Top seeds dominate Under 12s Champs

Norfolks Under 12s stars, Mark Robinson and Holly Bowen scored a double top at the County Schools Championships, both comfortably winning the singles and doubles titles. The boys singles event went with seeding with Norfolk squad players, Robinson, Andrew Carrier and Adam Dismore winning through to the semi-finals, where they were joined by Adam Simmons. But it was the no 1&2 seeds, Robinson and Carrier, who progressed to the final with convincing victories.

The final was expected to be a close match but Robinson raced into a 11-0 lead with some excellent play backed up by several unforced errors from Carrier. After that, the match became more even with both finalists playing well, but Robinsons early lead proved decisive and he went on to win his first title 15-6.

The two top seeds then teamed up to form an unstoppable combination in the doubles. The pair galloped into the final with a 15-1 victory over Josh Kent and Jacob Marshall-Grint and followed this by whitewashing Sam Kent and Chris Parrott in the final. Kent and Parrott had earlier knocked out James Bailey and Adam Dismore 15-9 in the other hard fought semi-final.

Top seed, Holly Bowen, lived up to expectations by reaching the girls singles final, beating newcomer, Lauren Read, in the first semi. The other semi-final was arguably the best match of the championships, with Louise Thacker beating Annie Giles 15-12 after many hard fought rallies. The final was keenly contested with the more consistent Bowen coming out on top 15-5 to win her first trophy of the day. Her second came in the level doubles when, partnered by Annie Giles, she won the round robin event, with Amy Bonham and Amy Sharman taking second place.

* Theres no stopping Eric Plane and Tim Hudson-Church. Having retired from senior county play on a winning note last week, this week they moved on to York to compete in the prestigious Yonex All England Seniors Championships, which attracted over 240 entries. They won the Over 45s mens doubles, beating Merv Gibbs (Surrey) and Kim Yong (Essex) in a straight sets final and then came face to face in the final of the mixed doubles, which was a rematch of last years final. Last season Tim, partnered by Debbie Rigby (Lancs), came out on top, but this year Eric and his partner, Linda Wood (Derby), gained their revenge in a very convincing straight sets victory. To complete his weekend, Plane also reached the mens singles final only to be beaten by Neil Long (Lancs).

And Norfolk gained yet another noteworthy success when Ann Jenkins teamed up with Linda Wood to win the womens doubles, beating Debbie Rigby and Sue Hirst in the final, completing a great weekend for the Norfolk trio, which was celebrated in the accustomed manner.

Eric and Tim now move on to the European Championshps to be played in Holland in May.