Girls team report Primary Schools 2018 – report by Lucy Elliott NPC

PRIMARY SCHOOLS INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS 2018

The Primary Schools Initernational Championships 2018 (PSIC) took place at Inverclyde National Sports Centre, Largs, between the 6th and 8th April. The countries ivolved in this event were; Scotland, England, Ireland, Wales, Guernsey and Isle of Man. The team event took place on the 6th and 7th April, and the Singles event was on the 8th April.

Representing Scotland in the girl’s team we had Amelia Smolarek (Drumchapel), Hania Petryk (Aberdeen), Shannon Brown (Dumfries) and Ilaria Zhao (Aberdeen). The girls did us proud bringing home a bronze medal along side Wales with Ireland in silver position and England with gold. The Scottish girls put in all their effort and showed respectable sportsmanship and good team spirit throughout the full weekend of play.
The Girls got off to a good start with a 9-1 victory over Guernsey. Next up was Wales who were a stronger side and the Scottish girls put in the good fight to get a 5-5 draw. At this point we were taking on Ireland who had previously beat Wales 9-1. The games were tight and it went right down to the last 2 games as it was 4-4. At this stage, with a win, Scotland could go to Silver position and with a draw it was a definite bronze. The girls just missed out 4-6 after a massive fight so we remained on the same points as Wales going into the last match of the day against England who were the number 1 seeds. The girls lost out 0-10 to the strong England team. We finished on the same points as Wales with a joint bronze medal which was well deserved with everyones performances over the 2 days. Results for the Scottish team are as follows:
Guernsey – 9-1:
Amelia Smolarek v Courteney Benfield: 11-4, 11-3, 11-5
Hania Petryk v Shalby Timms: 11-4, 11-8, 9-11, 10-12, 7-11
Shannon Brown v Sian Craig: 11-9, 11-5, 11-5
Ilaria Zhao v Hollie Jenkins: 11-6, 11-8, 12-10
Amelia/Hania v Shelby/Courteney: 11-4, 11-1, 11/6
Shannon/Ilaria v Sian/Hollie: 11-4, 11-6, 11-6
Amelia Smolarek v Shelby Timms: 11-8, 11-8, 12-10
Hania Petryk v Courteney Benfield: 11-7, 11-7, 11-7
Shannon Brown v Hollie Jenkins: 11-3, 8-11, 11-9, 11-4
Ilaria Zhao v Sian Craig: 11-4, 11-9, 11-4

Wales – 5-5:
Amelia Smolarek v Sasha Lewis: 11-7, 11-6, 11-9
Hania Petryk v Ruby Elliott: 6-11, 6-11, 6-11.
Shannon Brownv Elizabeth Evans: 11-5, 11-8, 11-6
Ilaria Zhao v Lili-Mai Maitland: 5-11, 5-11, 6-11
Amelia/Hania v Ruby/Elizabeth: 11-6, 6-11, 11-6, 5-11, 11-9
Shannon/Ilaria v Sasha/Lili-Mai: 4-11, 11-13, 9-11
Amelia Smolarek v Ruby Elliott: 3-11, 5-11, 3-11
Hania Petryk v Sasha Lewis: 13-11, 11-7, 11-4
Shannon Brown v Lili-Mai Maitland: 8-11, 11-7, 11-1, 11-5
Ilaria Zhao v Elizabeth Evans: 14-16, 11-9, 9-11, 8-11

Ireland – 4-6:
Hania Pertyk v Rachel Taylor: 9-11, 3-11, 6-11
Amelia Smolarek v Lela Le Cap: 4-11, 5-11, 12-10, 16-14, 11-7
Ilaria Zhao v Emily Flynn: 3-11, 8-11, 6-11
Shannon Brown v Ruta Miliute: 12-10, 11-7, 11-4
Amelia/Hania v Rachel/Lela: 11-8, 11-133-11, 11-6, 11-7
Shannon/Ilaria v Emily/Ruta: 8-11, 8-11, 9-11
Amelia Smolarek v Rachel Taylor: 6-11, 7-11, 6-11
Hania Petryk v Lela Le Cap: 14-12, 6-11, 11-5, 14-12
Shannon Brown v Emily Flynn: 13-11, 12-10, 7-11, 10-12, 8-11
Ilaria Zhao v Ruta Miliute: 6-11, 8-11, 11-9, 6-11

