Day 5 – Sunday 11th February (Finals Day)
And so onto Finals Day where the coveted title of National Masters Champion will be conferred on a number of excellent Squash Players.
Women’s Over 65: It is rare that two World Masters Champions play off like this, but we had Karen Hume (KNT) and Jill Campion of Wales competing for the title. It was a game of high quality and Hume went two up before Campion made a surge and took the next three to clinch her third National crown.
Women’s Over 60: Defending Champion Hilary Kenyon (CHS) had a real challenge against the most successful England woman in the game. Mandy Akin (KNT) has eight Nationals as well as World and European titles. It was always going to be close, and sure enough, point for point through the fifth game it went with some frantic rallies and more than one dive. Kenyon emerged an 11/9 winner for her second National.
Women’s Over 55: Rose Bamber of Avon is a big event player. And she does not very often lose. The top seed and favourite here the three time British Open Champion met another fine athlete in the Wales no. 1 Helen Barnard. Bamber always had the edge as these two players, the best in their age group put on a fantastic display. It went to Bamber in four games.
Women’s Over 50: Another great final that went all the way to 12/10 in the fifth. Sarah Parr (BRK) is a former National Champion and Louisa Dalwood (HFD) has been very close before. In a match that swung one way then the other they arrived at 10/10 in the fifth. Dalwood scored a point then hit a drive that spun out of the upright Nick and dropped dead! An incredibly rare thing, and on match point in a National Final! A first for her.
Women’s Over 45: Catherine Ruffle (KNT) has been unbeaten on the England circuit this season after taking the Open in June. But in the Portugal Open recently, Keeley Johnson also of Kent had been making a comeback after a few years out. She was a European, British Open and National champion and narrowly defeated her Kent colleague there. The final displayed all the players skills and athleticism but Ruffle came through in four close games for her first National title.
Women’s Over 40: Amina Helal (LNH) has been a pro player and still plays like it. The defending Champion she had too much game for England International Selina Harper (CBA) who battled hard and took a tight second 13/11 but Helal was too good and ran out a winner in four games.
Women’s Over 35: Another outstanding pro player in Wales No. 1 Stacey Gooding was top seed here. Any other year Lennie Holt (WKS) would have won this but in spite of some fierce rallies Gooding was in charge. Holt was close in the first and took the second but the next two slipped away as the Welsh woman took the title in four.
Men’s Over 80: Scotland's Ken Reid played the marathon match ( one game 22/20 ! ) against four time World Champion Adrian Wright (YKS) but Anthony Clifford (HFD) is very mobile and plays an intelligent game. He had too much for the others and ran out a worthy winner in all three matches. Reid took second place.
Men’s Over 75: A group that is getting stronger and stronger. Former Champion Barry Featherstone (HPH) was top seed and had beaten the other contenders this season. But Ian Ross the Scottish Champion holds the British Open and European titles and was too good for him in the semis but Larry Grover's (HPH) intelligent and unfussy game met the challenge and he took the title 11/9 in the fourth.
Men’s Over 70: Two players with great pedigree but had, for them, a poor season. But they played very well here. Terry Belshaw (CBA) is the British Open Champion and again played like it. Geoff Redfern (WKS) is himself a former Open Champion but the Cumbrian's winning drops proved telling. Straight games and a second National for Belshaw.
Men’s Over 65: The top player in the age group is undoubtedly Allen Barwise (CBA) and he is rarely beaten in this group. The defending Champion, he wanted this one and his superior strength and spread swept all away. Tom Burton (HRF) played well to reach his first National final but Barwise was too strong. Straight games and title retained.
Men’s Over 60: Having removed eight time Champion Mark Woodliffe (GLR) Eammon Price (HFD), a three time National Champion himself, was possibly favourite against former World top ten player and defending Champion Brian Beeson (NLD). He took the first but Beeson was superb, finding powerful winners and weathering the inevitable fight back from Price. A four game win for Beeson.
Men’s Over 55: Gavin Roger-Lund (BUX) was top seed here and had two close wins over Open Champion Steve McLoughlin (HPH) so their final was eagerly awaited. Unfortunately, Roger-Lund hurt his leg in the semi final and he was unable to play the final. A second National for the Hampshire man.
Men’s Over 50: In a group of incredibly talented Squash players Mike Gregory (DVN) is exceptional. Having removed top seed Nick Wall (YKS) he defeated double National Champion Paul Boyle (BUX) in four games - although if Boyle had taken the fourth that he lost 12/10 he may have been able to turn it round. But a firth National title to the Devonian.
