The Welsh Junior Open enjoyed a fantastic weekend of squash, welcoming a record entry of junior players from across the world and showcasing some of the very best young talent in the sport.
With entries reaching record levels, this year’s tournament expanded across two superb venues, with matches taking place at Rhiwbina Squash Club and Sport Wales National Centre. The quality of squash throughout the weekend was exceptional, with players competing hard, making new friends and gaining valuable experience on the international junior circuit.
A huge thank you goes to Rhiwbina Squash Club and Sport Wales National Centre for providing such superb venues and helping us deliver a tournament of this scale.
We would also like to give special thanks to Sarah Clode, who did a fantastic job running the tournament desk at Rhiwbina, and to Russell Edwards, who ran the desk at Sport Wales National Centre with great support from Tom Rosser. Their hard work and organisation throughout the weekend were hugely appreciated.
A Huge Thank You to Our Referees
A special mention must also go to our four referees, who gave up more than 30 hours of their own time over the weekend to support the tournament.
Their commitment, professionalism and willingness to give their time to help young players compete in a well-run and enjoyable tournament is hugely valued. We simply couldn’t run an event of this scale without the support of our officials.
Thank You to Our Sponsors and Supporters
We are extremely grateful to our sponsors and supporters for helping make the Welsh Junior Open such a success.
Karakal provided fantastic prizes for the players, while Lasers R Us supplied the trophies awarded throughout the tournament.
We would also like to thank the National Lottery for their continued support of squash in Wales. Their backing helps us to continue providing opportunities for young players and to grow events such as the Welsh Junior Open.
The record entry this year meant that the tournament had to make use of both venues, creating an additional challenge for players, parents, officials and the tournament team.
A huge thank you goes to all the parents and families, who worked tirelessly between the two clubs throughout the weekend. Their flexibility, patience and support helped everything run smoothly and ensured that players were able to get where they needed to be and enjoy the tournament.
With players travelling from all over the world, the Welsh Junior Open once again demonstrated the appeal of Wales as a destination for junior squash and provided a fantastic opportunity for our young players to compete against players from different countries and squash backgrounds.
Fantastic Results for Welsh Players
There were plenty of outstanding performances from the Welsh contingent, with several players reaching the podium across the age groups.
A special well done goes to:
- Heidi Hales – 🥇 Winner, Girls U13
- Zoe Powell – 4th Girls U15
- Eliza Hales – 🥉 3rd, Girls U17
- Erin Lauder – 🥈 Winner, Girls U17
- Nia Seren Thomas – 🥈 Winner, Girls U19
- Millie Breach – 🥇 R/Up, Girls U19
- Archie Davies Clarke – 4th, Boys U19
- Jacob Green – 4th, Boys U15
Congratulations to all of our Welsh players who competed over the weekend. Representing Wales on home soil against a strong international field is a fantastic achievement, and we hope the experience will inspire the next generation of Welsh players to continue their development and aim even higher.
Congratulations to All Our Players
A huge congratulations to all the players who competed in this year’s Welsh Junior Open. Whether they lifted a trophy, reached the latter stages or simply gained their first experience of international junior competition, every player contributed to what was a memorable weekend of squash.
The standard of competition was extremely high, and the atmosphere throughout both venues was a credit to the players, coaches, parents, officials and volunteers involved.
Thank you to everyone who played their part in making the Welsh Junior Open such a special event. We look forward to welcoming everyone back to Wales next year!
Winners and Runners-up
Boys U11 Girls U11
Winner – Cristian Law Winner – Holly Thompson
R/Up – Niall Goel R/Up – Gabriella Ibrahim
Boys U13 Girls U13
Winner – Theo Hobman Winner – Heidi Hales
R/Up – Harry Knox R/Up – Sara Ibrahim
Boys U15 Girls U15
Winner – Finley Brown Winner – Ruby Carroll
R/Up – Oscar Brown R/Up – Siona Mishra
Boys U17 Girls U17
Winner – Matthew Hong Kileung Winner – Erin Lauder
R/Up – Omar Sherif R/Up – Emilie Leblond
Boys U19 Girls U19
Winner – Ronnie Hickling Winner – Nia Seren Thomas
R/Up – Thomas Mauras R/Up – Millie Breach
