Silver success for talented youngster at European Racketlon Championships
Ross Wilson clutching the two silver medals he won at the European Racketlon Championships in Vienna. Picture: Andy Wilson - Credit: Archant
A young racket sports player has returned from Austria triumphant after representing the GB junior team at the European Team and Individual Racketlon Championships.
Ross (left) stands alongside the all-conquering GB U16 squad. Picture: Andy Wilson - Credit: Archant
Fifteen-year-old Ross Wilson, from Lowestoft, competed in Vienna from August 25 to 26, taking on the very best talent European talent.
Racketlon is a sequence of table tennis, badminton, squash and tennis, where one set is played across each sport and the player with the most points in total wins the match.
Ross featured for Team GB in the team, singles and doubles events in the under 16 category and admirably managed to claim two silver medals.
Ross in squash action. Picture: Andy Wilson - Credit: Archant
In the team contest, Ross competed for GB2 alongside partner Will Gregson. After winning their initial matches, the pair defied the odds to defeat much-fancied Hungarian opponents in the semi-finals, before losing out to fellow countrymen and favourites GB1 in the final.
Despite the loss, Ross and Will produced an accomplished performance and were proud to receive silver medals.
When it came to the singles event, Ross was seeded seventh and comfortably progressed into the quarter-finals where he faced fourth seed and British Champion, David Bennett.
Racketlon involves playing a seqence of table tennis, badminton, squash and tennis. Picture: Andy Wilson - Credit: Archant
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David raced ahead in the squash and, whilst Ross pulled points back in the tennis, the youngster just missed out on making the semis.
Even so, Ross played out the remainder of the singles competition to finish fifth.
Ross was again paired up with Will for the doubles, and an inspired showing saw them conquer another Hungarian pair in the semi-finals, leading to another match-up against the dominant GB1 pair.
Ross and Will after winning the sudden death point vs the duo from Hungary. Picture: Andy Wilson - Credit: Archant
The duo exhibited stunning squash, but finished close runners-up and delighted with their silver medals.
Andy Wilson, Ross' father, said: 'Ross really enjoyed himself and loved the experience.
'There was brilliant camaraderie among the British team and they got along with the friendly but competitive guys from the other countries.
Ross (second from the left) reutnred home from the European Racketlon Championships proudly clutching two silver medals. Picture: Andy Wilson - Credit: Archant
'Ross wasn't seeded to win anything, so to come home with medals was really good - he exceeded all expectations.'
Ross and family thanked all those who helped him get to Austria, including his coaches Mark Websdale, Chris Evans, George Caplin and Gareth Bowker, as well as Chris Harrod from Harrod UK.
