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Martin Pearse reports
A good turnout of 116 players (24 Women) saw the first
Masters Tournament of the New Year, at Broxbourne, just off
the M1. A sports club with hockey, cricket and tennis
facilities, it houses 5 courts and judging by the amount of
people in the bar every time we go, it is very popular with
the locals.
Starting with the Women’s events, the WO50/60
combined saw favourite Helen Gould from Portishead, Bristol,
record another Regional as she beat all comers Sue Pynegar,
Lynn Davies and Maggie Lipscombe, a very talented 60 year
old, who was an old sparring partner of Bett Dryhurst and
would certainly give her a run for her money.
In the Final, Helen beat Tammy Bennett, who claimed two
scalps in Jill Campion, back after a few years absence and
an out of sorts Karen Hume. Campion also beat Hume 10/9
4/9 9/5 1/9 2/9. The Final saw Gould’s power just too
pervasive for Bennett who took the third and effected a
comeback in the fourth, which she nearly sneaked.
In the WO40 Isabelle Tyrell again edged Sam Mueller,
10/9 5/9 3/9 9/4 9/0, the latter’s power game probably
needing to be reined in a little with some trickle boasts
and straight drops. Tyrell’s game is tennis based, but very
effective.
Alison Goy and Julia Dolman had hard matches but there were
gaps in the scheduling as Jo Brown dropped out at the last
minute with illness.
In the O35’s, an influx of International standard
newcomers has seen a big improvement in quality and speed
and this time Alexa Prior effected revenge over East winner
Tina May 3-1. Katie Lawrence beat Rachel Calver in the 3rd
place play off 3-2 in a very tight match.
In the Men’s O75, Andrew Beeston was in control
until, unfortunately, whilst leading Lance Kinder 9/4 9/4
there was an accidental collision which sent Lance into the
wall, causing some facial damage. Lance retained his good
looks, but Andrew conceded the match as Lance was unable to
continue.
The Round Robin winner was still Beeston however, with John
Woodliffe second, having beaten Lance in their umpteenth
match together.
In the Men’s O65, a very strong draw saw two World
Champions and one went out in the Quarters, Adrian Wright
going tamely down to European Champion Rod Boswell. The
other two Quarters were humdinger hour long encounters and
Martin Pearse came back from 3/9 4/8 to record a narrow
3/9 10/8 9/7 4/9 9/6 victory over Mike Clemson, who is
getting closer in his bid to claim a first victory over the
Chairman. Ansell, however, showed incredible resolve as
staring defeat at 3/8 down in the fifth against shot playing
Graham Fisher, he stuck in and sneaked it 8/10 10/8 9/5
7/9 10/8. However, Boswell and Chris Goodbourn both had had
easy morning matches and the Semi’s proved a bridge too far
as Boswell edged Pearse 9/6 9/6 9/5 in a tight encounter,
and Ansell only showed his mercurial volleys in the second
game, which he took 9/2, Goodbourn winning 9/4 2/9 9/3
9/1.
The Final, however, was one of the best matches I have ever
had the pleasure to watch – seriously! Both players are very
comfortable on the ball and Boswell’s delay, especially on
the backhand, seems to have improved with age. The match was
literally nip and tuck, incredible drops and volleys, with
both players moving around the court like youngsters. As it
was, Goodbourn had two match balls in the fourth and Boswell
kept his nerve. In the fifth, his drops and backhand volley
came to the fore as Goodbourn made some crucial errors,
leaving himself too much to do. A great event for Masters
Squash, just a pity I didn’t video it for You Tube.
The Men’s O60 saw local hero (he has taken over from
the semi retired Len Froggitt) David Cooper back in the
Regionals after a long gap. Seeded at 3/4 he overturned
Larry Grover 9/5 1/9 5/9 3/9 and no 1 seed Mick Broomhall
3/9 8/10 8/10.
In the bottom half, a clean shaven Howard Cherlin found
Barry Featherstone revenge seeking after the ICC and the
latter’s persistence paid off with a 3/9 8/10 9/0 9/7
4/9 scoreline to enter the Final. Cooper, however, was well
pumped up and kept the power on to win 3-1, Featherstone
claiming the third but to no avail.
In the O55’s no 3 Ruston Bativala dropped out with
back spasms , so Colin Shields was through to the Semi
without a match having also had a walkover in the Quarter
Final due to a family funeral for John Goodrich. Stuart
Hardy 3/4 found Duleep Adihetty too tight, 9/5 9/0 2/9
9/3 and Steve Johnson upped a gear over Shields after losing
the first 7/9 - then 9/0 9/2 9/0. The Final was an anti
climax as Johnson had to retire early with a hamstring
injury.
The O50’s saw North (Ged Martin) beat South (James
Ockwell) 6/9 9/3 5/9 9/6 1/9 in a tight Quarter Final
but this impacted on Martin as he struggled later on in the
day with Dermot Hurford 6/9 6/9 9/0 6/9. Chris Harland
took Ian Bradburn to task 9/6 9/2 9/0 and then in the semi
Final with Greg Pearman, the latter was unfortunately forced
to concede with blood sugar problems. The Final saw Harland
back to form with a tight 3-0 win over his Surrey
compatriot, Hurford.
In the MO45, Peter Lonsdale beat Andrew Eilfield
9/7 9/7 3/9 9/3 in the Quarters before falling to Eamonn
Price. In the bottom section, Murray Scott overturned Marc
Aldridge 3-0 and then in a major upset, Price actually lost
a Regional! Scott, to me, in the changing rooms, said ‘I’ve
got to beat him some time, maybe today is the day!’ And it
was and a great advert for squash. Final score, Scott 9/5
6/9 9/7 9/7. Scott hits the ball incredibly hard and is
very accurate, similar to Mike Oddy, my old team mate.
The Men’s O40 (PARS scoring remember) saw no 1 seed
Andrew Cross beat John Hanson 11/8 11/6 11/9 and Andrew
Murray’s dicky knee prevented 100% movement, losing to Steve
McLoughlin 11/8 11/3 11/7. Earlier on in the first round,
an hour long battle between Nick Lavery and Mark Steeden saw
Lavery through 13/11 7/11 11/7 5/11 11/9. In the Final,
Cross and McLoughlin slogged it out 2/2 and Cross finally
prevailed 11/6.
The MO35 saw Ben Hutton overturn no 2 Jago Nardelli
11/7 11/0 10/12 11/7, but then Mat Lowery made his first
final beating Hutton 7/11 11/3 11/8 11/5. Jamie Goodrich
had his usual hour and a bit with Barny Elworthy 3/1 and the
latter was not particularly popular with the referee after
some interaction. And another health/injury anti climax in
the Final as Jamie Goodrich pulled his hamstring right at
the beginning. And, as he now knows, stupidly carried on, as
he is out of squash for a few weeks.
So Lowery claimed his first regional and some very valuable
points.
Finally, thanks to Karen Lane who as usual did a superb job
as the club organizer, helped by Vernon Jane and Gill. Also
to a full complement of ESR markers - and to the Broxbourne
Club and Staff for all the food drink and hospitality!
Martin Pearse
Chairman
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South of England Masters 2012