Men’s Over 45: Two players who have played each other a lot. Open and National Champion Matt Holland (HPH) has the edge over Mick Biggs (MDX) but Biggs has some wins over Holland. This match was strange in that they didn't both play well at the same time and the games went one way or another. But it went to five games and Holland found his form and took a second National title.
Men’s Over 40: Peter Marshall (LDN) is a Squash Legend. No doubt. A former World no. 2 and British Champion he has continued to play brilliantly in the Masters world. Although over 50 he rampaged through the 40s field and even the wonderfully skilful Phil Rushworth (SRY) couldn't live with him. A fourth National in the Masters to go with his earlier British Open
Men’s Over 35: The level of the 35 draw is astounding. Two superb players, well over 20,000 on Squash Levels and playing the quality of game that left the packed gallery in awe. James Snell (DVN) has won the British Open 35s and the Amateur Championship already this season. He was well matched by former Warwickshire champion Chris Hall and the match had all the best attributes of high level squash. In the end there was only the odd point or two between them, but a first National title for Snell.
Thanks were made to all at Nottingham Squash Rackets Club, iPROSPORTS the event Sponsors and the England Squash Masters Committee who managed the event, especially Badger Brock the Event Manager.
Day 4 – Saturday 10th February
Women’s Over 65: The semi-finals went to seeding without any undue anxiety for the top seeds. The two World Champions Karen Hume (KNT) and Jill Campion of Wales disposed of Sue Pynegar (NOT) and Lynne Davies of Wales in straight games.
Women’s Over 60: It was a very similar story in the Women’s O60s with Hilary Kenyon (CHS) having too much for county colleague Polly Woodward and World Champion Mandy Akin (KNT) proving similarly too strong against Julie-Anne Pegram (SFK). Two straight game wins for the top seeds in which should be a great final.
Women’s Over 55: Rose Bamber (AVN) is the top seed and outstanding player in this event and she proved much too good for Karen Webb (YKS). No 2 seed Helen Barnard of Wales once again proved to be better than Fran Wallis (LCN) and in a replay of an earlier Regional final won in straight games although two were very competitive.
Women’s Over 50: Unfortunately, top seed Rachel Calver, the Open Champion, had to withdraw injured this morning giving Sarah Parr (BRK), herself a former Champion, a route to the final. There she will meet Louisa Dalwood (HFD) who had too varied a game for the Nottinghamshire girl Izzy Bramhall and a quick win 3-0.
Women’s Over 45: Catherine Ruffle (KNT), the top seed, was pushed further than she normally is and Natalie Townsend (WKS) was very close to a major upset. After Townsend going 2-1 up taking the third 14-12 she only just lost the fourth 11-9 before Ruffle re-asserted herself to win in five. Keeley Johnson (KNT) and Kate Bradshaw (CBE) are evenly matched and so it was to prove. Bradshaw took the first but Johnson struck back to go two up winning 13-11 in the third. Bradshaw levelled but Johnson moved ahead in the fifth and was too experienced to let it slip. 3-2 to her. An interesting match in the final.
Women’s Over 40: Top seed Amina Halal (LNH) is the defending champion and favourite here but had to work very hard to get past Scottish star Lizzie Little who recovered from two games down to level the match and battle all the way through the fifth before Halal pinched it 11-8. In the other half Selina Harper (CBA) had a good battle with Nicola Helwick (SRY) taking the first a vital 12-10 before just staying ahead in a good quality fierce hitting match.
Women's Over 35: Wales star Stacey Gooding again illustrated her class with another straight game demolition of an England International. This time it was Polly Roylance-Smith (LCN) and Gooding is just playing at a different level. In the final she will meet Leonie Holt (WKS) who blazed through Natalie Davenport-Husdan (CHS) with some great squash from both women but Holt always having the better of the long exchanges. It will be interesting to see how she can perform against Gooding.
Men’s Over 80: The top seed here, Anthony Clifford, continued his fine form and took a very close straight games win over Ken Reid of Scotland who had the monster match with Adrian Wright yesterday. Wright himself recovered from that loss to beat Nigel Belle (KNT) comfortably in straight games. Clifford and Wright meet tomorrow in the final match and mathematically could still come out on top.
