, Sweden to compete at the Safir Open 2025. The tournament not only showcased the talent within the squad but also provided valuable European experience for many of the younger athletes.
A highlight of the event came from Harri Docherty, who reached the quarter-finals of the Boys’ 23 event after a series of stellar performances. His journey through the knockout stages was a testament to his skill, determination, and resilience against high-level international competition. Harri also made it to the last 64 in the Men’s Elite event and the last 32 in the U21 category, underlining his consistency across age groups.
The Welsh contingent saw multiple players advance to the knockout rounds.
Also in the Boys’ 23 category, Toby Harwood, Harry Street, Oliver Jordan, and Austin Hibbert all reached the last 64, showing great promise. On the girls’ side, Lowri Hurd reached the last 16, while Ruby Elliott, Lily Walters, Izzy Turner-Samuels, and Elenor Turner-Samuels made it to the last 32.
In the U21 competitions, Lowri and Harri stood out, reaching the last 32; while 15-year-old Lily and 16-year-old Toby both made the last 64 in the older age category. The younger age categories also saw commendable efforts with Ffion Evans and Penny Muil reaching the last 16 in the U14 Girls’ event, while Evie finished runner-up in the U13 Girls consolation event with Ffion reaching the semi-final.
For many of the younger players, including Jacob, Nye, Oliver H, Dylan, Jenson, Penny, and Ffion, the Safir Open marked their first experience competing on the European stage.
Despite the challenges of international competition, they showcased remarkable composure and gained invaluable experience that will undoubtedly shape their future development.
Trio of sisters represent Wales at the Safir Open 2025
Away from the results, it was also a standout moment as three sisters all took to the international stage at the same time. Eleanor Turner-Samuels (16), Izzy Turner-Samuels (15) and Evie Turner-Samuels (11) all represented their country together at the Safir Open.
Mum and Dad (Emma and Nick) said:
“We’re incredibly proud of our girls for representing Wales together at the Safir Open. It’s a special moment to see all three of them competing on the same stage, wearing the Welsh colours. They’ve put in so much hard work, and we can’t wait to see them take on this challenge.”
Meanwhile, when asked what it meant to them, the girls said:
“Playing together for Wales is an amazing experience.”
Reflecting on the tournament, the Welsh team coaches praised the players’ commitment, resilience, and sportsmanship. The experience gained from competing against top European talent will be instrumental as the team continues to develop and set sights on future competitions.
Congratulations to all the players, and we look forward to seeing them build on this success in upcoming events!
Full list of players:
Harri Docherty; Toby Harwood; Harry Street; Oliver Jordan; Austin Hibbert; Nye Evans; Jacob Davies; Oliver Harvey; Dylan Williams; Jenson Denton-Smith; Ruby Elliott; Lily Walters; Eleanor Turner-Samuels; Isobella Tuner-Samuels; Amelie David; Penny Muil; Evie Turner-Samuels; Lowri Hurd (Representing Grantham College); Ffion Evans (representing Bristol TTA).