GRACIE Edwards and Colin Stallwood took starring roles in the Clacton and District League's 2017 Closed Championships.

Both chalked up a third successive individual singles title.

Edwards confirmed her dominance in the ladies' singles when, for a third year running, she defeated Annabelle Rodriguez.

It was a well-deserved success for the junior against her opponent, who played better than the 11-9, 11-7, 6-11, 11-4 score suggests.

Fifteen-year old Edwards becomes only the second junior to take the ladies' singles title in three consecutive years, emulating the feat of Edel Ruddy in the 1980s.

Seeded players Isabel Barton and Tricia Salter topped their groups to make it to the semi-finals while Chris Jones played well to head her group and take her place in the knockout phase.

Stallwood had to be at his brilliant best to dominate a high-quality field in the men's singles where, in the final, he warded off the challenge of Andy Warner.

In a highly-competitive encounter, Warner took the early initiative but Stallwood, allying determination to talent, worked his way back to take the title 10-12, 11-9, 13-11, 11-7.

Stallwood is only the third player in the tournament's 72-year history to take the men's singles title three years running, with the others being Derek Wood in the 1980s and the legendary Ken Gladwell in the 1950s.

Stallwood enjoyed a comparatively comfortable journey to the final, with his four-set semi-final victory over James Denyer more comfortable than he might have expected.

Warner had endured a sterner test, having to overcome an on-song Gary Young 17-15 in the fourth before scraping past Sam Hume, runner-up for the last two years, 13-11 in the fifth in a see-saw semi-final.

The event also witnessed a memorable round one match between Kris Stefanov, seeded but starved of match-practice and not fully fit, and 14-year-old Jared Chelski.

The match reached such heights that, for the last points, players on all other seven tables stopped to watch - which the uninhibited Chelski took 16-14 in the decider.

Warner and Edwards took the mixed doubles trophy by beating the champions for the last two years, Stallwood and Rodriguez, 11-7 in the fifth.

It was an entertaining tussle between two evenly-matched pairings and a reverse of the result of the Colchester Closed final six weeks ago, where Stallwood and Rodriguez had narrowly triumphed.

Paul Hume and Caroline North were surprise semi-finalists, making it through thanks to close wins in five against seeded Martin Edwards and Cris Edwards and Felipe Rodriguez and Kayley Rodriguez.

Stallwood and Greg Green have been pre-eminent in the men's doubles for the last three years but their reign came to an end this year, defeated 11-9 in the decider in the quarter-finals by Gavin Price and Kevin Gowlett.

So the honours went to the popular pairing of brothers Paul Hume and Sam Hume, runners-up for the last two years, both taking their first major Clacton Closed silverware.

In the final, they defeated 2013 champions Denyer and Felipe Rodriguez in a four-setter where the losing pair showed only glimpses of their true ability.

Nevertheless, it was refreshing to see the final played between four home-grown young players whose average age was just 22 years.

In mitigation to Denyer and Rodriguez, they had to win three tough matches close in five to get to the final - against Martin Edwards and Oli Reynolds, Phil Smith and Gary Cattermole and Price and Gowlett in the semi-final.

By contrast, the Hume brothers' toughest challenge was in their semi-final where they had to withstand Warner and Gary Young, eventually succeeding 11-6 in the fifth.

Two years ago Isabel Barton and Jenny Higgins caused a minor shock by taking the ladies' doubles title.

And to prove it was not a one-off fluke, they did so again this year, taking the trophy 11-6 in the fifth against Annabelle Rodriguez and Kayley Rodriguez.

Barton and Higgins' crucial win was in the semi-final where they upset the formbook by beating reigning champions Cris Edwards and Gracie Edwards in a 12-10 in the fifth nail-biter.

It was an 11th ladies' doubles success for Higgins and a tenth for Barton.

Sam Hume, as expected, took a third successive junior singles title, although not against his expected opponent.

In the final he beat 12-year-old Daniel Young.

Young had excelled to top a group that comprised Woody Fitzpatrick and Scott Campbell, before defeating seeded Chelski three-straight in the semi-final.

At the end of the tournament, Young was awarded the Victor Trophy for his all-round performance in the junior singles, junior doubles, division three singles and men's singles - where he'd come through the group and nearly beaten dad Gary in round one.

Once again the league is indebted to main sponsor Paul Newbould Planning and Building Design Services and to Phil Smith, Angela Barratt (Skelmersdale Centre Ltd), Jenny Higgins and John Houghton for their sponsorship of the individual events. The event took place at the Clacton Coastal Academy Sports Hall.

Championships results: Men's singles (sponsored by Phil Smith): C Stallwood beat A Warner 10-12, 11-9, 13-11, 11-7.

Ladies' singles (sponsored by the Skelmersdale Centre - Angela Barratt): G Edwards beat A Rodriguez 11-9, 11-7, 6-11, 11-4.

Men's doubles: P Hume/S Hume beat J Denyer/F Rodriguez 11-1, 11-6, 6-11, 11-3.

Ladies' doubles : I Barton/J Higgins beat A Rodriguez/K Lamb 11-7, 8-11, 11-8, 8-11, 11-6.

Mixed doubles: A Warner/G Edwards beat C Stallwood/A Rodriguez 11-8, 10-12, 11-9, 13-15, 11-7.

Veterans' singles: G Young beat K Gowlett 9-11, 11-8, 11-8, 11-5.

Super-veterans singles: J Cleasby beat C Webber 9-11, 8-11, 11-5, 11-8, 11-6.

Junior singles (sponsored by Jenny Higgins): S Hume beat D Young 11-2, 11-6, 13-11.

Junior doubles: S Hume/W Fitzpatrick beat D Chelski/D Young 11-13, 11-6, 14-16, 11-6, 11-5.

Division two singles: E Lloyd beat J Lloyd 11-7, 12-10, 11-6.

Division three singles (sponsored by John Houghton): J Chelski beat D Young 11-9, 14-12, 11-2.

Restricted singles: G Price beat O Reynolds 11-3, 11-6, 11-7.

The 2017 Knockout Cup final between Nomads Panthers and Windsor Condors takes place on Tuesday, May 2 at the Brotherhood Hall. Play starts at 7.30pm.

League results: Division one: Windsor Condors 9 Brotherhood C 1; Lawford 2 Nomads Panthers 8; Brotherhood B 3 Walton A 7; Windsor Hawks 6 Walton B 4.

Division two: Brotherhood E 7 Windsor Magpies 3; Brotherhood F 7 Windsor Harriers 3; Nomads Pumas 0 Brotherhood H 10; Walton C 5 Nomads Jaguars 5;

Windsor Buzzards 4 Brotherhood D 6.

Division three: Nomads Ocelots 2 Windsor Ospreys 8; Brotherhood J 2 Nomads Caracals 8; Windsor Swallows 4 Nomads Lynx 6; Walton D 8 Brotherhood G 2.