Saturday 27th May saw most of the Team Leics U16’s travel to take part in the annual Warwickshire Rising Stars competition – one of the season highlights!
With the mixed doubles event seeing a straight knockout format in a large and challenging field, only Sameer Chenia & Sophie Watson managed to progress to the quarter-finals.
The singles competition was split into an A and B event. Jess Rodgers played well to win her group and make the semi-finals of the B group before losing to eventual winner Mollie Bailey for her second singles bronze medal in 2 weeks.
In the level doubles, both boys pairs of Harry Clare & Sameer Chenia and Rowan Clark & Luke Hoult won 2 of their 3 group games with Harry & Sameer being particularly unlucky to lose their 3rd 15-11 in the 3rd against the eventual silver medallists.
In the girls event, both Leicestershire pairs of Izzy Pike & Jess Rodgers and Jess Allen & Tamsin Betts won all their group games to go through to the semi finals. Jess & Tamsin facing the top seeds Warwickshire’s Milly Evans & Caitlin Harper did well to take the first game 15-10 but were unable to hold off a very strong pair who took the next two for the win. Izzy & Jess meanwhile took on the #2 seeds Melissa Lin & Mollie Bailey. Once again the Leicestershire girls took the first end 15-9 but were unable to hold onto their early lead against the experience of the Cornwall girls. A pair of bronze medals and an excellent performance from the  Leicestershire girls which saw them take 2 of the top 4 places in a very competitive tournament.
