Great leap at the rankings

Maria's performance at the Guildford grand prix accumulated enough points to move her to the 21st position for senior women in England.

Hot and Cold at Sussex 4*

Following the brilliant performance at the Guildford Grand Prix Maria was disappointed with her results at the weekend at K2 Crawley, West Sussex. Two semi final loses on the fifth!

For the Junior Girls Singles Maria had two 3-0 wins at the group stage against Shannon Conway (11-2 11-6 11-4) and Naomi Jackson (11-8 11-6 11-8), a 3-1 win against Lucy Zhu at the Quarter Final stage (11-7 13-15 11-6 11-8) and lost 3-2 to Tressa Armitage on the fifth (9-11, 12-10, 11-13, 11-7, 7-11).

For theJunior Girls Band 1 Maria had two 3-0 wins at the group stage against Ella Patel (11-9 11-8 11-5) and Lucy Zhu (11-9 11-2 11-5), a Quarter Final win against Naomi Jackson (11-3 11-4 11-2) and then lost on another five setter to the eventual winner Yuki Wat (4-11 11-9 11-7 9-11 9-11).

Bribar Guildford Grand Prix Gallery of Photos (courtesy of Michael Loveder)

Guildford Grand Prix: Sunday Results

Maria's Saturday tremendous performance continued on Sunday when she reached the final of the Women's Singles. She topped her group with four notable wins as follows:
bt Angharad Phillips 11-6 11-7 11-8
bt Sue Collier 4-11 11-3 7-11 11-8 11-8
bt Sophie Neil 7-11 11-6 13-11 11-2
bt Sarah Hornsell 11-5 11-9 6-11 11-6

At the Quarter Final stage she faced Chloe Thomas from Wales and despite that she found herself 7-0 down at the first set she eventually won by 3 sets to 0 (11-7 11-6 11-7). At the Semi Final stage another Welsh player was beaten, Megan Phillips at a close game by 3 sets to 2 (7-11 11-9 7-11 11-7 12-10).

At the Final Hannah Hicks the number 3 senior English player managed to inflict the first defeat of the weekend by 3-1 (3-11, 11-8 8-11 3-11).


Maria at the end of the weekend was also awarded the Player of the Tournament.

Under the eagle eye of dad

Having fun with Nicole Hall

New season Good start

Band 3 Presentation

Band 2 Presentation

Maria's competitive season started with the Guildford grand prix, with two titles for women's band 2 and 3.
Women's Band 2
Group Stage
bt Nicole Hall: 12-10 11-8 11-7
bt Gosia Muda 11-6 11-9 11-6
bt Diane McLellan 11-4 11-2 11-5
bt Feifei Pei 11-5 10-12 11-5 11-8
bt Jasmin Ould 13-11 7-11 11-5 11-7

Semi Final
bt Ikue Humphrey 11-6 5-11 11-8 11-7

Final
bt Jasmin Ould 11-6 12-10 11-3

Band 2 Final shot

Women's Band 3
Group Stage
bt Diane McLellan 11-6 11-6 11-7
bt Sandra Rider 11-6 11-7 11-1

Quarter Final
bt Hiba Feredi 11-9 11-4 11-8

Semi Final
 bt Gosia Muda 11-5 11-4 18-16

Final
bt Ikue Humphrey 11-2 10-12 11-4 11-1