SOUTH Essex youngsters enjoyed a successful campaign as the Essex Winter Series finals were held at the weekend.

The two-day showdown was the culmination of all the one-day tournaments held during the winter.

The tournament was split into two groups of boys and two groups of girls. A consolation event was played, giving most players two matches each day.

In the A group for the higher rated older players, Nick Hilder of David Lloyd Basildon lost a fine match to Joseph Baum (Connaught) in the third set tie break. In the B group, Hockley’s Kyle Macdonald (Hockley) was outstanding all weekend and won the group with the loss of only four games. And Ryan Bright, from Southend club Garons played well all weekend and only lost to Kyle to finish the weekend third.

Billericay’ Nicola Calverley won the girl’s Group A.

The final and most of the events were organised and refereed by Westcliff couple Lesley and Ian Pitt.

Main Draw Results Group “A” Boys: Joseph Baum beat Nick Hilder 7-5 0-6 10-5. Group “B” Boys: Kyle Macdonald beat Matthew Davies (Danbury) 6-1 6-0. Group “A” Girls: Winner Nicola Calverley (Billericay) (Round Robin). Runner up: Rachael Porter (Connaught). Group “B” Girls: Annabelle Adair (Connaught) beat Daisy Ronn (Grove (Chelmsford) 6-1 6-1.

Consolation results Group “A” Boys: Joe Wright (Elm Park) beat Joseph Downey (Southend Lawn) 6-2 6-1. Group “B” Boys: Bradley Goult (Redbridge) beat Jake Navarro (Aldersbrook) 7-5 7-5. Girls Group “B”: Gemma Holley (Billericay) beat Leanne Judge (Billericay) 6-3 7-5.

>Thorpe Thorpe Bay’s Men’s veteran thirds had a good 5-3 sets win over Hock-ley II in the Essex League Division 4B.

Captain John Hayter and Ian Turner lost to Steve Tonsley and Roy Bickell 3-6 3-6 but won against Keith Nethers and Colin Bruce 6-2 7-6.

Richard Welfare and Colin Merenda lost the first set 4-6 to Tonsley and Roy but won the second 6-4 and beat Keith Nethers and Colin Bruce 6-3 6-4.

>Thorpe Bay’s men’s team picked up a penalty win when hosts Next Generation Ipswich forfeited the match, meaning Thorpe received a 12-0 win by default in Aegon Team Tennis National Open Division Two Group N.

Westcliff Hard travelled to Letchworth in Division 1 Group F and recorded a 12-0 win.