Hannah Crichton (nat/rank 18) and Jessica Winder (24) and their families, made the 350 mile journey south last weekend to the English National Junior Championships in Surrey to take part in the under 17 girls age group.

Pictured Jessica Winder & Hannah Crichton

Hannah seeded 9/16, had a tough draw on paper against Jessica Davies, however due to an exam clash she withdrew on the Friday morning meaning Hannah had a walkover to the top 16. Next up was Alicia Mead (5) seeded 5/8, who Hannah pushed close in the first game only losing 11/9, before succumbing to Alicia's better squash in the next two game to lose 3/0. Emily Peach (16) seeded 9/16 was Hannah's next opponent, and following a physical couple of opening games it was one game all. Hannah has played Emily often enough to know that she needs to keep the tempo up, her game tight, and her temper calm as Emily pushes the boundaries on court, and this she did taking the next two games with some imperious squash 11/6, 11/1, for a good 3/1 win.

Hannah played Ellie Cowie (28) next and was soon in trouble, one game down 11/5, and 10/3 down in the second, but Hannah didn't panic and reeled off seven game saving points in a row to level at 10/10. Ellie then had another game point at 11/10 but once again Hannah outplayed her, and claimed the last two points as well to take that game 13/11, for an amazing comeback. Ellie, not surprisingly was not the same player again in the match as Hannah took the next two games 11/6, 11/8 for a great win. Hannah was now playing for 9th/10th position against Hannah Williams (33), and following more than a years on-going injuries she was back to the form that previously had her in the top 10 of her age group. Hannah Williams opened up a lead only to see Hannah whittle it away, before she pushed on again to take the opener. Hannah had her chances in the second but got caught by Hannah Williams late in the game and it was 2/0. Hannah couldn't capitalise in the third as Hannah Williams attacked anything loose, and it was soon over as she won 3/0.

Hannah finished 10th in the country, 8 places above her current national ranking, an excellent result.

Jessica (24) and therefore unseeded at this event meant that she was going to get a top seeded player in the first round, and the draw wasn't kind to her. Eleanor Lake (8) seeded 5/8 was her opponent and despite Jessica getting to 8 in all three games, that was as good as it got, losing 3/0. This meant Jessica went into the knockout half of the draw, where you had to win to stay in the competition, or if you lost you were out. Another tough match followed next in Maria Bainbridge (29), and this was soon apparent as Jessica failed to register a point in the first game as she hit tins, out, and generally everywhere except where she needed to hit the ball in a pointless opener 11/0. A stern talking to at the break had the desired effect and Jessica turned up at last, but not enough to win the second either as Maria claimed that also 11/7 for a 2/0 lead. Jessica took more out of her opponent in the third and not before time as she took it 11/7 to give herself a chance at 1/2 down. Maria knew it was all or nothing in the 4th and she was first to 10 for match ball, but Jess levelled and took it into the tie break. Jessica had a couple of game balls, and Maria a couple of further match balls, but in the end Jessica prevailed taking it 16/14 to level the match 2 games all. Maria was a spent force in the 5th as a very relieved Jessica won 11/6 for a great comeback win 3/2.

Next up for Jessica was Jessica Watson (27) and apart from a tight second game where they again went to a tie break to decide it, in Jessica Winders favour 12/10, the opening game and third game were relatively comfortable for Jessica to win 3/0. Jessica Dixon (12) was another potential tough game for Jessica, however she opened well, taking the first game, only to see Jessica Dixon claim the second game, to level the match. Jessica was much more accurate than her opponent in the third and fourth as Jessica Dixon continually found herself stuck at the back of the court when Jessica was hitting winners at the front. A good 3/1 win put Jessica into the play off for 17th/18th position, and the chance for the last of the bigger points on offer this weekend. Her Final opponent was Katie Campion (57) and Jessica had too many shots, and too great a court coverage to be threatened by Katie. Jessica reeled off a fairly comfortable 3/0 win to end a satisfying run in to the points.

Jessica finished 17th in the country, 7 places above her current ranking, also an excellent result.