TENNIS: Young aces serve up a treat at Riverside

Smile please: Natalya Ogunwale, Claudia Johnson, Jayden Ogunwale, Sofia Conte and Jacquelyn Ogunwale

The Bedfordshire Junior County Closed finals were held at Riverside Tennis Club, Bedford recently and proved to be a great end to an exciting week of great matches, showcasing young talent.

There were 111 entries from across Bedfordshire, playing over 150 matches on the clubs’ nine courts over the six days of the event.

The week started with the mini events which saw some exceptional talent on display.

James Dagg won the Mini Red Event and Edward Dagg kept up the success but narrowly missed out in the boys Mini orange final, losing to Ezra Annafi in three sets. Megan Brook won the girls event beating Katarina Verzhbitskaya and lost to Elizaveta in the Mini Green.

In the main draw finals, Ogunwale sisters, Jacquelyn and Natalya, were the stand out players. Natalya won the Girls 14s, 16s and 18s event. Jacquelyn won the Girls 12+U event.

The girls went on to play Claudia Johnson and Sofia Conte in the Girls 18+U Doubles event as they were edged out 6-4, 7-5.

Will Athow won the 18+U boys event for the second year in and row and there was more success for Riverside player Peter Jamieson who won the Boys 16+U event but lost in the boys 21+U to Jacob Turley.

The prizes were presented by Dave Rawlinson from Beds LTA and tournament referee Anna Jacobs.

Coach Neil Frankel said: “The event gives local players an opportunity to be crowned as county champion.

“It also offers the up and coming players a chance to breakthrough into the county squads which will commence training again in Mid-September.”