The fourth and final Regional tournament of the England Squash Masters season took place at the excellent Wolverhampton Lawn Tennis & Squash Club with 180 players Registered. The event was greatly enhanced by the support of Club sponsor
AGS Accountants and Business Advisors.
WO65. Played in a round-robin group all the players had four matches and there were some excellent contests. Wales star Lynne Davies was top seed but had a real five-game battle with Sue Pynegar (NOT) and another against Ireland International Maureen Duke. Second seed Lesley Sturgess (DYS) progressed in a less stressful fashion and in the final match proved the stronger taking her 8th. Regional title ( to level with Davies) 12/10 in the fourth game.
WO55/60. Again played in two groups the top two players, Izzy Bramhall(NOT) who is a Champion at Racketlon as well as Squash and is a great talent, and the woman with the most Regional Championships in ESM history (27), Fran Wallis of Lincolnshire. After they had disposed of the opposition their final saw Brammall dominate proceedings with great length and an incisive short gam. 3/0 and a tenth Regional for her.
WO50. This is a group with very good strength in depth and always produces some fine matches.
The top two seeds emerged in the final but not without some good competition. Rachel Woodward (NOT) recorded a fine win over Libby Montgomery (HFD) before losing in four games to top-seed Chrissie McMullen (CHS). Meanwhile, No. 2 seed Louisa Dalwood (HFD) the National Champion, had to overcome the wholehearted efforts of Kate Smith (YKS) to earn her final slot.
The final was a terrific match with each player gaining ascendancy but after losing a great lead in the fifth, McMullen pulled it together to take that game 11/9 for the title - her fifth.
WO45. The top seed here was National and former British Open Champion Catherine Ruffle (KNT) and she was in a class of her own. Strong and very mobile she once again dominated the group. Caroline Hazelwood (OFE) upset the seedings outlasting Natalie Townsend (WKS) in five and competed hard with Ruffle but could not dent the champion. Local star Kate Fuller (SFD) meanwhile removed the dangerous Nicky Green (NOR) and in another upset took out second seed Kate Bradshaw (CBE) in four having lost the first 13/15 in one of the longest women's matches. The enthusiastic local support could not get her past Ruffle in the final, however, and a 7th Regional for the Kent star.
WO35/40. Kirsty West (CHS) and Selina Harper (CBA) were the top two seeds here and were fairly untroubled on their way through to the final match although Francesca Whyte (HPH) took a game from West but was not consistent enough to do more. Keeley Peacock (ESX) also looks to be improving with the competition and could break through soon. But the top seeds were deserving of their positions although Harper had the edge on the day and a solid win and 4th. Regional for her.
MO75. Two exceptional players in this group, Ian Graham (SSX) and Barry Featherstone (HPH) seem destined to lock horns in these competitions. And so it was to be, but there was some drama as Allan Whittow (BUX) took former World Champion Chris Ansell (BRK) to five and must be favourite for the Nationals in his 80s group. Graham removed Ansell and Featherstone had a battle with Bryan Francis (MDX) who pushed the all time Regional record holder, (38 Regionals) to five games. The final could have gone either way. Featherstone had a match point in the fourth but lost it 14/12 and then lost the fifth 12/10. Nail biting stuff and an 8th. Regional for Graham, the Veterans Club of GB Chairman.
MO70. This season it had been a Stuart Hardy (WLT) procession with the British Open and three Regionals without dropping a game. He crashed and burned here, however as newcomer Allan Mackenzie (WMD) removed an obviously unwell Hardy in four. He then edged out the experienced John Petruschke (BRK) 3/2 for a final place. Meanwhile, Wales no.1 Tony Bevan recovered from two down to beat John Hithersay (NHM) in five and then did the same against second seed David Matthews (CNL). In a see saw match Mackenzie held his nerve for an 11/9 in the fifth win and first Regional.
MO65. Double National Champion Allen Barwise (CBA) warmed up for next month's National Championships in the best possible way with a convincing win here. A powerful display against the talented Richard Millman (NOR) 3/1 in one semi final set him up against Hampshire's George Kousseff. He had upset the form book removing British Open Champion Nick Gollaglee (SOM) in five but the Cumbrian was unrelenting in the final and moving well and hitting hard gave his opponent few chances. 3/0 and a fifth Regional win.