Men's Over 75: Top seed Barry Featherstone (HPH) has been in great form on the Regional events which included a win over his arch enemy Ian Ross (SCO), the current European Champion. But today Ross was out for revenge and played a beautifully controlled game to bury the ball deep and chip it short winning a place in the final in straight games. In the other half No 2 seed Larry Grover managed to always keep slightly ahead and in a good competitive match with Wales No 1 Stephen Evans edged home 12-10, 14-12 in the second and third games for a 3-0 win.
Men's Over 70: Upsets through this draw saw the British Open Champion Terry Belshaw (CBA) return to form after a tepid Regional season. Against top seed John Goodrich (SFK) he went 2-1 down all three games going to 9 but then found the magic he is capable of and stole the next two games from the Judge for a place in the final. There he will meet Geoff Redfern (WKS) who had too much for Jakey Musson (CBA) although Musson had a small opportunity to take the third before Redfern closed it out 14-12.
Men's Over 65: Allen Barwise (CBA) struggled with the pace of the court initially but asserted his powerful game and when he took the third 12-10 it was all over for Gordon McManus (KNT). A four game win for Barwise, the defending National Champion. The other semi final was between two players who had met already this season always with a close match. Here was no exception and it inevitably went to five with Nick Gollaglee playing some wonderful winners and horrible errors but Tom Burton (HFD) staying solid squeezed home in five.
Men's Over 60: Eamonn Price (HFD) has had some injury problems this season but has well and truly put them behind him playing superbly controlled squash he inflicted a rare defeat from eight time National Champion Mark Woodliffe (GLR) to book his place in the final. In the other half Bryan Beeson (NLD), the No 2 seed, took a measure of revenge for an earlier loss to Darren Withey (BUX) and came through to the final in five all court game.
Men's Over 55: Gavin Roger-Lund (BUX) has been unbeaten this season but went 2-1 down to the skilful Simon Spencer (NOT) before Roger-Lund’s dynamic moving game took the edge from him allowing the top seed to mop up the fourth and fifth. In the final he will once again meet Stephen McLoughlin (HPH) who proved too lively against Martin Geear (LEC) and never allowed him to get his stroke play working. McLoughlin, the Open Champion, will be looking to put two Regional final losses behind him here.
Men's Over 50: Mike Gregory (DVN) is well known for being an incredibly talented player even amongst a group of very fine players but today he was on exceptional form and took down three time National Champion Nick Wall (YKS) in straight games with a dazzling array of shots. In the final he will play Paul Boyle (BUX) who overcame the mercurial Nick Staunton (IRL) who seemed to be suffering from the affects of yesterday’s match against his twin but rallied in the third but lost it 14-12 to set Paul in the final.
Men's Over 45: Matt Holland (HPH), the defending Champion, continued his imperious way through the draw but was given a battle by James Greenhead (SRY) who took the second to level the match but Holland was just a bit better and came through in four. Here he will meet Mick Biggs (MDX), the No 2 seed, after Paul Warner unfortunately had to withdraw with an injury. These two have played each other several times before and a good match is in prospect.
Men's Over 40: Former World Circuit star Peter Marshall is still playing incredible squash and against Phil Nightingale, also a very fine player with incredible reach and skills, could find no discernible weakness to exploit. 3-0 to Marshall, just sublime squash. Phil Rushworth the Wimbledon professional is the No 2 seed and is an incredibly talented player. He showed some of his myriad skills against Antony Savage (ESX) but Savage hung on gamely and took the third game but the Surrey man just upped the level and ran out a winner in four. Another National final for him and against Marshall a fantastic match in prospect.
Men's Over 35: No 1 seed James Snell (DVN), looking to add to his British Open, title was again in awesome form and Daniel West (SSX) who is also a very fine player could not find a way past him. West did everything he could slowing the ball down, using height, sharp angles but it all came hurtling back and even a rally of well over 100 shots did not phase Snell. 3-0 to Snell in 37 minutes of fascinating top quality squash. In the final he will meet No 2 seed Chris Hall (WKS) who is of a similar level to Snell and produced a very classy display to remove Jamie Douglas (NLD) in straight games in half an hour. The final should be a fantastic contest with two professional level players battling it out for the National title.
Sunday is Finals Day when the coveted National Championships are decided. Some of the best players in the Masters game will be performing in age groups from 35 to 80 and a feast of squash is in store. Spectators are very welcome at Nottingham Squash Rackets Club.
So the stage is set for semi finals day and some of the best Masters players in the country will be there to battle for a coveted place in the National Finals. All to play for and some fantastic squash in store. Spectators are welcome at Nottingham Squash Rackets Club.