National Junior Championships: It was double delight for the Drinkhall brothers from Loftus as the National Junior Championships in King's Lynn last weekend, for elder Bryn took the Under-18 singles title, and younger Paul collected the Under-15 honours.
In addition, the Ormesby Club and Cleveland County players each won a doubles title: Bryn the junior mixed, and Paul the cadet doubles. Bryn, 17, became the national junior champion for the first time from a position as third seed, and was seriously tested only once in the event. In the final he defeated fourth seed Greg Baker of Warwickshire surprisingly easily 11-3, 11-8, 11-8. The semi-final win over Lancashire's Adam Bleakley was achieved in four games.
Paul, 13 in January, took his cadet singles title against the defending champion Tim Warnall of Northants by 11-8, 11-8, 11-6. To reach that stage he had seen off two brothers from Buckinghamshire, but less easily; Bradley Evans in the last four and Gavin Evans in the quarters.
The Ormesby player had also reached the semi-finals in the Under-18 singles. He had knocked out Yorkshire's Stephen Denny but then fell to Greg Baker in the semis.
Andrew Leighton from Darlington, ranked 41, made the last eight in the junior singles but was stopped by Baker, in five games. Bryn Drinkhall won the junior mixed with Surrey's Joanna Parker, the runner-up.
Results - Boys Singles: Final: Bryn Drinkhall (CLE) beat Greg Baker (WAR) 11-3, 11-8, 11-8. Semi-finals: Drinkhall beat Adam Bleakley (LAN) 11-3, 12-14, 11-5, 11-5; Baker beat Paul Drinkall (CLE) 11-8, 12-10, 11-2.
Quarter-finals: B Drinkhall beat Darius Knight (SUR) 11-9, 3-11, 8-11, 11-8, 11-7; P Drinkhall beat Stephen Denny (YOR) 17-15v14-12, 11-5; Baker beat Andrew Leighton (DUR) 11-5, 11-9, 11-4; Bleakley beat Peter Cleminson (ESS). Round three: Leighton beat David Hayes (BUC) 7-11, 11-6, 4-11, 11-8, 11-8. Round two: Leighton beat Tim Yarnall (NOR) 10-12, 7-11, 11-5, 11-8, 14-12; Hayes beat David Meads (DUR) 14-12, 7-11, 11-9, 8-11, 12-10. Girls Singles: Final: Georgina Walker (NOT) beat Joanna Parker (SUR) 11-7, 11-5, 12-10. Boys Doubles: Final: Chris Gregory (SHR) and A Bleakley beat P Clemison and G Baker 11-9, 6-11, 11-2, 11-8. Quarter-finals: Gregory and Bleakley beat Daniel Reed (CLE) and G Evans (BUC). Mixed Doubles: Final: B Drinkhall and J Parker beat Craig Bryant (DEV) and Kate Steward (SOM) 11-9, 6-11, 11-6, 8-11, 11-6. Semi-finals: Bryant and Steward beat P Drinkhall and Alison Embling (ESS). Quarterfinals: Drinkhall and Embling beat A Leighton and Stephanie Donnelly.
Cadet Events - Boys Singles: Final: Paul Drinkhall (CLE) beat Tim Yarnall (NOR) 11-8, 11-8, 11-6. Semi-finals: Drinkhall beat Bradley Evans (BUC) 11-9, 8-11, 11-3, 11-9; Yarnall beat D Knight. Quarter-finals: Drinkhall beat Gavin Evans (BUC) 15-13, 12-10, 6-11, 11-9; Evans beat David Meads (DUR) 12-10, 13-11, 11-9. Round two: Daniel Reed (CLE) beat Mark Simpson (DUR) 11-6, 8-11, 9-11, 11-4, 11-9. Girls Singles: Final: Kelly Sibley (WAR) beat Lauren Spink (NORF) 11-9, 9-11, 11-5, 11-7. Boys Doubles: Final: Paul Drinkhall and D Knight beat B Evans and G Evans 7-11, 15-13, 11-8, 11-8. Quarter-finals: T Yarnall and D Rees (ESS) beat Daniel Reed (CLE) and Nicholas Skipp (CLE). Final: K Sibley and L Spink beat Gemma Yarnley (KE) and Anusha Seneviratne (KE) 11-1, 11-6, 11-4.
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