Finals, Sun 31st:

D Final:
Al Ul-Haq bt Nick Bishop
         9/4, 9/6, 9/6 (33m)
C Final:
Tom Dwyer bt Jonathan Dawson
        4/9, 9/0, 9/6, 9/1 (37m)
B Final:
Yawar Abbas bt Sam Wileman
        11/9, 11/8, 11/8 (40m)
A Final:
Daryl Selby bt Stewart Boswell
        11/7, 11/5, 5/11, 2/11, 11/7 (65m)

Finals day in Rochdale
Arthur Curran reports

First match on court today just after 4.00p.m was the final of the D Event (Plate) between 30-something Al Ul-Haq from Blackburn and currently Salford resident Nick Bishop, in his mid 20’s.

Al took the early lead, and raced up to 8/0, and despite Nick pulling back four points on the trot, Al went on to take the first game 9/4, showing his obvious experience. Both these players are good club players, playing regularly at local club level, Al at East Lancs Cricket Club and Nick at Hyde, although moving to the Northern soon as it is easier for travelling. Nick cannot play as much as he would like to recently as he works full time and is also studying at college for his accountancy exams. Al works for Harvest Housing (Housing for all), a charity housing association based in Manchester and East Lancs. The second game was much closer early on, Nick taking a 4/1 lead, Al pulling back to 5/5 but then easing away to take the game 9/6. Third game was in very similar style, going to 6/6, but then Al showing his experience eased away to take the game 9/6, and the match 3 games to nil. A nice gentle start to the day’s proceedings.

Next match up was the C Event Final, matching up 16 year old Tom Dwyer, a product of Nick Taylor’s Academy at the National Squash Centre in Manchester against the 23 year old local club player Jonathan Dawson, playing in this event for his seventh time.

The first game was very tentative, young Tom showing his obvious nerves, but slowly going up to 4/4, but then Jonathan took control to take the game 9/4. But Tom, not to be outdone, took control of the next game which he won 9/0. The third game was again very closely contested, slowly going up to 6/6, but then Tom found his confidence again to ease the game 9/6. Showing much more confidence now he was in front, Tom eased his way to take the trophy, winning the last game 9/1. Tom looks a great prospect for the future, Nick Taylor telling me that he hopes he will be able to turn professional in the next few years, so good luck to him, look out for him in the future.

The third final, the B Event, looked forward to a thrilling match, pairing up the wise old head of the current National Over 40’s Champion Yawar Abbas, who was also runner up in the British Open Over 40 event, with the 18 year old new professional from Pontefract Sam Wileman.

The first game started as expected very tentatively, the score staying very close up to 9/9, but then Yawar eased in front to take the game 11/9. In the second, Yawar burst into an early lead of 6/1, Sam then came back to level at 6/6, but Yawar again showed his experience to take the game 11/8.

The third started very much the same, Yawar bursting into a 7/0 lead, then allowing Sam to come back into the game with a few unfamiliar strokes into the tin to 7/7. However Yawar again managed to show his experience to take the game 11/8, and the match 3 games to love. Again, young Sam looks a great prospect for the future, look out for him.

Now eventually at 7.15 pm we got to the main A Event Final, the one most people had come to see. This paired up world ranked No 16 Australian Stewart Boswell, although now a near resident of Manchester, against the intruder from ‘Down South’ world ranked No 35 Daryl Selby, and what a fabulous match these two great professionals gave us.

A little surprisingly Daryl, playing at the top of his game, took an early 4/1 lead, and although from then it was very even, he kept the gap to take the game 11/7. In the second game it was point for point up to 5/5, but then Daryl seemed to come alight and took the game 11/5 in one hand. So, at 2 – 0 to Daryl, was a surprise on the cards?

Absolutely not, just yet, as Stewart found his length and great shots we all know he can play to take the next two games 11/5 and 11/2. Was this to be a great comeback? It certainly looked like it when Stewart took an early 4/1 lead in the final game, but Daryl had not finished yet. Clawing his way back to 6/6 he then found another strength for somewhere, losing only one more point to take the game 11/7, and the match 3 games to 2. A great triumph for Daryl, but overall a great match for this event, played in such a friendly and sporting manner by two true professionals, showing that this sport of squash is far better than the outside world seem to think.

