The Karakal South of England Masters 2022 was played at the fine facilities at Nuffield Health and Fitness, St. Albans, Hertfordshire. A very good entry of 194 players registered and pleasingly 35 women. We are actively trying to encourage more female participation in line with the shared goals we have with England Squash. The only unfortunate thing was that we fell victim to the extreme cold weather. Two courts developed considerable condensation problems and were unplayable. Regrettably, we had to abandon the Plate events due to a lack of courts.
Women’s Over 60. A strong group and almost uniquely one with two current World Masters Champions playing. Karen Hume (KNT) playing down an age group was one and she immediately caused an upset beating three-time British Open Champion Fiona McLean of Scotland in a close match. Meanwhile her friend and County teammate Mandy Akin, the 60s World Champion was progressing to the final. There it was Akin who won a hard 3/0 to take her Regional Championship tally to 14 - equalling Hume.
Women’s Over 55. The seeds confirmed their places in this event as Isobel Smith (HFD) showed her class by overcoming the rest of the field with straight games wins. The nearest to her was the very mobile Lisa Tolhurst (ESX) but a second title for Smith.
Women’s Over 50. National Champion Sarah Parr (BRK) is on a roll! Three Regionals this season and three wins. In the final she met a new player on the circuit in Vivienne Berkemer (BRK) who made a sensational debut removing higher-ranked opponents including the talented Alex King (ESX) the No. 2 seed. But once again, Parr was too good in the final and recorded her 10th Regional title with a four-game win.
Women’s Over 45. Some excellent matches in this group also and a real thriller as top seed Christine McMullen (MSY) was edged out by Kent’s Catherine Ruffle 11/9 in the fifth. There she met the ten-time Champion Keeley Johnson, also of Kent. Looking for her first championship Ruffle was playing great squash and just had the better of all three games. A very sweet maiden title.
Women’s Over 35/40. Some upsets in this draw as the top two seeds fell. Natalie Lawrence (SOM) overcame top seed Kate Bradshaw (CBE) in one semi-final while Natalie Townsend (WKS) overcame No. 2 seed Sophie Beake (BRK) in a humdinger of a five-setter. She couldn’t produce that form again, however as Heather Joy (BUX) took a 15/13 first game and went on to win in four. Lawrence was in top form for the final, however and playing confidently took her third Regional title.
To the men...
Men’s Over 75. Top seed Barry Featherstone (HPH) was favourite here as the British OpenChampion looked to add to his 31 Regional wins (second in the all time list). But last event he lost to former National Champion Aubrey Waddy (BUX) and they were seeded to meet again. A former World Masters Champion Chris Ansell (BRK) won through to play Featherstone in one semi-upsetting National Champion James Dubois (SRY) while Waddy removed Martin Day (YKS) in four. The final was a good tussle but Featherstone again asserted himself and took it in four.
Men’s Over 70. The top two seeds fell in this draw as well, losing to 3/4 seeds. New in the group, Judge John Goodrich (SFK) a former National Champion himself squeezed home against Terry Belshaw 11/9 in the fifth while Hampshire’s Paul Reader recorded the same score against second seed Geoff Walton (CHS). The final was marked by superb winners and horrible errors, and again went to 11/9 in the fifth. It was the Judge who prevailed for his sixth Regional.
Men’s Over 65. The top four seeds progressed here but not comfortably. Gordon McManus (KNT) removed Ripley Oyler in four with one game going to 18/16 and then had a revenge win over last week’s Wales Open winner Simon Evenden (NHM). Meanwhile former Open and National Champion crept past local star Julian Caxton 13/11 in the fifth before another close one with World bronze medalist Gordon Benbow (CNL). Top seed Stuart Hardy (WLT) ended Bradburn’s run with his attacking front court game. In the final there was little to choose between the players and the Kent man hung on to level with an 11/9 in the fourth. But Hardy reasserted himself to keep ahead in the fifth and take his 17th. Regional Championship.
Men’s Over 60. Last season John Parkes (WOC) was the man to beat - and not many did. He was British Open and National Champion. But top seed here was former World top 10 and Senior National Champion Bryan Beeson (NLD). They duly reached the final but honourable mentions to Teejay Sogurno (HFD) stretching Beeson while Nigel Bacon (ESX) went two up on Parkes before falling in five. Beeson always seemed to be ahead in the final. Some great rallies and shot-making but a few expensive errors under pressure from Parkes saw the Northumbrian take his first Masters title.
Men’s Over 55. This age group is dominated by Yawar Abbas (DCL) a four-time British Open Champion.
He was the man to beat and no one could take a game from him. But there were some wonderful matches on the way. Marvin Rust (HFD) had a good five gamer against Duane Harrison (KNT) but lost another to the mercurial David Youngs (NOR) who in turn lost to Hampshire’s Steve McLoughlin, recovered after injury. But the final was Abbas. Just too skilful and controlled and a seventh Regional.
Men’s Over 50. Two top players contested this final. British Open Champion Stuart Hargreaves(YKS) eased through to the final but Paul Boyle (BUX) had a harder time going to five with Tim Clark (DCL) and four with Craig Webb (GLR) who had removed 3/4 seed John Simpson (YKS). A tight final with some lovely squash and Boyle took the first and very nearly the second before being pulled back by the Yorkshireman who took the title in four.
Men’s Over 45. ESM Player of the Season last year was Matt Holland (HPH). British Open and National Champion and a great player to watch for skill and athleticism. The semi between him and Devon’s Mike Gregory was a classic with all the shot-making and thrills imaginable.
Gregory had a match point in the fourth but the game went to Holland 13/11 and the fifth followed. Meanwhile Tim Burrell (BRK) and England team regular has been playing himself back into top form. He also had a tremendous five-setter recovering from 2/1 down against the power player that is Ian Cox (NOR) to win in five. But Holland always had a bit more in the final and in spite of a tight third, 13/11, it was another title for him. A fifth Regional win.
Men’s Over 40. Only a small draw in the 40s but some excellent squash and some new names on the Honours Board. Top seed Mick Biggs (MDX) already a winner this season was below his best and fell to Neil Cross (NOR) while second seed Steven Davies (BFD) had a 67-minute battle royal against Surrey’s Tony Webb emerging a winner 17/15 in the fifth. Another five-game battle, this one against Cross was a bit too far and it was Cross who recorded a fine win and his first Regional triumph.
Men’s Over 35. Jamie Douglas (NLD) narrowly lost the final of the last event and was looking to put that right here. His final opponent was Dave Palmer (DVN) who had to overcome some stiff resistance from Jason Varrie (OFE) but the best two players met in the final. And it was a great game of squash with both players powering the ball round the court and moving superbly well. It was cut and thrust all the way and Palmer saved the match 13/11 in the third but Douglas got home by a narrow margin in the fourth 11/9 for a 3/1 win in 60 minutes. A first Regional for the Northumbrian.
Thanks were paid to our sponsors Karakal for their continued support. Thanks to Nuffield Health Club, Managers and Members and especially Keith Ragg who liaised on the club’s behalf. Also, the catering and bar staff were excellent. As always, the England Squash referees were thanked as were the Committee who ran the event, especially Brian Brock, ably assisted by Ros Featherstone.
The next event will be the Karakal East of England at Ipswich 13-15 January 2023.
Stuart Hardy
Chairman