Champions crowned at 2025 Merthyr Junior Open

The end of October saw Merthyr College host the 2025 Merthyr Junior Open, a premier event on the junior table tennis calendar.

Marking the third occasion the tournament has been held at the excellent facility, the day saw intense competition across four categories, U11s, U13s, U15s and U19s. The schedule was split into two sessions, with two events running in the morning and two in the afternoon.

The competitive atmosphere resulted in numerous closely contested matches and several notable upsets across the day.  

The U11s event provided a high-energy start to the day.  

Open Champion: Alfie Giles

Alfie Giles put in a standout performance, demonstrating his capability early by topping his group with a crucial 3-1 victory over the pre-tournament top seed. He carried this form into the final where he met Timmy Muil. Timmy had an impressive run himself, reaching the final without dropping a single set. However, it was Alfie who secured gold after defeating Timmy in the final.  

Plate Champion: Sophie Williams

In the U11 Plate competition, Sophie Williams overcame a tricky start to find her rhythm. Her resilience paid off as she clinched the Plate title with a strong, deserved win against Reuben Francis-Li in the final.  

The U15s event was marked by a dominant winner and a highly competitive  field.

Open Champion: Oliver Harvey

Oliver Harvey delivered a near-flawless performance, winning all his matches and dropping only one set throughout the entire event. This single dropped set was against Penny Muil, who herself had a strong run to the final. The final match was a fiercely fought battle between the number one male and female seeds, but Oliver ultimately secured the victory.  

Plate Champion: Pollyanna Protheroe

Pollyanna Protheroe earned the Plate title after a series of hard-earned wins against her fellow squad players. Her matches were exciting and visibly showcased a huge improvement in her ability. She met Joseph Conway in the final, who had displayed great composure in his run. Pollyanna secured the Plate with a decisive 3-1 victory.   

The afternoon session commenced with the U13s.  

Open Champion: Jessie Daniels

Jessie Daniels had a powerful tournament run, winning her group before facing a demanding challenge in the knockout stages. This included a crucial 3-2 victory over Sebastian Green, followed by a convincing win over Josh Williams, and culminating in an intense final against Toby Young. Jessie’s determination saw her emerge as the U13s Champion. Toby Young also had an impressive day, narrowly beating U11 winner Alfie Giles in a close semi-final to secure a well-deserved 2nd place.  

Plate Champion: Joseph Conway

The U13 Plate saw a close final between two teammates. Joseph Conway won the Plate after demonstrating consistency through multiple excellent four- and five-set performances. He defeated Eloise Burnell to reach the final, where he faced Tom Williams. Tom had displayed great form with two thought-out 3-0 wins in his previous rounds, but the final was a very close five-setter, with Joseph taking home the Plate title. A valiant effort was shown by Tom in securing the runner-up spot.  

The final event of the day was the U19s, a tight group of players.  

Open Champion: Oliver Harvey

Oliver Harvey faced an early setback, finishing second in his group after a loss to the unseeded Jack Morgan. He showed fantastic resolve in the knockout stages, battling through a five-set epic (11-8 in the fifth) against the No. 2 seed Jacob Davies, before overcoming his teammate Dylan Williams 3-1. Meanwhile, Jack Morgan had his own impressive run, taking down the No. 1 Seed, Luca Strinati. The final proved to be a high-stakes rematch between the group rivals, Oliver Harvey and Jack Morgan. In a tense four-set match, including an extended game that finished 16-14 in Oliver’s favour, he managed to overthrow his group-stage conqueror, securing the U19s Open title in a commanding display.  

Plate Champion: Ollie Giles

After narrowly missing out on the main draw, Ollie Giles bounced back with determination in the Plate competition. He navigated a close four-set match against Jayden Tang to advance to the final. There, he faced Pollyanna Protheroe. In a tightly contested three-set battle, Ollie took the Plate title, with Pollyanna finishing as the runner-up.  

  

The 2025 Merthyr Junior Open was a resounding success, once again demonstrating the high standard and fierce competitive spirit of junior table tennis talent. Congratulations are extended to all competitors for their dedication and to our champions—Alfie Giles (U11 Open), Oliver Harvey (U15 Open & U19 Open), Jessie Daniels (U13 Open), Sophie Williams (U11 Plate), Pollyanna Protheroe (U15 Plate), Joseph Conway (U13 Plate), and Ollie Giles (U19 Plate)—for their outstanding achievements.

We look forward to welcoming everyone back next year!