Where else could you get such great entertainment at a sporting contest than 65 minutes of absolute excellence for just a £5 entrance fee????

A really great night, and week, of fabulous squash was brought to a close by the presentation of the trophies by Cindy Gill, the mother of Andrew Gill, in whose memory this tournament was started 25 years ago. I for one am already looking forward to coming back next year.

"I put everything I had into the first two games, because I knew that if Bozza got in front it would be very difficult to come back.

"After going 2-0 up I had put so much into the game I knew I needed a little breather, then Boz found his length and shots and I took a little rest at the end of the next two games after he had taken a good lead in both, trying to keep something in reserve for the final game.

"But when Stewart then took an early lead 4/1, I thought I have got to give everything I have now, I really want to win this – so I got stuck in, took it to 6/6, then I dug up my last reserves and managed to take the game 11/7.

"That was really hard work but it feels great to come here for the first time and win the tournament.

"My thanks to everyone involved in organising the tournament, and I will hopefully be back again next year to defend the trophy.”

B Semi-Finals:
Yawar Abbas bt Danny Massaro
         14/12, 11/7, 7/11, 11/6 (47m)
Sam Wileman bt Simon Taylor
         8/11, 13/11, 7/11, 12/10, 11/5 (45m)

A Semi-Finals:
Stewart Boswell beat Andy Whipp
         11/7, 11/5, 3/11, 11/5 (43m)
Daryl Selby beat Chris Simpson
         11/6, 12/10, 11/7 (34m)

Boswell dashes Andy's
hat-trick hopes ...
Arthur Curran reports

First up on semi finals day were the B Event semis, the first of which saw two very experienced players on court, National Over 40’s champion Yawar Abbas, the Events Officer from the National Squash Centre, was up against Danny Massaro from Preston, coach and husband of Laura Lengthorn-Massaro, who was here in support.

Yawar eased into a 7/2 lead in the first game, but then Danny slowly clawed his way back in to the game and got to 10/10 tie break, but then Yawar managed to come back, and took the game 14/12. The second game was very close with some long rallies but then Yawar eased in front to take the game 11/7. Third game was very similar except that it was Danny who eased in front to take the game 11/7. In the fourth, Yawar took an early 6/1 lead, Danny pulled back to 6/5 before Yawar again took the advantage and won the game 11/6, and the match 3 games to 1. 47 minutes of good entertaining squash.

Second game saw young Sam Wileman, a product of the Malcolm Willstrop stable from Pontefract, against 27 year old Simon Taylor from Cheshire, who plays at the Bowden club. Whilst Sam is just starting off on a professional squash career, Simon was, so I am told, a very good regular junior player who has only just recently taken up the game again, and what a great enthralling match we were about to see.

The first game was very cautious, went point for point up to 7/7, but then Simon eased in front to take the game 11/8. In the second, Sam took an early lead 6/2, Simon pulled back and had game ball at 10/8, Sam got it to 10/10 tie break then took the game 13/11, but only after a very controversial no-let decision from the referee on the last point, which upset Simon a great deal. However he managed to overcome that upset to take the next game 11/7, and in the fourth had match ball at 10/9 but Sam managed to hold out to take the game 12/10 to take the match to a fifth game, in which he took an early 6/0 lead and despite Simon pulling back to 5/6 Sam held on again to take the game 11/5 and the match 3 games to 2. A really thrilling 45 minutes of squash, which seemed to take much longer.

The busy young Sam then had to dash off back to Pontefract to play in a mixed doubles final with the lovely young Deon Saffery – we wish him luck for that – and then back here tomorrow to play the final !

Next we came to the main A Event semi finals, the first of which saw the very popular Cheshire player Andy Whipp aiming for a hat trick of wins in this event, up against world ranked 16 Stewart Boswell from Australia, still slowly playing his way back into the game after a long lay off due to a back injury. Despite Andy playing in his usual all-running, never say die manner, Stewart took the first two games 11/7 and 11/5. It seemed like a short lack of concentration from Stewart in the third saw Andy take the game 11/3 but then Stewart got back into focus and took the fourth 11/5 to win a place in tomorrow’s final and take away Andy’s chance of the hat trick.

