Three titles for Devon
Top seed, Devon Minnis, from Hobart High School, won all three titles in the Under 14s Norfolk Schools Championship.Ten girls contested the singles event and Devon's power, overall skill and experience enabled her to comfortably win her group and then beat Lauren Mortimer (Thorpe St. Andrew) in the first semi-final, whilst Kathryn Adamson (Notre Dame) lost to Georgia Moyes (Hethersett High) in the other semi. Minnis then beat Moyes to take her first title of the day. Her second title came in the level doubles when Minnis, partnered by Adamson, beat Moyes and Mortimer in a closely contested final game. Lucy Pointer and Susie Ostler, both from Northgate High, played well in their first competitive tournament.
Minnis' third title came in the mixed doubles, which proved to be one of the best matches of the day. Partnered by Olivier Widdowson (KES) , the top seeds just scraped home by one point in a very close contest against Dominic Ely (Springwood) and Adamson.
Sixteen players contested the boys singles which enabled a plate event to be held, which was won by Robbie Hobson (CNS), with Jake Graham (Taverham) runner-up. In the main event, Widdowson met Ely in the final. Some early errors from Widdowson enabled Ely to execute some tight deceptive drop shots, which gave him the lead at the half-way stage. It was then nip and tuck to 18 all, when Widdowson edged forward to win the crown.
The boys doubles was won by Ely and Ben Page (Hethersett), with Ben Sharman (Taverham) and Jacob Trend (Litcham) runners up.
* Norfolk's county players were very much in evidence at the Cambridgeshire Open Championships.Ian Murphy and Katherine Cooper retained their mixed doubles title with dominating performances, having knocked out Justin Gerrard and Julie Pike in their semi-final, whilst Jono Atmore and Louise Culyer were the other losing semi-finalists. But Pike and Culyer made up for those defeats by comfortably winning the ladies doubles crown. Finally, Murphy, partnered by James White (Leicestershire), produced some solid victories in the mens doubles event, just missing out in the final.
* The county's Over 60s team has continued its winning run with a comprehensive 10-2 victory over Suffolk. Playing for Norfolk were Bob Tooby, Copper, Gerald Cook, Martin Watson, Louis Ash, Pam Mace, Linda Foster and Jane Baker