The 2023 ProAir British Junior Championships (BJC) came to its conclusion on Sunday, with Jonah Bryant (Sussex) and Amelie Haworth (Hants) lifting the Boys and Girls Under 19 Don Sanderson trophies in Sheffield.
Top seed Bryant, a two-time BJC champion faced [3/4] Abd-Allah Eissa (Warks) for the title, with Bryant coming away victorious in straight games.
Both players started strongly, with a number of lengthy rallies drawing animated applause from spectators, but it was the 2022 BJC Under 19 runner-up Bryant who managed to take the all-important first game 11-9. As the match went on, the top seed moved from strength to strength, eventually taking the following two games 11-4, 11-5 to claim the honours.
After the match, Jonah said: “I’ve been playing Abd-Allah since the age of ten, so it’s quite fitting to have played him in my last BJC final.
“He’s a tough opponent, so I’m really happy to have won.”
Bryant was joined in the winner’s circle by [1] Amelie Haworth, who got the better of 14-year-old [5/8] Mariam Eissa (Warks) to secure her fourth BJC title. After taking a nip and tuck first game 11-9, the four-time English Junior champion moved through the gears to secure a straight games victory.
“I’m over the moon,” Haworth said afterwards. “The under 19s title has always felt like the most prestigious title for me; it’s always been the one I’ve looked up to and have watched through the years and the one I’ve wanted to win the most.”
The Boys Under 17 event saw Dylan Roberts (Kent) capture his maiden BJC title after fighting back from two games down to defeat No.2 seed Archie Turnbull (Wales) in a thrilling five-game encounter.
“Yeah I’m very happy about it,” Dylan said. “It was tough to come back from 2-0 down but I’m just happy to get it over the line. I definitely felt the pressure at the start going in as the number one seed.”
Girls Under 17 top seed Emily Coulcher-Porter (Oxon) justified her seeding to lift her maiden title, after overcoming [3/4] Millie Breach (Wales) in straight games: 11-6, 11-5, 11-3.
Emily said: “I can’t believe it, it hasn’t sunk in. I haven’t won a British Junior title yet. It feels amazing!”
In the Girls Under 15 final, top seed Reka Kemecsei (Sussex) claimed her third BJC title in three years as she defeated [2] Harriet Broadbridge (Hants) in straight games. Meanwhile, Luke McBride (Surrey) saw off the threat of [2] Gabriel Chak (Surrey) in a hard-fought 11-8, 13-11, 11-9 victory.
Scottish No.1 seed Thomas Myers claimed his first BJC title after coming through a high-quality Boys Under 13 final against [2] Joe Thompson. Meanwhile, in the Girls Under 13 final, top seed Phoebe Griffiths (Hants) tasted silverware after coming away victorious against [2] Esther Chak (Surrey), by an 11-6, 11-8, 11-9 scoreline.
The Girls and Boys Under 11 titles were claimed by top seeds Sionna Misra (Warks) and Ben Lamond (Dorset), after both players claimed straight games wins over [3/4] Ada Brown (Norfolk) and [2] Logan Willstrop (Yorks), respectively.
The inaugural Mixed Under 9 final was also won in just three games, as top seed Naishe Matamisa (Warks) defeated [3/4] Mitaire Onoge (Lancs) 11-9, 11-6, 11-6.
2023 ProAir British Junior Championships finals – results
U9 : [1] Naishe Matamisa (Warks) 3-0 [3/4] Mitaire Onoge (Lancs) 11-9, 11-6, 11-6
G11 : [1] Siona Misra (Warks) 3-0 [3/4] Ada Brown (Norfolk) 11-1, 11-5, 11-4
B11 : [1] Ben Lamond (Dorset) 3-0 [2] Logan Willstrop (Yorks) 15-13, 11-4, 11-2
G13 : [1] Phoebe Griffiths (Hants) 3-0 [2] Esther Chak (Surrey) 11-6, 11-8, 11-9
B13 : [1] Thomas Myers (SCO) 3-0 [2] Joe Thompson (Yorks) 11-8, 11-7, 12-10
G15 : [1] Reka Kemecsei (Sussex) 3-0 [2] Harriet Broadbridge (Hants) 11-2, 11-7, 11-8
B15 : [1] Luke McBride (Surrey) 3-0 [2] Gabriel Chak (Surrey) 11-8, 13-11, 11-9
G17 : [1] Emily Coulcher-Porter (Oxon) 3-0 [3/4] Millie Breach (WAL) 11-6, 11-5, 11-3
B17 : [1] Dylan Roberts (Kent) 3-2 [2] Archie Turnbull (WAL) 7-11, 8-11, 11-8, 11-7, 11-3
G19 : [1] Amelie Haworth (Hants) 3-0 [5/8] Mariam Eissa (Warks) 11-9, 11-6, 12-10
B19 : [1] Jonah Bryant (Sussex) 3-0 [3/4] Abd-Allah Eissa (Warks) 11-9, 11-4, 11-5
