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With Wimbledon a distant memory and the school holidays underway it was again time for Sundridge Park LTC, to host its annual junior tournament, sponsored for the fourth year by jdm Estate Agents, who have recently opened a new branch in Bromley. Unfortunately, the number of entrants was down on 2009. Mainly as a result of the recession, the group of Americans who visited last year did not return but entries were received from all around Kent, as well as Surrey and Essex.

Home club member, James Everett, who achieved an impressive treble, dominated the older boys events. In a high quality 18 & under final, which lasted over two hours James was eventually too strong for Karl Wimble from Hayes winning 7-6, 4-6, 7-5. Everett did not have such equal opposition in the 16 & under event, where he beat Cranbrook’s Freddie Petch comfortably in two sets. To finish his successful day off James then combined with Karl to win the 18 & under doubles beating George Kennedy and Joss Briody in two close sets. James has an excellent record in the tournament having now won the 14 & under event, 16 & under event twice and the 18 & under singles in the last three years.

In another long final of high quality, George Kennedy gained compensation for his doubles loss in recovering from a set down to defeat Streatham’s Aaron Dempster in the Men’s 21 & under singles. In the 14 & under events, Alex Walters from Chislehurst achieved a double partnering Siemon Thomas to win the doubles, having earlier beaten him in the singles final in two close sets. Tom Pullen and Beckenham’s Oliver Matthews respectively won the boy’s younger age groups (12 & under and 10 & under).

There was also a double in the girl’s events with Naomi Wylde winning 16 & under and 14 & under defeating Sundridge Park’s Alice Handy in both finals. Like Everett, Naomi was completing a hat trick of different singles titles at Sundridge Park over the last couple of years, having won the 14 & under event last year. The number of entries in the girls events were disappointing, however, it did not stop a potential star of the future being on show, with 10 year old Nell Miller from Bromley winning her event in style defeating Anna Pullen from Deal. Could she follow in the footsteps of Anne Keothavong, the current British number 3 who won the 10 & under singles at Sundridge Park in the early 1990’s?

As has often been the case the tournament was very lucky with the weather, which was fine all week apart from a couple of short showers at the start of the week. Another successful tournament was brought to a close with the prizes given out by Andrew Bailey, from the Bromley branch of jdm Estate Agents. The tournament committee, particularly secretary Hazel Hayden, put in a lot of work before and during the tournament, and running such an event is an all year commitment with preparation for 2011 already beginning. Roll on 2011 for another successful tournament.

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