Compass European Junior Challenge 2017

3rd - 7th July 2017

Results: IC of GB finished runners-up | Final: IC of GB 0 – 4 IC of Italy | Group Stages: IC of GB 6 – 0 IC of Ireland; IC of GB 6 – 0 IC of Russia; IC of GB 4 – 2 IC of Israel.
Venue: The Royal Leopold Club, Brussels
Format: Adult captain, 2 junior boys and 2 junior girls. The winners of the 2017 European Regional event go through to compete in the 2018 Compass IC Junior Challenge Finals.

A strong Italian side triumphed over Great Britain to win the Compass European IC Junior Challenge and secure their place in The Worldwide Finals in Japan, October 8th-12th 2018.

In the other play off matches Israel were winners over Austria to take third place with Austria fourth. Germany took 5th place with a win over Ireland who unfortunately had an injured player all week and ended up in 6th place.  In the other match, Belgium record their first win over Russia for 7th and 8th places.

Many thanks go out to Keith Pullin for captaining the British team and The IC of Belgium who organised the event efficiently and in a very welcoming and friendly manner typical of the IC motto of " Hands across the net, friendship across the ocean".  This attitude was also well in evidence from the juniors who not only showed good sportsmanship and attitude on court but also mixed well and made many tennis friends from several countries during the week.

There were many candidates for the IC Sportsmanship awards.  The girls went to Juliana Carton of Ireland who still 14 & under, and eligible to play in the next European event in two years’ time, handled herself well on court and in a good manner.  For the boys both the Austrians Marco Koppensteine and Adrian Vormehus were great competitors on court but also very friendly off the court.  In the end the Sportsmanship was given to Adrian Vormehus - perhaps a little because of his unique playing style which was two handed but not in the common modern way -  he hits both left and right handed with two forehands…..…and two overhead smashes!  Great to see some variety in modern play that has not been coached out of him.