Senior Schools International Championships Largs Inverclyde
Largs in Inverclyde was the destination for this year Senior School International championships. The event comprised of both team and singles events, which were played over 3 days. Wales had 10 players spread over 5 teams.
Teams Report.
The under 18’s Girls team of Lara Whitton and Niamh Scarborough, came home having won the gold medal, going undefeated as a team and Lara wining all her singles. Scoring 5-0 wins over England A, England B, Scotland, and Guernsey and 4-1 over Ireland and a 3-2 win over Jersey.
Harri Docherty and Oscar Marriot came home with a bronze medal in the under 16’s boys. With wins over Ireland B and Isle of Man before an epic 3-hour match to beat Scotland 3-2, before losing to England A to set up a play off for the Bronze.
Darcey Taylor and Ruby Elliott were the Welsh under 16’s pair, Starting the weekend with a 4-1 defeat to England A before victories over Ireland A, Isle of man and Scotland before a tight 3-2 win over England B for the Sliver Medal.
The under 14s Boys of Elis O’Conner and Toby Harwood finished in 7th from 10, scoring wins over Jersey B and Guernsey A both 5-0 in the group before a well fought playoff victory over Jersey A for 7th and 8th P
The under 14’s Girls was represented by Lily Elliott and Lily Walters, who both have years left in this age group. The girls came a credible 6th place out of 8 with victories over Guernsey A and B and a narrow 3-2 loss to Scotland could have pushed them slightly higher but wasn’t to be.
Singles Report.
The singles event saw all 10 Welsh players make it through their group and into the main event, and with some different results there could have been lots of all Welsh matches.
Lily Walters on her International debut did well to reach the Quarter finals losing to the top seed in her group and the 2nd seed in the quarters. Lily Elliott had the reverse line up losing to the second seed in her group before the top seed in the Quarter finals but showed progress securing a 3-0 win over a girl who had beaten her the day before in the team event.
The under 14’s saw both Toby and Elis make it through to the last 16 before going down to the 1st and 3rd seeds respectively. Ruby and Darcey, both made it through the under 16’s girls’ groups and to the quarterfinals, where they had to play the seed from their teammates group. Ruby going down to the 2nd seed but Darcey scoring a win to reach the Semi’s before going down to the number 1 seed and eventual winner to come away with a bronze medal.
The under 16’s boys were only one match away from playing each other with Oscar and Harri due to meet in quarter finals but unfortunately for Oscar he found his Scottish opponent too strong in the last 16. Harri Docherty made his way through the gears to reach the Semi finals losing out in a very tight match to the top seed to bring home another bronze medal.
The final medal of the weekend came from Lara in the under 18’s, having to over come her teammate in the group Lara made her way to the Semi’s where she unfortunately lost.
“What a Team and what a group of athletes we have” – Stephen Jenkins -National coach “The team spirit, sportsmanship, fight and determination throughout was visible for everyone to see and the hard work in the hall is starting to pay off. The coaching team was strengthened by three volunteer coaches (Jared Parsons, Sam Slatter and Cerys Evans) and all did fantastically well. We look forward to the future and the major events next including the European Youth Championships and the Commonwealth Games”.