England – 0-10:
Hania Petryk v Sophie Barcsai: 9-11, 7-11, 9-11
Amelia Smolarek v Maliha Baig: 4-11, 11-9, 11-13, 5-11
Ilaria Zhao v Bethany Ellis: 4-11, 8-11, 4-11
Shannon Brown v Connie Dumelow: 7-11, 8-11, 2-11
Amelia/Hania v Sophie/Maliha: 6-11, 4-11, 9-11
Shannon/Ilaria v Connie/Bethany: 5-11, 2-11, 6-11
Amelia Smolarek v Sophie Barcsai: 8-11, 6-11, 6-11
Hania Petryk v Maliha Baig: 8-11, 11-8, 3-11, 5-11
Shannon Brown v Bethany Ellis: 9-11, 9-11, 13-15
Ilaria Zhao v Connie Dumelow: 4-11, 8-11, 5-11

The singles took place on Sunday 8th of April. Scotland had 3 extra girls playing in the singles; Maria De Silva, Hanna McDonnell and Ollie Anderson. The girls had a successful day in this event. 3 out of the 7 girls made it through to the main event. Amelia Smolarek reached the QF of the main event, Hania Petryk made it to the SF and Shannon Brown made it into the last 16..Ollie Anderson made it to the last 16 of the girls consolation event, Ilaria Zhao and Maria De Silva made it through to the QF of the Consolation and Hannah McDonell reached the SF.
Consolation:
Ollie Anderson lost out to Hollie Jenkins (GUE) in the last 16 (3-11, 8-11, 8-11).
Ilaria Zhao had a bye to the QF but lost out to Elizabeth Evans (WAL) 1-3 (10-12, 14-12, 6-11, 5-11).
Maria De Silva won in the last 16 against Sian Craig 3-0 (11-4, 11-4, 11-8) then took on Ruta Miliute (IRE) in the QF and lost out 0-3 (8-11, 4-11, 8-11).
Hannah McDonnell had a bye to the QF and took on Hollie Jenkins (GUE) winning 3-1 (11-3, 11-5, 11-3). In the SF Hannah met Lili-Mai Maitland (WAL) and lost out 0-3 (3-11, 5-11, 3-11).

Main Event:
Shannon Brown finished runner up in her group which took her through to the last 16 where she met team mate Amelia Smolarek. The 2 Scottish girls had a battle going to 5 sets but Shannon lost out in the final set (11-7, 6-11, 7-11, 11-9, 7-11).
Amelia Smolarek finished runner up in her group which took her to the last 16 where she defeated team mate Shannon Brown 3-2. In the QF Amelia met the number 1 seed Sophie Bacsai (ENG) and lost out 0-3 (7-11, 3-11, 2-11).
Hania Petryk finished runner up in her group taking her through to the last 16 against Emily Flynn (IRE) and took the victory 3-1 (11-6, 11-9, 7-11, 11-4). Hania then went on to play the QF against the strong England number 2, Maliha Baig, but Hania was the stronger player in the match winning 3-1 (11-6, 11-9, 7-11, 11-4) which took her into the SF match againt the eventual winner Ruby Elliott (WAL). Hania lost out in a tough battle 2-3 (8-11, 12-10, 8-11, 11-7, 9-11). Hania picked up the bronze medal.

All the girls put up a great fight and played very well. Well done to everyone who competed in the Primary Schools International Championships 2018.

PSIC 2018 Report-Results