Given the paucity of events in the UK, this one (and the next at Bournemouth) is vital for our youngsters in giving the opportunity to get their first points and a taste for ITF competition.

Well done to all, and in particular those who've just chalked up their first points.

1st Round

Maria BUDIN (GBR) [1] 6-4 6-2 Megan HOPTON (GBR)
Ebba ROSBERG (SWE) 6-3 6-0 Kate CUNNINGHAM (GBR)
Sasha HILL (GBR) 6-1 6-2 Shauna HEFFERNAN (IRL)
Millie DEVEY SMITH (GBR) 7-6(5) 7-5 Eleanor SCARFF (GBR) [8]
Bronte MURGETT (GBR) 6-4 6-1 Chloe CIROTTE (FRA) [4]
Mae MCCUTCHEON (GBR) 6-4 6-3 Carla NOKES (GBR)
Indianna SPINK (GBR) 6-2 3-6 6-2 Erika BATISTA DODRIDGE (GBR)
Hannah MCCOLGAN (GBR) [6] 6-1 6-1 Viola CIOFFI (ITA)
Tiegan AITKEN (GBR) 3-6 7-5 6-3 Marie MATTEL (FRA) [5]
M J CHANGWEREZA (GBR) 6-1 6-2 Sasha SOUTHGATE (GBR)
Victoria ALLEN (GBR) 6-1 6-3 Caoimhe DUFFY NIBLOCK (IRL)
Alexandra HUNTER (GBR) [3] 6-7(5) 6-3 6-4 Hannah DAVIES (GBR)
Lillian MOULD (GBR) 6-2 6-1 Therese EKDAHL (SWE) [7]
Charlotte NAVINWEINSTEIN (GBR) 6-1 6-0 Megan WEBB (GBR)
Anna BOWTELL (IRL) 6-2 6-2 Lauren ARMSTRONG (GBR)
Anna LOUGHLAN (GBR) [2] 6-0 6-3 Margaux KOMANO (FRA)

Young MJ is born in 2003, a real 'tiddler', so great first points for her.

She's also the girl who was the centre of the hoo-hah a year or two back about the LTA suddenly charging for NTC courts and her now not being able to afford to play. Various high level players got involved.
I think she is now at JTC, coached by Felgate and paid for by the All Star Youth Tennis Scholarship Trust

All the other GB girls in the last 8 are all born in 2000, 2001 or 2002 (Lilian Mould) so nice to see the youngsters using the G5 as a springboard, as indeed it should be.

Lilly Mould (age 14), a qualifier and unranked, has put out Alexandra Hunter, the third seed, in two sets.

She's into the final which, needless to day, is her best result yet, by miles - I don't think she'd ever won a single MD singles match before !

Lilly comes from the Midlands, I think, was at Edgbaston Priory, and then went to Soto for some time. Not sure where she's based now.

Well done to her - that'll be a mega jump up the rankings,

Lilly seems to thrive in tournaments with older players. Her TE under 14 record isn't particularly special, but her best result was in an under 16 event (which counts for under 14 ranking, if you fit the age profile).

Both Hannah McColgan and Alexandra Hunter, of course, played a LOT of tennis last week, with the Scottish Nationals, and both of them playing double categories (daft idea....have I said that before??? )

They may well both be paying the price now.

That said, Maria Budin seems to be on a roll, given her recent results in Denmark