Cheddar LTC ran its biggest open junior tournament yet when it held its first grade 4 event over four days of the February half term.  A total of around seventy children from around the west country and south Wales entered the eight singles events, from boys and girls 10U mini green up to boys and girls 16U.

Entries from boys outnumbered those from girls by 4:1, which meant that unfortunately both the 10U and 12U girls events had to be cancelled. The girls 14U and 16U events were well supported though, largely by local players receiving squad coaching at the club.  On the other hand, entry numbers for the boys events were so high that at 14U the club ran a grade 4 and a grade 5 tournament concurrently and at 12U the club was able to run separate grade 4, 5 and 6 events, using Winscombe LTC’s courts generously loaned for the grade 6.

Wintry weather on the first day meant players were on and off court for shower breaks and 10U matches were shortened to a single set after the first round.  The comfortable clubhouse was crammed full of players and supporters, but spirits remained good and generally everyone accepted the situation.  Fortunately the four all-weather courts drain perfectly, so as soon as the rain stopped play could continue.

For the remaining three days the weather remained fine and matches took place without interruption.   Around a dozen of the competitors receive regular squad coaching at Cheddar, an indication of the high quality of coaching the club is providing through its partnership with DC Tennis.

Club chairman and tournament organiser Peter Colton declared the event a great success and looked forward to the club’s next junior open from 4-6th June.

Full results: boys under 10s: Finley Chesson (Surrey) bt Robbie Davies (Somerset) 4-1; boys under 12 grade 4: Callum Mooney (Somerset) bt Alexander Vincent (Avon) 2-4, 4-2, 1-0 (10-8); boys under 12 grade 5: Ben Procter (Wiltshire) bt Dougal Collins-Smith (Somerset) 2-4, 4-1, 1-0 (10-5); boys under 12 grade 6: Lawrence Costello (Somerset) bt Tim Stevenson (Somerset) 5-3, 5-3; girls under 14: Holly Fernandes Lewis (South Wales) bt Alexandra Alden (Avon) 4-2, 4-0; boys under 14 grade 4: Lewis Taylor (Avon) bt Kieran Davies (Somerset) 4-5 (7-4), 4-2, 1-0 (10-7); boys under 14 grade 5: Hamish OMahony (Somerset) bt Alexander Vaughan (Somerset) 4-0, 4-0; girls under 16: Vicky Smith (Somerset) bt Vanessa Brill (Somerset) 4-1, 4-0; boys under 16: Seth Cunningham (Somerset) bt Harry Bushill (Avon) 4-1, 4-1.