Bermuda's junior tennis players took to the courts at Pomander Gate Tennis Club recently to play in the Highland Spring Junior Open tennis tournament, a Bermuda Lawn Tennis Association (BLTA) ranking tournament.

With divisional bragging rights up for grabs the tournament didn't disappoint as a few unexpected champions emerged in the absence of some of the better-known junior tennis players.

Top seed Neal Towlson defeated Kevin Caza 6-2, 6-1 to take the Boys 18 and under title, while Nicholas Butterfield defeated Charles Skater to win the B division.

In the Boys 16 and under, Jack Keyes defeated both Domico Watson and Alexander Brown in a round robin to take the title, with Watson the runner-up.

Top seed Jack Keyes defeated Courtland Boyle in the 14 and under, who was playing up an age group 6-0, 6-0, and Billy Boyle defeated Connor Anderson to win the B division.

In the Boys 12 and under divsion, top seed Chris Rego edged out second seed Courtland Boyle 6-3, 6-3, in a well fought final, while Evin Mosley defeated Kiari Tucker to win the B division.

In the Boys 10 and under category, two unseeded players made it through to the finals where Tanner Boyle edged out Nick Lines 4-2, 4-1. William Way defeated Ian Anderson to win the B division

Top seeded Catherine Cooke defeated Ciara Svensen 6-2, 6-1, in the Girls 16 and under division, while in the 14 and under division top seed Ciara Svensen defeated unseeded Berkeley Brown 6-0, 6-0, with Tatum Boyle defeating Mallory Towlson in the B division.

Top seed Clementine Keyes defeated second seed Eva Frazzoni 6-2, 6-2, in the 12 and under division while Mallory Towlson defeated Maggie Koppi to win the B division.

The tournament also involved doubles play, and the winners were Clementine Keyes and Taylor McHarg in the Girls 12 and under division, Berkeley Brown and Christy Ray in the Girls 14 and under, Tanner Boyle and Nick Lines in the Boys 12 and under, and Charles Skater and Michael Skater in the Boys 18 and under division.

Also in the Boys 12 and under division, brothers Tucker and Dylan Powell teamed up and played well together to win the B division.

Rhonda Caza of the BLTA stated that it was nice to see the younger players showing what they are capable of producing good showings for all to see.

"Overall the tournament went so very well, with all the kids playing so enthusiastically with a noticeably high level of sportsmanship," Caza said.

"With many of our top juniors away on vacations, the tournament was an opportunity for some of the other players to shine and end the week with a trophy or two in hand, and although many of the scores appeared one-sided, the matches weren't always that way.

"We also awarded sportsmanship awards to 3 girls - Tatum Boyle, Shei-Anne Ottley-Peets, and Berkeley Brown, and 3 boys - Ian Anderson, Evin Mosley, and Tucker Powell.

"These were based on criteria such as calling lines fairly, calling out scores, complimenting opponents' play, on-court and off-court etiquette, and so forth.

"The level of sportsmanship was so high overall that we could easily have made at least 20 awards."