On February 9-10, 2019, just under 70 junior players converged on the Goodlife-Queensview club in Ottawa, for the playing of the Jesters Harrow Junior Silver #6 event. Separate Gold, Silver, and Bronze events are played in different Ontario cities, leading up to the finals in Toronto in April. The hosts really appreciated the efforts of all the out-of-towners to get to Ottawa at this time of year, including contingents of several players from each of Executive Squash & Fitness Club, Vaughan, St Andrew’s College, Aurora, Toronto Cricket, Skating & Curling Club, and the YMCA in Sudbury.
In the Boys Under 19, Daniel Holmes, of the RA Centre, newly returned to the squash scene after several years of trampolining, surprised everyone by beating Aidan Somerville, of Squash Gloucester, in a semi-final, 9-11, 11-8, 11-8, 10-12, 11-7, before going on to beat Caden Markel, of St Andrew’s College, 13-11, 13-11, 11-6 in the final. His imperturbable attitude, shot-making and great fitness had much to do with this success. Keira Rawlins of the Executive S & FC took the Girls Under 17/19 title, without losing a game in this round-robin event.
The Boys U17, U15, and U13 events were dominated by the Salmon brothers of La Sportheque, and their cousin, Robert De La Riva from Sudbury. Romain Salmon beat Max Shewchenko, in a local rivalry, with a brilliant combination of shot making, anticipation and concentration, winning 9-11, 11-5, 11-4, 11-4, and thwarting Max’s best efforts on this particular day. Cousin Robert took the U15 title, 11-5, 9-11, 4-11, 11-5, 11-9,in a good comeback over Jacob Atack of the Toronto CS&CC, while Benoit Salmon beat Jack Jones, also of TCS&CC, in three straight for the U13 title. Nat Chandran, of Toronto’s Mayfair Lakeshore club, was the class of the BU11, winning without the loss of a game, and of only 50 points in his 4 matches.
The GU15 final was a Toronto affair, with Ashley Hall of the Badminton & Racquet club beating Georgia Baldwin, of the Toronto Lawn Tennis Club, 11-2, 11-6, 9-11, 11-9. Ainsley Rawlins of the Executive s & FC beat Caitlin NG, of Ridley College, to win the GU13 title.
Congratulations to all the winners, and good luck in the Toronto finals in a couple of months time.
Results
BU19
- Daniel Holmes, RA Centre, Ottawa
- Caden Markel, St Andrew’s College, Aurora
- Aidan Somerville, Squash Gloucester, Orleans
- Daniel Vercille, St Andrew’s College, Aurora
BU17
- Romain Salmon, La Sportheque, Gatineau
- Max Shewchenko, Ottawa Athletic Club
- Felix Scholberg, Ottawa Athletic Club
- Matthew Olejarz, St Andrew’s College, Aurora
BU15
- Robert De La Riva, YMCA of Sudbury
- Jacob Atack, Toronto CS & CC
- David Guizzetti, St Andrew’s College, Aurora
- Tiago Ferreira, YMCA of Sudbury
BU13
- Benoit Salmon, La Sportheque, Gatineau
- Jack Jones, Toronto CS & CC
- Kent Rawlins, Executive S & FC, Vaughan
- Liam McKay, Toronto CS & CC
BU11
- Nat Chandran, Mayfair Lakeshore, Toronto
- Connor Rawlins, Executive S & FC, Vaughan
- Mostafa Bayaa, Ottawa Athletic Club
- Lucas Lechevalier, La Sportheque, Gatineau
GU17/19
- Keira Rawlins, Executive S & FC, Vaughan
- Maddy Fisher, Toronto CS & CC
- Isabel Smith,Squash Gloucester, Orleans
- Peri Agate, Goodlife-Queensview, Ottawa
GU 15
- Ashley Hall, B & R Club, Toronto
- Georgia Baldwin, Toronto Lawn Tennis Club
- Emma Dawson, YMCA of Sudbury
- Madelyn Petherick, YMCA of Sudbury
GU13
- Ainsley Rawlins, Executive S & FC, Vaughan
- Caitlin Ng, Ridley College
- Samantha Drouin, Goodlife-Queensview, Ottawa
- Laila Bayaa, Ottawa Athletic Club