THREE of Tyneside's top squash clubs almost swept the board with a superb trophy haul at the Prince Newcastle Northern Junior Open.
Six of the eight top prizes went to budding squash starlets from Northumberland Club, home club Northern and Tynemouth, as local talent dominated in an event which brought players in from all over the North of England.
Jesmond's Northumberland club had three champions - brothers Dan and Joe Wareing taking the boys U17 and U13 titles respectively, and Charlotte Cooper lifting the girls U15 trophy.
Two winners from Northern - Josie Barker (U15) and and Sophie Noble (U17) gave the home crowd plenty to shout about in the girls' events, while Tynemouth's Jamie Todd walked off with the honours in the boys U15 competition.
The tournament at Northern - sponsored by Prince UK and Sport Newcastle - attracted another bumper entry of 110 male and female players, with all age categories from Under 11 to Under 17 well contested.
The boys Under 17 was an all North East affair, with Dan Wareing seeing off Hexham's Simon Graham 3-2 in a thrilling final, while Tynemouth's Andrew Walsh edged out Northern's Matty Watling 3-1 in the plate event.
Sophie Noble took the girls U17 title with a win over clubmate Caitlin Vitty - while two more Northern players, Sally Reay (winner) and Ellen Weaver contested the plate.
Jamie Todd's boys U15 final win (3-2) came at the expense of a strong challenge from Durham & Cleveland's Joe Dale, while the plate was an all-Cumbrian affair in which Jake Twentyman defeated Daniel Askew 3-0.
In the girls U15s, Charlotte Cooper triumphed over Yorkshire's Charlotte Fish 3-0 in the final, while Molly Tweddle of Cumbria was the plate winner after an epic 3-2 win over Northern's Tegan Younger.
Jesmond's Northumberland Club produced both boys U13 finalists - Joe Wareing seeing off a strong challenge from Angus Forster (3-0), while the plate was an all-Northern affair, Andrew Shipley edging out Tom Wright 3-1.
Northern's Josie Barker proved just too strong with a 3-0 win over Cumbrian Katie Twentyman in the showpiece game of the girls U13s, with Northern girls Alice O'Neil (3-1 winner) and Catriona Watling taking the plate winner and runner-up trophies respectively.
At U11, Durham & Cleveland's Jonathan Wright went away with the boys honours after a superb 3-2 win over Max Forster, Gabriel Diggle taking the plate trophy after a 3-1 result over Northern's Jamie Ogilvie.
Last but not least, Cumbrian Michelle Tang beat Northern's Aanya Hamilton 3-0 in the girls U11 final, while Northern's Beth Tudor triumphed 3-0 over clubmate Katie Merlane in the plate final.
Tournament organiser Richard Vitty was delighted with the turnout - and the level of squash produced - over the weekend in an event well supported by Sainsburys, Newcastle City Council, Zenith People and Jennings - who each contributed to goody bags for all players.
"It was a fantastic event - well attended by players and spectators," said Richard. "The competition was fierce but the matches were played in the right spirit and everyone who came down to watch was impressed by the fitness and ability of the juniors over two very busy days of squash. It was great to have such a buzz around the club."
