DORCHESTER Tennis & Squash Club have held its annual Junior Club Championships.

A total of 62 children took part, with ages ranging from seven to 18-years-old, playing in their own age category with some competitors featuring in two age groups.

The eight-and-under players held their matches on mini-tennis courts, and played just a 10-point tie break for each of their contests.

The two youngest competitors came through to play each other in the final and it was a tense affair between two seven-year-olds, with Orlando Henshaw, in his first ever tournament, going 8-3 up, but the slightly more experienced Noah Mayers, hit back to take the title 10-8.

The nine-and-under members were on a proportionately smaller court, and play a best of three seven-point tie breaks for their matches. A very tight final saw Nathan Sloley beat Noah Smith 5-7, 7-4, 7-5.

Kiara Gannaway held her own in the 10-and-under event against the boys to finish in fourth place in a round-robin format.

Ethan Robinson’s exceptional technical skills and good footwork demonstrated how he was in a league of his own. He took the title without losing a game.

The girls were divided into two groups depending on their playing experience in the older age groups. and 13-year-old Nuala Arthy, 13, held on to her girls’ B title by beating 10-year-old Kiara Gannaway in the final 6-2.

The girls’ A event consisted of 12-18-year-olds playing the a shortened scoring system of sets, to four games.

The match of the week came in this group between 16-year-old Kayleigh Budge, who has been the girls’ champion for the last four years, and 13-year-old Emily Noel.

This was a repeat of last year’s final when Budge easily overpowered Noel.

But, with a year’s more experience on Noel’s young shoulders, she really pushed Budge all the way and had her very worried at times.

However, the experience eventually shone through and Noel could not quite achieve what she desperately wanted.

The boys’ 12-and-under section had the largest most amount competitors and in their final, Cameron Robinson beat Tauhid Ahmad 4-0, 4-1.

Joe Chambers defeated Charlie Barnett 4-1, 4-2 in the 14-and-under section, these two players regularly play tournaments around the country and will both go on to play regularly in club teams for the rest of their playing times.

Chambers again came through to take his second title in the 16-and-under boys’ category, beating 14-year-old Alex Baker in a closely fought match 4-0, 5-3.

It was also good for the club to have a boys' 18-and-under event for the first time in a couple of years.

Two of the 14-year-olds were brave enough to take on the might of 17-year-olds.

Tom Bradbury fought well and finished third, but the final came down to a little and large competition with 6ft 5in Will Channon blasting his serve down to 14-year-old Alex Baker. ButHowever, Baker’s consistency shone through and he beat Channon without the loss of a game 4-0, 4-0.

The club would also like to offer their thanks to the parents and siblings of the competitors for all their support.