Three more of the clubs juniors have been active recently at the Prince sponsored Newcastle Competition. Ross Singleton, Jackson Holliday and Michael Hobbs were the competitors and had relative success in their respective age groups.

Pictured left to right; Ross Singleton, Jackson Holliday, Michael Hobbs.

At under 11's Ross Singleton seeded 2, coasted through his three early rounds to set up a tough final against the number 3/4 seed William King, who had dispatched the top seed in his semi-final and was proving to be the in form player. Ross won the first 11/8, only to see William level the match by taking the second 11/9, William won a tight third on the tie breaker 13/11 to lead, only to see Ross demolish him in the fourth with a massive 11/1 game to square the match up once more. The last game was a battle royal and another tie break was needed to separate them with William claiming it 14/12, for a tight 3/2 win.

Jackson was in the under 13's and seeded 3/4. He too coasted through his opening couple of games and met his match in his semi-final, by meeting Oliver Walls the number 1 seed. Oliver meant business and opened up a two game lead, but Jackson was raising his game all the while and took the third and fourth to level the tie, and with a third consecutive 11/9 clinched the match and progressed to the final at the expense of the number 1 seed. In the final he played Michael Mattimore a 3/4 seed also, and Jackson took the first after a long tie breaker 15/13. Michael, who had been on court a shorter time in his semi-final, increased the pace in the second to take it 11/8, to level the match, and from then on Jacksons game fell away, losing the next two games 11/4, 11/2, to finish runner-up.

In the under 15's Michael Hobbs was making a return to the national circuit after over a years absence due to illness and injury, consequently his ranking has plummeted, which meant inevitably he would get a high seed in the first round of this competition. Sure enough he got a 9/16 seed and just lost in three straight games, he was now in the plate competition. Undeterred he played some good squash in his first plate match winning easily, as he also did in his semi-final. This put him into the final against Michael Bowes a 9/16 seed, who inexplicably lost his opening game. Michael started like a train and was soon two games to the good, both 11/5, but he then hit the buffers as Michael Bowes showed some form to turn the tide by patiently taking the next two games 11/6, 11/7, to level the match. Michael wasn't to be denied though as he re-focussed and claimed the decider easily 11/4, and the match 3-2, to win the plate competition.

All three will doubtless have more success as the season progresses and best wishes to all. Ross has his first taste of a full national event when he plays in the new Under 11 Nationals in early April, good luck to him.