Hutton so close in repeat of last year’s final
By DONNA HELMER
Lucy Turmel spearheaded a dramatic comeback to retain her GU19 British Junior Championship title in a tough encounter with No.2 seed Sussex’s Jasmine Hutton, a repeat of last year’s final.
Suffolk’s Turmel, who has a PSA ranking of 71, started brightly winning the first game 11/8 before Hutton notched up the intensity taking the second and third 11/9 and 13/11.
However, Turmel, who reached the quarter finals of the European Individual Championship earlier this year fought back winning the fourth and fifth 11/6 and 11/5.
Speaking after her consecutive BJC GU19 victory, No.1 seed Turmel expressed her delight at the way she fought back as well as praising the performance of her opponent.
“I am proud of my performance today, not because I was playing my best squash but because I found a way to fight through,” Turmel said.
“Jas played really well today, she really upped her game and made me fight for that.”
Former world champion and world No.1 Laura Massaro, who has been mentoring Turmel, was impressed with both competitors and tipped both players for future success.
“It was definitely a little bit different sat on the other side of the glass, but I am really proud of Lucy. She has done amazingly well to retain her title. Jasmine has improved a lot since the last time I saw her play,” Massaro said.
“Lucy has a bright future ahead of her and Jas has too. With the dedication that Lucy puts in and with her attention to detail, you just have to keep having those experiences, and they will pay off in the future.”
Meanwhile, Georgia Adderley etched her name into the BJC history books after becoming the first ever Scottish female to win the GU17 title and simultaneously the first Scot since 1993 to win a BJC competition.
The Edinburgh teenager and No.1 seed was made to work hard for her debut BJC title in a tough encounter with Essex’s Alice Green – fighting back from 9/4 down in the fourth set to take the GU17 crown.
Speaking after her victory, Adderley expressed her delight at becoming only the fifth Scottish female to claim a BJC title across any category.
“I’m over the moon, I can’t really put it into words to describe how it feels. I came here wanting to win and I’ve come away with it – I am absolutely buzzing,” Adderley said.
“It was a really tight match we have always had really big battles, especially in the last two and it was really difficult to overcome 9/4 down in the fourth.
“I just had to try to keep my head and I managed to get back into it. I just had to rethink my game plan and I think it worked.”
Adderley, who quit playing football for Scotland earlier this year to focus on her squash, tussled through three sets, winning 11/8, 11/5 before being pegged back 7/11.
No.2 seed Green, looked set to force the match into a fifth set before a spirited Adderley regained her composure to secure her GU17 crown with a 13/11 fourth game victory.
Elsewhere, tournament top seed Katie Malliff overcame the challenge of second seed Torrie Malik to regain her GU15 title in straight games, winning 11/6, 11/4, 11/9.
Sussex’s Malik competed admirably after her eye protection was smashed in the first game, but a battling Malliff performance ensured that the Buckinghamshire teenager won her third BJC title in three years.
In the GU13 final, No.1 seed, Yorkshire’s Asia Harris completed an 11/6, 11/9, 9/11, 11/7 victory over second seed Amelie Haworth to be crowned champion of her age group.
After the match, England Squash High Performance Coach Tania Bailey commended the efforts of both players for their high physicality and forecasted bright futures for both competitors.
“The level of squash for the GU13 was so high we were really impressed, and I didn’t want it to end because I was enjoying it so much,” Bailey said.
“Asia is nearer to 13 and Amelie is only just 11, so Amelie will have her chance next year.
“The whole match was just such high quality, both have a really good future ahead of them.”
View the results, reports and photos on the official site at www.englandsquash.com/bjc
Pictures by Tony Hart courtesy of England Squash