MO60. One of the larger draws and a very close group. Alex Betts (MDX) was top seed and produced his customary all-action style of game to great effect. He had a good contest with Wales no. 1 Richard Murphy winning in four to reach the final. Meanwhile another Welshman, Ian Fenner-Evans put out England hopeful Mike Leonard (BUX), then John Parkes (WOC) who had to retire injured before pushing second seed Bryan Beeson (NLD) to 10/12 in the fifth. Betts played beautifully in the final and it must be said, Beeson, a four time Masters National Champion and former World top ten player was not at his best. A very fine four game win for Betts and an 8th. Regional title.
MO55. The seeding was entirely correct in this group as the top four took their places in the semi finals. British Open Masters Champion Steve McLoughlin (HPH) had a tough challenge with Jason Fletcher (SRY) before emerging in five games, while Sam Hanbury (SSX) dismissed Simon Spencer (NOT) in four. Then the seeding got it wrong! These two have played twice before this season and stand at one all. Very evenly matched, it's all about who has got that bit more on the day. Hanbury edged home 11/9 in the fifth in a cracking match to notch up his third Regional win.
MO50. Yorkshire's Matt Stephenson was the favourite here and duly delivered a 6th Regional title. He had to work hard to get past the spirited challenge of England team mate Adam Dominey from the Isle of Wight but in the final proved too good for Wayne Beglan(SRY) who had scored an excellent win over Joss Hargrave (LEC) to take his place in the final for the second time. Stephenson was in great form in the final and a straight games win.
MO45. The top two seeds lined up for the final here with three time winner Paul Warner (BUX) the favourite. He had a stern test from James Greenhead of Surrey before an injury ended his tournament- an Achilles injury and we all wish James a speedy recovery. Second seed Alistair Coker (HFD) was showing good form and going through his matches without undue problems. In the final he produced a scintillating performance and took his first Regional Championship win in straight games.
MO40. A new player to the Masters circuit made a mark at this event. Paul McDonald from Lancashire has been a good player for some time and is a powerful force on the court. Seeded one he had to battle through to the final. Adam Giles (WLT) looking fit and determined outlasted Nick Hargreaves (NOT) in nearly an hour and almost had two games from McDonald before going down in four. In the other half, George Shoulder (HPH) had another long match, overcoming Ross Gore (OFE) in five before losing out to Jason Varrie another Oxfordshire man. Varrie has won on the circuit before and took a 2/1 lead but McDonald just had the edge over the last two. A five game debut win for him.
MO35. Always the last match on and the one everyone wants to see. The standard of this group has risen dramatically in recent years and it is fantastic squash. An early battle saw Mark McEwan (ESX) beat Ryan Atherton (LNH) in four explosive games. He lost out to Jamie Douglas (NLD) the No. 2 seed who had to recover from 2-0 down against David Allman (AVN) to win in over an hour. Meanwhile, the uniquely styled Gbenga Adeyi (BFD) had removed to top seed Adam Taylor (YKS) the North of England Champion and then 3/4 seed Oliver Hudson (CHS) in five. In the final Douglas played with great power and control and in spite of some outrageous winners kept on top to win in three. A third Regional title for him.
At the presentations, thanks were made to our Regional Circuit Sponsors Karakal and to
AGS Accountants and Business Advisors. From AGS Kevin Corey made the presentations and Kate Corey, Chair of Squash and Racketball at the club as well as being with AGS, was ever present over the weekend supporting the event.
Also, thanks to the club and especially Mike Harris, the Head Professional who was also there supporting all weekend. We had live streaming as well, with overlays and scoring so thank you Thomas for looking after that.
As always, I thanked the England Squash Referees and the ESM Committee who do such sterling work to make these tournaments work. Thank you Nick Sheppard, Mandy Akin, Gemma Barber, Sarah Parr, Andy Murray and Allen Barwise. Also Roz Featherstone on the Event Desk and our very own IT Guru and Event Manager, Badger Brock.
Stuart Hardy
Chairman