The last match up was between two very good professionals Daryl Selby from Essex, and Chris Simpson who is based in Harrogate. The more experienced Daryl, world ranked 35, overcame the challenge from Chris, once again having great difficulty with the slippy floor surface, to take the match 3 – 0, 11/6, 12/10, 11/7 in 34 minutes, and booked a place in tomorrow’s final against Stewart.

A busy day for Sam

Bozza beats Whippy

Stewart Boswell bt Eddie Charlton 7/11, 11/3, 11/1, 11/4 (40m)
Andy Whipp bt Peter Billson        11/7, 10/12, 11/4, 11/9 (44m)
Chris Simpson bt John Rooney     14/12, 11/5, 6/11, 9/11, 11/9
Daryl Selby bt Shaun Le Roux      11/5, 11/7, 11/8 (30m)

First up in Friday's quarter finals was young Chris Simpson, who hails from Guernsey but is now based in Harrogate ( he tells me he recently shared a house with the lovely Jenny Duncalf – lucky fellow), up against the elder and more experienced Irishman John Rooney.

The first game started very slowly and very even, up to 8/8, 9/9, and 10/10, but although young Chris was having difficulty with the floor surface, changing his shoes half way through the game, he took the game 14/12. Then moving a little more easily he took the second game 11/5. Was this to be the young man taking the match from the older, more experienced player? Not if John Rooney had anything to do with it – he took the next game 11/6, including a change of shoes for him, and was 8/2 up in the fourth when young Chris complained about the state of the floor and asked for another court.

After a 5 minute break the referee decided to change courts, but then John went on to take the fourth 11/9. So, two games all, and anybody’s match. At only 2/1 to John in the fifth, both players decided they needed a change of clothing so after another 5 minute break the match resumed, went evenly to 5/5, 8/8, 9/9, but then young Chris held out to take the game 11/9, and the match 3 games to 2, after 78 minutes – a great triumph for young over old!!

Next match up was again experience over youth – having tried the main court after the first match moved, they decided to play on it – it was World ranked No 16 Australian Stewart Boswell, seeded No 1 for this tournament, against up and coming youngster Eddie Charlton from Nottingham.

Stewart seemed to start slowly and cautiously, still coming back after a long lay off through a back injury, and Eddie took advantage to take the first game 11/7. However the experience and know-how of Stewart took control and he glided to an excellent win taking the next three games 11/3, 11/1 and 11/4.

It’s really good to see Stewart coming back again after his injury problems, and with his lovely partner Vicky Botwright now ensconced in her new role of head coach at the National Squash Centre, we will hopefully see more of Stewart over here.



The third match started halfway through the above on the outside court, and what a match it promised to be. Good friends, Duffield team mates, and all round great squash players, Andy Whipp came up against Peter Billson.

With both players playing their usual all-hitting, all-running game, it got the small but knowledgeable crowd cheering both players on, Andy took the first game 11/7, Peter took the second 12/10. Peter then seemed to run a little out of steam and Andy took the third 11/4. In the fourth Peter took a 6/2 lead, but Andy clawed back to put the game level at 9/9, then with two great shots took the game 11/9, and the match 3 games to 1, after 44 minutes.

A great victory for the defending champion, trying to make this three in row, and it would be nice for him and his lovely wife Helena, having just announced the expectancy of their first child, expected sometime in February next year – congratulations to them both!!!

The fourth and last quarter final was between Shaun Le Roux and Daryl Selby. Despite the great efforts of Shaun against his older and much more experienced opponent, Daryl eased into the semi-finals with a 11/5, 11/7, 11/8 victory.

"I have been working on a series of workshops throughout the UK and tied in the Andy Gill before going back to Jersey. This event is really special to me, Andy was at the Maple Squash Club when I was a junior and the fact that this year we are playing in the 25th event is a fitting tribute to someone who had such an influence on squash in the North West."

The B and C events are well under way with the National Over 40’s Champion Yawar Abbas topping the B draw with Lancashire’s Danny Massaro and Yorkshire’s Sam Wileman planning to push the experienced Abbas in the later stages [Yawar met Vicky in the quarter-finals on Wednesday night, no result to hand yet ...]

A draw

B Draw

C Draw

All finals are scheduled to take place on Sunday 31st August, from 4pm.

History

2004 Event

2006 Event

2007 Event