The England Squash Masters Regional Circuit started with this event at the excellent Warrington Sports Club. A great facility and very welcoming management, staff and members.
Women's Over 60: Double National Champion Heather Tweedle of Merseyside was the top player in this event, played as a round robin draw and she put in some very strong performances to dominate. Karen Webb, now representing Yorkshire, put in a typically gritty performance but was unable to make headway. A second Regional title for Tweedle. There were some great matches elsewhere as Webb battled hard to overcome Wales star Lynne Davies in five terrific games and Suffolk's Julie-Anne Pegram showed her good form by nearly beating Webb and edging home against Davies.
Women's Over 55: Unfortunately, top seed Hilary Kenyon (CHS), the local star, had to drop out injured, but another fine player in Amanda Warren (LCN) proved herself with dominant matches to take the title. Katie Hancock came second in the round robin group.
Women's Over 50: Catherine Ruffle (CBA) is putting together a great winning CV and already has 3 National and two British Open titles. She was too strong here against former National Champion Chrissie McMullen (MSY), although if the very tight third game had gone the other way it may have been different. But 3/0 to Ruffle for her 10th Regional title.
Women's Over 45: Two recent British Open winners in the draw here in Kate Bradshaw (HFD) and Caroline Hazelwood (OFE) but Kate Fuller (SFD) upset the seedings with a well-taken four-game win over Hazelwood. She could not repeat that against Bradshaw, however, and when the ESM Player of the Year, Bradshaw closed out Hazelwood as well, the title was hers. A 7th Regional crown.
Women's Over 35/40: Only a small draw in this event but a very good level of squash in the final between two Internationals both with a Regional win previously. Kirsty West (CHS) is the National Champion is back from injury and she and Natalie Davenport-Husdan (CHS) played a classy match that went to West 11/9 in the fourth game.
And so onto the Men, starting with the game's Elder Statesmen.
Men's Over 80: There is a good group of regular players in the Men's Over 80s headed by one of Masters Squash's Legends- players who have won the British Open, National Championship, World Masters and European Masters. A rare group and top seed Chris Ansell is in it. He is doggedly pursued by former National Champion Allan Whittow (BUX) and has to be at his best to win. Whittow played a brilliant match and beat Ansell in four games for his fifth Regional win.
Men's Over 75: A smaller than usual group here but headed by the player with the most Regional wins - by a considerable way. Barry Featherstone (HPH) had 40 Regional titles along with the British Open, National and a European Championship. He was the clear favourite here and although Andrew Edmondson (LCN) pushed him, Featherstone notched up title number 41. A great competitor.
Men's Over 70: Top seed and National Champion David Matthew (CNL) fell to the player he beat in the final of that event, Rob Ballingall (BUX) and in the final he met Gordon Benbow also of Cornwall who had ended the resurgent Paul Reader's run. Benbow started well, taking the first two games, but the ever-lively Ballingall struck back in the third. Unfortunately, Benbow then had to retire injured and so the title went to the Buckinghamshire man, his first Regional after many years on the circuit.
Men's Over 65: Headed by one of the most well-known and high profile players in the masters game, Bryan Beeson of Northumbria was a World top 10 player and senior England Captain. Still playing fantastic Squash and striking the ball as only very classy players can, he was never threatened. His final opponent was an England teammate Alan Borrill (LCN) who had edged home against Allen Barwise (CBA)who was in some discomfort, in one semi-final. Beeson was too strong in the final and a third Regional for him to go with four National titles.
Men's Over 60: This event saw some upsets! A long-time local star player, Howard Nuttall (MSY) had not played the Masters events and he removed two of the very top players in National Champion Alex Betts (MDX) and former British Open Champion Steve McLoughlin (HPH). Unfortunately, that finished him off and he had to withdraw from the final, injured. This gave a well-deserved first Regional win to Andrew Eilfield (HFD) who had beaten top seed Simon Spencer (NOT) in the semi-final.
Men's Over 55: Steve Dodridge of Berkshire has been a top player for a while and capable of beating anyone. He had a terrific run to the final of the recent British Open final but has not transferred that to titles. Here, he made no mistakes and with his dynamic game, powered to the final where he met Jason Burgon of Cambridgeshire who had earned his place by removing second seed Sam Hanbury (SSX) in one semi-final. In a close and hard-fought final, Dodridge earned his first Regional with an 11/9 win in the fourth game.
Men's Over 50: Three time National Champion Paul Boyle (BUX) was top seed here and looked to be on course for a 12th. Regional, but Ian Cox (NOR) had other plans. Both had reached the final with convincing displays, but when Boyle took the first two games of the final it looked to be all over for Cox. But the Norfolk man proved very resilient and taking the third, edged home 11/9 in the fourth and took the fifth for a great comeback. A 4th. Regional win for him
Men's Over 45: Two-time champion Antony Savage (ESX) was top seed here and reached the final without a hitch. In the other half, second seed Steven Davies (BFD) came unstuck against Paul Warner (LCN) last year's England Captain, and he used that momentum to power through Savage in the final in three straight games. A fourth Regional win for him.
Men's Over 40: Paul McDonald of Lancashire was top seed here and is a class player. Always moving smoothly and playing immaculate shots he was the man to beat. George Shoulder (HPH) just back from the World Masters in Australia removed 3/4 seed Paul Wallace (ESX) in five but had no answer to the top seed's precision. In the other half, Rory Pennell (ESX) was showing he was back to some of his best Squash but in the final McDonald was just too good and a four game win gave him his 4th Regional win.
Men's Over 35: British Open and National Champion Lewis Doughty (LCN) was top seed here in a club he represents in the North West Counties league. Incredibly mobile and fit, it is difficult to see how he could be broken down. No. 2 seed was Northumberland's Jamie Douglas, but unfortunately he had to retire against third seed David Allman (AVN), who had just reached the semi-finals of the World Masters in Australia. The final saw some fantastic ball striking and court coverage but Doughty had the edge and powered through to a straight games win.
Thanks were given to the ESM Circuit Sponsors Karakal, Warrington Sports Club for their hospitality, the England Squash Referees, the Masters Committee, especially Nick, Robert and Allen, Roz Featherstone for all the admin, and the incomparable and irreplaceable Brian 'Badger' Brock the Events Manager.
Stuart Hardy
Chairman