DARTINGTON Squash Club held their annual Girls’ Championships on Saturday 8 June.

The four girls competing were Maya Rees-Durham, Martha Stevens, Rosie Turner and Orriah Ayling.

Orriah has not been playing for many months, but her play has improved considerably, though the other three girls have all been playing for a number of years, and they proved to be too strong for the enthusiastic Orriah.

Maya was the favourite to win the trophy, but tough opposition was expected from Martha and Rosie.

Martha beat Rosie 15-8, 15-11 in a close match, with Rosie holding her own until halfway through each game, then Martha's power and experience pulled her through. Maya also had a tough time beating Rosie 15-7, 15-13 with the latter nearly forcing a third game.

Maya and Martha went toe-to-toe in the final, for the best game of the girl’s section. Martha won a very close first game 15-13, however, this seemed to spur Maya on to hit the ball harder than ever, with particularly strong and accurate serves.

She won the second game 15-12, even after being behind 11-7 at one stage. The final game was the hardest of them all, Maya's powerful play taking her to a lead of 13-8, before Martha came back strongly to 14-14.

14-14 became 15-15 only for Maya to win the final two points, winning the match 13-15, 15-12, 17-15.

Dartington Squash Club has never before seen such strong, energetic and competitive teenage girls. They will undoubtedly go on to reach much greater heights in the years to come.