The inaugural South-East Schools’ Championships took place at Tonbridge School.  On a very cold day, 29 players from Christ’s Hospital, Eastbourne, Tonbridge and Whitgift played both a singles and doubles tournament on a variety of Rugby and Winchester courts.  A friendly but competitive spirit marked the day and there were some great games.  In the singles pools in the morning none was closer than the Colts pool B where no fewer than four out of the six games went to 11-10.

The senior singles final was between Andea Gemade of CH and Chayton Kent of Eastbourne.  Chayton took the first game 12-11 but gradually Andea’s shots dominated and he won 11-12, 11-4, 11-8 to become the first winner of the Hamilton trophy.  In the Colts singles no one could challenge Tom Walters of Whitgift and he convincingly beat Edward Richards of Eastbourne 11-6, 11-4 to become the first winner of the Wheeler trophy.

The doubles started mid-afternoon and there were again some excellent matches.  In the senior doubles Tonbridge 1 just edged out Eastbourne 1 in a close semi-final before being outhit by CH 1 in the final.  Andea Gemade and Rory Keddie won the Neil Arnott trophy beating Nick Whitney and Ben Jones 11-8, 11-1.  The Colts ended up an all Eastbourne affair and Philipp Teterin and Edward Richards beat Ollie Thompson and Marcus Coffey 11-3, 11-3 to win the Torkington trophy.

It was excellent to welcome two of the donators of the trophies, Tony Hamilton and Neil Arnott, to present them at the end of a long, cold day.  Greetings were sent by the other two, Ian Torkington and Nigel Wheeler.  This had been a very successful day and all eligible were looking forward to the following year.

Results

Senior Singles

Pool A: Gemade (Christ's Hospital) v Jones (Tonbridge) 15-8; Crofts (Eastbourne) v Jones 15-9, Gemade v Crofts 15 -5

Pool B: Eastwood (CH) v Dohyan (Whitgift) 11-8, Eastwood v Whitney (T) 4-11, Zaidi (E) v Dohyan 11-0, Eastwood v Zaidi 5-11, Whitney v Dohyan 11-2, Zaidi v Whitney 9-11

Pool C: Callaghan (CH) v Rider (T) 11-7, Rider v Shui (W) 6-11, Callaghan v Batson (E) 6-11, Callaghan v Shui 11-4, Batson v Rider 11-1, Batson v Shui 11-10

Pool D: Keddie (CH) v Davison (T) 15-4, Kent (E) v Davison 15-2, Keddie v Kent 12-15

Knockout section:

Semi-finals: Gemade v Whitney 15-13, Kent v Batson 15-6

Final: Gemade v Kent 11-12, 11-4, 11-8

First Plate: Semi-finals: Crofts v Zaidi 15-11, Keddie v Callaghan 15-5. Final: Crofts v Keddie 15-13

Second Plate: Semi-finals: Jones v Eastwood 15-8, Shui v Davison 15-8.  Final: Jones v Shui 15-9

Senior Doubles

First Round: Tonbridge 1 v Christ’s Hospital 2 15-10, Eastbourne 1 v Tonbridge 2 15-7

Semi-finals: Christ’s Hospital 1 v Eastbourne 2 11-3, 11-0, Tonbridge 1 v Eastbourne 1 11-1, 11-5

Final: Christ’s Hospital 1 v Tonbridge 1 11-8, 11-1

Plate: Semi-final: Christ’s Hospital 2 v Tonbridge 2 15-9. Final: Eastbourne 2 v Christ’s Hospital 2 15-9

Colts Singles

Pool A: Morgan (CH) v Martyn (T) 8-11, Martyn v Walters (W) 2-11, Morgan v Thompson (E) 3-11, Thompson v Walters 0-11, Morgan v Walters 1-11, Thompson v Martyn 8-11

Pool B: George (T) v Worne (W) 10-11, Sessions (CH) v Worne 10-11, Coffey (E) v George 11-3, Sessions v George 11-10, Coffey v Worne 11-2, Sessions v Coffey 11-10

Pool C: Norris (CH) v Richards (E) 3-15, Norris v Hutt (T) 1-15, Richards v Hutt 15-14

Pool D: Higginson (CH) v Henderson (T) 11-9, Higginson v Brandon (W) 4-11, Teterin (E) v Henderson 11-2, Henderson v Brandon 1-11, Higginson v Teterin 2-11, Teterin v Brandon 11-3

Knockout section:

Semi-finals: Walters v Sessions 15-2, Richards v Teterin 15-13

Final: Walters v Richards 11-6, 11-4

First Plate: Semi-finals: Coffey v Martyn 15-6, Brandon v Hutt 16-15. Final: Coffey v Brandon 15-5

Second Plate: Semi-finals: Morgan v Worne 15-6, Higginson v Norris 15-6. Final: Morgan v Higginson 15-12

Colts Doubles

First Round: Tonbridge 2 v Christ’s Hospital 1 15-12, Eastbourne 2 v Whitgift 15-2, Christ’s Hospital 2 v Tonbridge 1 15-7

Semi-Finals: Eastbourne 1 v Tonbridge 2 11-6, 11-2, Eastbourne 2 v Christ’s Hospital 2 11-8, 11-4

Final: Eastbourne 1 v Eastbourne 2 11-3, 11-3

Plate: Semi-Final: Tonbridge 1 v Whitgift 1 15-3. Final: Christ’s Hospital 1 v Tonbridge 1 15-12