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Island Youth Pool Championships 2007 - report

Junior Final Deja Vu

This year saw a line up of Island Junior Coach Darren Le Page’s 10-17 year old hopefuls battling for the championship title. For the younger contenders, it was their first taste of top-level competition, and none of them let the spectators down. In the early rounds Jordon Martel (10) beat Nathan Vidamour (15) 5-3 and Josh Greenham-Bank (16) beat Callum Ferbrache (10) 5-2. But it was Déjà Vu for James Kirk (15) and Jess De La Haye (16) as they again met in the final, just as they did in 2004.

James had played his way through by beating James Le Gallez (17) 5-0 in the first round and then Josh Greenham-Bank 5-1 in the semi-final. Jess made his way with a first round win of 5-0 over Jay Ferbrache (11) and a semi-final win of 5-0 over Jordon Martel.

James and Jess are no strangers to each other, both practice together and play in the Premiership Team 8-Ball Demons. During the season of 2004-2006, they were in the 1st Division winning team The Nippers, and they are members of the Channel Island Junior International Team. Between them, they are the most successful Island Youth Players ever to take part on the International Pool scene. Having just been to the European Championships (Feb ’07) at Daventry in England, both boys earned new European Rankings, and they equally hold the same World Ranking presently at No. 18, which they gained at the Nordbeck Castle Hotel in Blackpool last June.

On the day, Jess was to prove best with his individ jimbo02 ual form, he took an early lead winning the first three frames, James pegged him back and between them, as usual, there was an exceptional display of cue control, shots and game-play, all to the highest level. Nevertheless, it was Jess who took the title in the ninth frame 6-3 for a record third time.

At the presentation ceremony, International Leisure’s M.D. Adrian Locke announced that his Company will be sponsoring the two boys in recognition of their triumphs. Both boys have their own table and Island Leisure will keep them in tiptop condition by recovering them twice a year.

Mini’s Final

This year saw Junior Coach Darren Le Page run the first ever Mini’s final which was purposely run for the younger members of the junior pool club. The young members, all 12 years or less, battled it out over a few weekends to find the first ever Mini’s Champion.

The boys meet at the Happy Landings every Sunday morning to practice and learn the game. When it was mentioned to them about competing in the Island Championship, they were all keen to get involved; Sam Hale and Jordon Martel have already represented the Island at last years South Western Tournament held at Minehead. Darren says they are all keen to learn and while they are all good friends, they all show the competitive will to win, even in practice.

MINI'S 200702 The preliminary rounds of the Championship were well played by all boys, culminating with Sam and youngest member Theo Lepp in the final. Looking forward to it all week the young pair arrived to do battle. Both played well but Sam had the edge over Theo to become the first Mini Champion by winning the match 4-2