TORQUAY'S Caspar Kogel beat top seed Reece Allen (Exeter) 5-4, 4-0 to reach the semi-finals of the boys' singles at the 12 and under Grade 5 ranking event at Exeter Tennis Centre.

It was a super win for the 9.2-rated junior from Belgrave Road against a player whose ranking of 8.2 easily made him the pre-event favourite in a boys' draw that saw players from Somerset and Avon reach the last eight.

But after beating Allen, Kogel went down to Adam Cotgrave (Exeter) 4-1, 4-0 who went on to beat Callum Mooney (Somerset) 4-1, 1-4, 10-7 in the final.

Neighbouring county Somerset had been guaranteed a finalist after Tristan Coore came from behind to beat Plymouth-based South Devon Tennis Centre player Matyas Metyko 1-4, 4-2, 10-1 in the quarter-finals, only to fall to county team-mate Callum Mooney 4-1, 4-1.

Avon's Fraser Brown was among the entries but he was beaten in sight of the semi-finals by Callum Mooney 4-0, 4-2. In the play-off for third place, Tristan Coore beat Caspar Kogel 4-1, 4-0.

Results. Boys' 12 and under Grade Ranking. (Exeter Tennis Centre) Quarter-finals: Caspar Kogel bt Reece Allen 5-4, 4-0. Adam Cotgrave bt Ryan Andrews 4-1, 4-0. Traistan Coore bt Matya Metyko 1-4, 4-2, 10-1. Callum Mooney bt Fraser Brown 4-0, 4-2. Semi-finals: Adam Cotgrave bt Caspar Kogel 4-1, 4-0. Callum Mooney bt Tristan Coore 4-1, 4-1. Final: Adam Cotgrave bt Callum Mooney 4-1, 1-4, 10-7. Third – fourth play-off: Tristan Coore bt Caspar Kogel 4-1, 4-0. Playback: Reece Allen bt Ryan Andrews 4-0, 5-4. Matyas Metyko bt Fraser Brown 4-1, 4-2. Reece Allen bt Matyas Metyko 5-3, 4-2.

SOUTH WEST youngsters made an impression at the LTA Indoor Series Grade Three 10 and under singles in South Wales where the titles went to Charlotte Peckover (Warks) and Edward Pomeroy from Kent.

Flying the flag for Devon were Joel While (Torquay), Bradley Phillips (Barnstaple) and Katie Leck from Exeter while the in-form Edward Shattock (Somerset) also took part to enjoy first ever wins over two of his great rivals.

The two-day event at the Esporta Glamorgan Health & Rackets Club in Neath saw Shattock beat South Wales number one Odran Hobbs 4-2, 4-0 in the quarter-finals before going on to enjoy another first – a win over second seed Joel While 4-0, 5-3 in the semi-finals.

"That was an epic win for Edward over Joel and I've rarely seen such long rallies," said one spectator.

But those two matches took their toll and it was a physically and mentally exhausted Shattock who then lost out to top seed Edward Pomeroy 4-1, 4-1 in the final.

Exeter's Katie Leck had a tough draw where she faced a very intense top seed in Charlotte Peckover who gees herself up between all points with cries of 'Come on!'

Miss Leck gradually adjusted to this and played really well and while it was a close second set the final scoreline of 4-0, 4-1 did not do her justice against the noisy Midlander.

In playback, Katie beat an opponent from South Wales 4-0, 4-0 before coming up against the tall five-foot-five Mhari Tyler (Warks) to win 4-5 (5-7), 4-0, 10-3.

Charlotte Peckover won the main draw final, beating India Britland (Avon) 4-1, 4-1.

FORMER Wimbledon junior Jason Clunie whose family home was in Marldon, will be saddened at the sudden death on Thursday of his former coach Mike Sertin who was at this week's 100th Yonex All-England Badminton Championships in his role as Chairman of Badminton England.

Mike Sertin was a kind and generous man and this multi-talented sportsman and administrator will be sadly missed by all who knew him.

An accomplished tennis coach and former Press Officer for the Lawn Tennis Association, Mike was instrumental in the progress of former Torquay junior Jason Clunie, now a doctor, who went on to play at the Wimbledon Junior Championships where he was beaten by eventual champion Stefan Edberg (Sweden).

Mike was a charming companion and I shall always remember his kindness as we shared a taxi from a press reception at the Bulgarian Embassy following the official announcement that the Bulgarian Vintners Wine Company would be sponsoring the England National Badminton Championships at the Torbay Leisure Centre in 1991.

Mike, whose sister-in-law was former England star and European champion Helen Troke, played his part in ensuring a hugely successful National Championships at the Torbay Leisure Centre, Paignton for two successive years before the switch of venue to Norwich.

Badminton England Chief Executive Adrian Christy said: "It is a terrible shock, made worse by the fact that it comes right in the middle of the Yonex All England 100th Championships, an event in which Mike has been such a driving force.

"He was pivotal in the organising of our 100th Championships and was so passionate and enthusiastic about the celebrations we have been planning.

"His enthusiasm has rubbed off on everyone and he was particularly keen to bring back many of our great past winners to this week's Championships. We want the rest of this week to be a fitting memory to Mike.

"But right now our thoughts are with his wife, Catherine, and his son, James."

Badminton England President John Havers said: "He will be sadly missed. In his first term as Chairman, his acute business brain has been instrumental in moving the Association forward commercially."

Mike Sertin was also chairman of Somerset as well as Badminton England and helped steer the National Governing Body through big changes during his term of office. He was a forward thinker and was always looking to improve the profile of events and tournaments. Mike, who was 66, will be greatly missed.