Beddoes, Barnett take under 23 titles
14 Sep 2014Top seeds Lance Beddoes and Rebecca Barnett have taken the Under 23 National Championship titles today in contrasting style.
Barnett was convincing in her defeat of top junior Ellie Epke, winning the final in straight games 11-4 11-5 11-7. Epke had earlier survived a marathon semi-final with Emma Millar to reach the final, whereas Barnett had not dropped a set all tournament. She put this freshness to good use, controlling rallies with high intensity on the ball. Millar finished third after Hayley Hughes withdrew from the third and fourth playoff, while North Shore's Abbie Palmer defeated Jackie Tapp (Taihape) to finish fifth.
The men's final was a much closer affair, Lance Beddoes needing the full complement of five sets before prevailing over Chris van der Salm 6-11 13-11 10-12 11-6 11-9. In the third and fourth playoff Zac Millar was too strong for Wellingtonian Scott Galloway, easing to a 11-7 11-9 11-5 victory. Sion Wiggin (North Shore) defeated Luke Jones (Tararua) to finish in fifth place.
Earlier, Waikato (mixed) and Victoria (men's) took out the Tertiary Teams titles.
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