Barnaby Groves was the Guernsey star in the Channel Islands Junior Top 12 event held in Jersey over the weekend, claiming 3rd spot in a well-contested event.
With the Caesareans fielding a strong team it was always going to be a tricky assignment, with four of the Sarnian team making their debut this year.
They were also at the younger end of the age group, with all six qualifiers aged 14 or less, in what is an Under-18 event.
After two early defeats, Groves found his groove and beat Theo De Poerck, William Cornthwaite and Freya Allaway in familiar attacking style.
Groves then faced Jersey's top-ranked John Le Fondre in the final round of the afternoon in a winner takes all match, but ultimately the experience of his opponent counted as 17-year old Le Fondre played tactically well to come through three tight sets to take home the trophy. This pushed Groves down to 3rd place behind Callum Allaway, but a huge improvement on 11th place from last year.
Other players showed glimpses of future potential, with Oskar Cleal unlucky in some close encounters and Micah Cohen finishing a creditable 9th in his first major tournament.
The Senior Top 12 Qualification takes place on 17th December.
John Le Fondre beat Oskar Cleal, 12-10, 11-9, 11-7
Theo De Poerck beat Cameron Powell, 11-5, 11-3, 11-6
Callum Allaway beat Luke Evans, 11-7, 13-11, 9-11, 11-6
Oscar Karwowski beat Barnaby Groves, 11-9, 11-6, 11-5
William Cornthwaite beat Ollie Sparks, 11-3, 11-6, 11-4
Freya Allaway beat Micah Cohen, 11-7, 11-3, 11-7
John Le Fondre beat Cameron Powell, 11-8, 11-3, 11-6
Theo De Poerck beat Oskar Cleal, 11-4, 8-11, 11-5, 11-8
Callum Allaway beat Barnaby Groves, 7-11, 11-6, 11-7, 13-11
Oscar Karwowski beat Luke Evans, 8-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-7
William Cornthwaite beat Micah Cohen, 11-5, 11-2, 11-2
Freya Allaway beat Ollie Sparks, 11-7, 11-4, 11-5
John Le Fondre beat Ollie Sparks, 11-8, 11-7, 11-4
Theo De Poerck beat Micah Cohen, 11-5, 11-6, 11-1
Callum Allaway beat Oskar Cleal, 11-4, 11-9, 11-4
Oscar Karwowski beat Cameron Powell, 11-5, 14-16, 11-3, 11-7
William Cornthwaite beat Luke Evans, 11-7, 11-2, 11-6
Barnaby Groves beat Freya Allaway, 11-8, 9-11, 11-6, 12-10
John Le Fondre beat Micah Cohen, 11-4, 11-3, 11-3
Theo De Poerck beat Ollie Sparks, 12-10, 11-6, 11-8
Callum Allaway beat Cameron Powell, 7-11, 11-2, 11-7, 13-11
Oscar Karwowski beat Oskar Cleal, 6-11, 11-3, 11-4, 5-11, 11-1
Barnaby Groves beat William Cornthwaite, 11-7, 11-6, 8-11, 11-7
Freya Allaway beat Luke Evans, 11-6, 11-4, 11-6
John Le Fondre beat Luke Evans, 11-9, 11-8, 11-2
Barnaby Groves beat Theo De Poerck, 11-5, 9-11, 11-5, 14-12
Callum Allaway beat Ollie Sparks, 11-8, 11-4, 11-4
Oscar Karwowski beat Micah Cohen, 11-5, 11-8, 11-8
William Cornthwaite beat Oskar Cleal, 11-8, 11-3, 11-9
Freya Allaway beat Cameron Powell, 15-13, 6-11, 11-7, 13-11
John Le Fondre beat Barnaby Groves, 12-10, 11-9, 12-10
Theo De Poerck beat Luke Evans, 11-6, 11-9, 11-3
Callum Allaway beat Micah Cohen, 11-6, 11-6, 11-5
Oscar Karwowski beat Ollie Sparks, 11-7, 11-4, 11-9
William Cornthwaite beat Cameron Powell, 12-10, 11-2, 11-8
Freya Allaway beat Oskar Cleal, 11-9, 7-11, 11-8, 13-11
1 John Le Fondre 21
2 Callum Allaway 20
3 Barnaby Groves 19
4 William Cornthwaite 19
5 Theo De Poerck 19
6 Oscar Karwowski 19
7 Freya Allaway 16
8 Luke Evans 15
9 Micah Cohen 14
10 Cameron Powell 12
11 Ollie Sparks 12
12 Oskar Cleal 12
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