The first England Squash Masters event of the season was again the Karakal North of England Masters Open. This year we returned to the newly refurbished Grove Park Squash Club in Stockport. There were about 160 entries which gave us some extra court availability so we’re able to run extra plate events and give many players more matches.
Women’s Over 55: World over 65 Champion Karen Hume (KNT) moved down two age groups here and nearly caused a massive upset. Her final opponent was Avon’s Rose Bamber who is also a British Open and National Champion. Youth prevailed in a fierce contest with some fine squash. Bamber won in four.
Women’s Over 50: Current National Champion Sarah Parr (BRK) was the one to beat in this event and Linda Pritchard (SPE) edged it in five games. But in this pool format, she lost to Wales No. 1 Helen Barnard and Parr recovered her momentum to beat the Wales star and head the group for her eighth regional title.
Women’s Over 45: Catherine Ruffle (KNT) and Christine McMullen (MSY) were the outstanding players in this draw and they duly took their places in the final. McMullen stormed the first but Ruffle found form and battled hard, but narrowly lost the next two. Straight games and a first title for the Merseysider.
Women’s Over 35/40: A Silver Medallist in the recent World Championships, Natalie Lawrence (SOM) was the form player and top seed. Gemma Barber (DOR) beat second seed Michelle Knight (NHM) and pushed Lawrence hard, going down in four to Lawrence who proved her seeding to take her second Regional title.
Men’s Over 80: Only a small group here and the final saw two players who were very evenly matched and have played each other often. In a great match that was tight, competitive and played in great spirit, John Blurton (SFD) got home 3/2 against Geoff Coe (CHS) with four games going to 11/9.
Men’s Over 75: A very strong group this year with new players in it. Four of the top five in the World were here and the Final was a Classic. British Open Champion Barry Featherstone (HPH) saw off Aubrey Waddy (BUX) in one Semi-Final while World Silver Medallist Ian Ross the Scotland No. 1 had a real battle with current National Champion James Dubois (SRY) getting home in five. Ross took the first game but Featherstone powered through the next two with hard-hitting and deft touches. The fourth went point for point but Featherstone reached 10 first. Ross saved it, and three more match points before taking the game 18/16. He used the momentum to keep ahead in the fifth and take the title.
Men’s Over 70: British Open Champion Ian Graham was the star act here and calmly went about his business. New in the group Paul Reader (HPH) despatched second seed Terry Belshaw (CBA) and set up a final with the top seed. Graham proved too good however and took his sixth regional title.
Men’s Over 65: Probably the best two players in the age group met in the final here. Robin Ridley, the Scottish Champion and World Silver Medallist is also the current National Champion. John Guyatt (WOC) is the British Open Champion - beating Ridley in that final. He proved it was no fluke as Guyatt used his varied game and great mobility to gain supremacy and take his second regional title in four games.
Men’s Over 60: Top-seeded Allen Barwise (CBA) had two very hard five-game matches before losing to former National Champion Neil Harrison (NHL). In the other half David Box (CBA), just in the group and always dangerous won through well against dangerous opposition before proving too good for Harrison in the final. 3/0 and his sixth Regional.
Men’s Over 55: Yawar Abbas (DCL) plays at this club and is something of a local legend. Winner of British Opens and National titles he is always the man to beat. Alex Betts (MDX) put together a fine string of results, taking out some very good players with a stylish game. Abbas was a step too far however, and after a 12/10 first it was all Abbas. Much to the delight of the home crowd.
Men’s Over 50: Matthew Stephenson (YKS) was top seed here and looked ominously good as he powered through the top half of the draw. In the final he met Chris Lynham (HFD) who scored fine victory over second seed Ashley Sandyford-Sykes (MSY). A four-game win with two games going into extra time. Stephenson was in no mood to let this opportunity slip, however, and took the final 3/0 for his second Regional.
Men’s Over 45: Ian Cox (NOR) is probably the most destructive hitter of a Squash ball in the Masters. He was top seed here and was due to meet the very accomplished Nick Wall (YKS) who has British Opens and Nationals to his name. He had a real battle in the semi-final against Nick Hargreaves (NOT) and had to come from 2/1 down to reach the final. Here he had the control to overcome Cox’s power and after winning a bizarre first game 11/0, took the final in four games.
Men’s Over 40: England star Mick Biggs (MDX) has found winning ways of late and was looking to add to his two regional wins. He had a great battle with Neil Cross (NOR) to win in five games with the middle three going to 12/10 and take his place in the final. Here he played Steven Davies (BFD) who also had a titanic contest with second seed Tony Webb (SRY) getting through in five. The final had some great, close squash, but Biggs converted his chances winning to 9, 9, and 10. A very close 3/0!
Men’s Over 35: The top seeds fell here as Rory Pennell (ESX) lost out in five terrific games to newcomer Paul Bell (CBA) the Scotland National Coach. Meanwhile Gbenga Adeyi (BFD) not back to his best form after injury went down to the powerful hitting of Paul McDonald (LNH). Bell looked to have the edge in the final and a 14/12 second game cleared the way for a first Regional Masters title for the Cumbrian.
Thanks were made to England Squash Masters Regional sponsors Karakal, the committee and members at Grove Park, the England Squash Referees, the ESM Committee and especially to the Event Manager, Brian Brock.
The next event is the Midlands Masters at Wolverhampton Lawn Tennis and Squash Club from 4th to 6th November 2022.
Stuart Hardy
Chairman