Guernsey’s under-eighteen tennis stars travelled to Jersey recently to participate in the SaSo-sponsored inter-insular tennis tournament against Jersey. While the competition began in 1962, it has not been played as often as many local tennis Clubs would like. And more recently, COVID has scuppered any opportunities of a rematch for the two islands.
The winning prize, the Geoffrey Fenton trophy, had not been contested for more than 25 years, having been won by Jersey teams five times in a row, with the last one being played in 1998. What’s more, it’s been nearly fifteen years since the Islands hosted a junior inter-insular tennis tournament.
Guernsey’s win, therefore, felt ever sweeter for this fact alone, and SaSo were proud to have been heavily involved in establishing this fixture on the tennis calendar after such a long absence.
Pictured: Guernsey Inter-Insular Tennis Team with the Geoffrey Fenton trophy.
Garry Forbes, Managing Director of the competition’s sponsor, SaSo Strategic, whose son, Max, was also competing in the competition, said about the contest.
“SaSo Strategic is proud and delighted to be able to support contests like this. At its very heart, Tennis is a game of strategy, and its ethos aligns perfectly with our core mission to provide strategic insight to our valued investors and clients.
Being able to help fund a competition like this is so worthwhile for our junior tennis players, located both here and in Guernsey.
Jersey fought hard against Guernsey in this tournament, and we are immensely proud of both teams’ commitment and stamina over the weekend.
At SaSo Strategic, we proudly support our local community by funding several local initiatives, including junior tennis and junior chess. Our funding ensures our future stars can experience what it’s like to compete, further hone their skills against the tougher cross-island competition, and become even better players.”
The tournament was not without drama; this time, it wasn’t all due to the players or their games. Torrential rain had flooded the intended venue, Caesarean Tennis Club, at Grand Vaux, so the tournament organisers had to quickly call upon a few favours from another local tennis club to source an alternative venue to host.
Grainville Tennis Club graciously came to the competition's rescue and agreed to host the contest at their Club. The Jersey Tennis Association chairwoman, Sonia Smith, thanked Grainville Tennis Club Head Coach Rychlund for helping ensure the tournament could continue. The Association also thanked James Faudemer for offering his courts in St Clement as a secondary backup option.
While the tournament was open to all Jersey and Guernsey under-eighteen tennis players, it’s worth noting that the actual tournament for Jersey’s young team consisted of players all aged fifteen or under. It’s, therefore, interesting to know that these players will be able to enjoy up to five more years of competitions with each other in the under-18 inter-island match before they must compete in the adult age groups.
Pictured: Jersey and Guernsey Under Fourteen players.
After eight singles matches, we couldn’t have expected a tighter contest with it coming down to the wire, with the result sitting perfectly at 4-4 going into the doubles matches. It was left to the doubles matches to decide which island would win the Geoffrey Fenton trophy. One island would have to win three out of four doubles matches to win the tournament.
With the scores level at 5-5, it took for the final number one doubles players to decide the winner of the overall tournament. With time running out before the Guernsey team had to catch their flight, the judges decided to switch the second set of the finals to a Fast Format, with Jersey racing ahead to take it 4-0.
With the scores level at one set all, a Championship Tie Break (first to ten) was agreed upon. Guernsey junior tennis players Alex Paul and Zac Taylor raced ahead initially to a 7-0 lead, but Jersey rallied hard to change the score to 8-6. Despite their best efforts, the Jersey team were beaten by Guernsey, who achieved their crucial tenth point to thunderous applause from the nail-biting supporters.
The full results of all matches are below:
Eighteen and Under Boys
Singles
Jasper Jensen (Jersey) beat Alex Paul (Guernsey) - 3-6,6-4,10-8
Liam de la Mare (Guernsey) beat Sonny Derrien (Jersey) - 6-0, 6-2
Zac Taylor (Guernsey) beat Sam Levy (Jersey) - 6-1,6-3
Ellis Lockwood (Guernsey) beat Max Forbes (Jersey) - 6-0, 6-4
Doubles
Liam de la Mare and Ellis Lockwood (Guernsey) beat Sonny Derrien and Max Forbes (Jersey) - 6-2, 6-2
Alex Paul and Zac Taylor (Guernsey) beat Sam Levy and Jasper Jensen (Jersey) - 7-6, 0-4, 10-7
Eighteen and Under Girls
Singles
Triona O’Callaghan (Jersey) beat Lara Gavey (Guernsey) - 6-7 (7), 6-4, 10-8
Chloe de la Mare (Guernsey) beat Jasmine Derrien (Jersey) - 6-4, 6-3
Issy Aldridge (Jersey) beat Chloe Guille (Guernsey) - 6-3, 6-1
Kitty Sable (Jersey) beat Florence Carpenter (Guernsey) - 7-5, 6-2
Doubles
Jasmine Derrien and Triona O’Callaghan (Jersey) beat Florence Carpenter and Chloe Guille (Guernsey) - 6-2, 7-6 (5)
Chloe de la Mare and Lara Gavey (Guernsey) beat Issy Aldridge and Kitty Sable (Jersey) - 2-6, 6-3, 10-7
Fourteen and Under Boys
Singles
Jack Bachmann (Guernsey) beat Nile Hannah (Jersey) - 4-0, 4-0
Rupert Dorey (Guernsey) beat Myles Hancock (Jersey) - 4-2, 4-0
Stanilaw Spiewak (Jersey) beat Luca Robertson (Guernsey) - 4-1, 4-1
Josh Neville (Guernsey) beat Zachary Stead (Jersey) - 4-2, 4-2
Doubles
Jack Bachmann and Rupert Dorey (Guernsey) beat Nile Hannah and Stanilaw Spiewak (Jersey) - 4-0, 4-0
Josh Neville and Luca Robertson (Guernsey) beat Myles Hancock and Zachary Stead (Jersey) - 4-0, 4-1
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