10-Aug, Final:
Suzie ends Alex's run at Jericho
 
Playing in just her second WISPA tournament, Montreal-based Englishwoman Alexandra Norman had surprised everyone, except perhaps herself, in coming through two qualifying and three main draw rounds to reach the final.

There she faced another North American based Englishwoman in Suzie Pierrepont, the Phaladelphia resident top seed who had spent a lot less court time than her opponent in reaching the final.

In the event it was Pierrepont who proved the stronger, winning in straight games in a round half hour to claim her third career title.
  

The Sun & Surf tournament is the opening event on the Canadian Squash Circuit for the 2008-09 season.

The Canadian Squash Circuit is a national tour consisting of Men’s PSA and Women’s WISPA sanctioned events across Canada. Canadian players compete for points in the Canadian Squash Circuit standings, which culminate with a year-end Grande Finale between the highest point earners from the Men’s and Women’s Circuit.

The Canadian Squash Circuit’s goals are to provide Canadian squash players with an opportunity to play at a high level of competition within Canada and to increase the level of awareness of squash in Canada.

11/6, 11/4, 11/1 (28m)

[6] Carolyn Russell

11/5, 11/6, 11/8 (30m)

[Q] Alexandra Norman

11/6, 5/11, 7/11, 11/4, 14/12 (68m)

[2] Runa Reta

** Redrawn after [1] Latasha Khan and [3] Karen Kronemeyer withdrew injured

Qualifiers:

06-Aug, Finals:
Alexandra Norman (Eng) bt Jennifer Gemmell (Can)         11/2, 11/5, 11/6
Miranda Ranieri (Can) bt Genevieve Lessard (Can)           11/8, 11/5, 9/11, 11/3
Ivonne Diaz (Mex) bt Jackie Moss (Can)                           6/11, 11/5, 11/8, 11/7
Laura Gemmell (Can) bt Jennifer Pelltier (Can)                 11/3, 11/6, 11/1

05-Aug, Round One:

Alexandra Norman (Eng) bt Alex Younger (Can)               11/3, 11/4, 11/4
Jennifer Gemmell (Can) bt Lia Paz Noguez (Mex)              11/8, 11/5, 11/8
Genevieve Lessard (Can) bt Nicola Martin (Can)               11/4, 11/5, 11/2
Miranda Ranieri (Can) bt Nikki Todd (Can)                       11/6, 11/7, 11/9
Jackie Moss (Can) bt Emma Pike (Aus)                            w/o
Ivonne Diaz (Mex) bt Emma Parke (Eng)                          11/13, 11/9, 11/9, 11/6
Jennifer Pelltier (Can) bt Karina Heredia Gonzalez (Mex)    11/9, 11/7, 11/9
Laura Gemmell (Can) bt Jaime Laird (Can)                       11/1, 11/0, 11/5


2007 Event     2006 Event

09-Aug, Semis:
All-English final at Jericho

Alexandra Norman, a qualifier ranked 115 in the world and competing in only the second Tour event of her career, will meet favourite Suzie Pierrepont in a surprise all-English final after battling to a five-game upset over second-seeded Canadian Runa Reta in the semi-finals.

Originally from Nottingham and now based in the Canadian city of Montreal, 25-year-old Norman came from 2/1 down and saved a match ball at 9-10 in the decider before beating Reta, ranked 57 in the world 14/12 in the fifth after 68 minutes.

It was Reta’s first tournament since May. She is currently completing her Masters degree in political science at McGill University in Montreal. Up 2-1 after the third game, Reta felt she was in a strong position, especially since Norman went the five game distance in her quarterfinal Friday against Tara Mullins of Toronto.

"I was really confident going into the fourth game. I thought I had figured out her game. But she still had a lot of gas in the tank."

"The last game was very close from start to finish. I got a surprise shot to go up 10-9 then I should have won the next rally but she somehow managed to get back into it. Still I hadn’t played in a tournament since May and I came here not really knowing what to expect. But once this far, I wanted to make the final."

In the other semi, Pierrepont also faced Canadian opposition in Carolyn Russell, the sixth seed from Vancouver competing in her first pro tournament since January due to a bad back. Originally from Sussex, but now based in Philadelphia, Pierrepont despatched 34-year-old Russell in 28 minutes.

08-Aug, Quarters:
Fabulous quarters at Jericho
Shauna Flath reports

Matches tonight were fantastic! Canada's Tara Mullins and Englishwoman Alexandra Norman went the distance with Norman, a qualifier, pulling it out 11-5 in the fifth to down the third seed. Originally from Nottingham, Norman is now based in Montreal and is competing in only the second Tour event of her career.

Another Canadian fell as qualifier Miranda Ranieri displayed huge confidence and a no fear attitude on court when she faced England's top seed Suzie Pierrepont. Both played clean squash and it was the hustle and retrieving by Ranieri which pushed Pierrepont, who came through in four.

Canadians will feature in both semi-finals though, as second seed Runa Reta rolled through her match with no problem as she faced up and coming Samantha Cornett and Carolyn Russell, the sixth seed making her return to competitive action after an extended injury layoff, defeated Stephanie Edmison 3-1 in a well-contested match.
  

07-Aug, Round One:
Down to the quarters at Jericho
Shauna Flath reports

A good night overall at the Jericho Club as the main draw of the 2008 Sun & Surf got under way.

Match of the day was Carolyn Russell's win over Tina Rix, as this was Carolyn's debut after back surgery. She was very strong on court and was pushed hard by Tina but was just to tough overall for the Englishwoman.

Also strong was Stephanie Edmison who overpowered Ivonne Diaz from Mexico. Laura Gemmel came out strong but the more experienced top seed Suzie Pierrepont changed her game and Laura went down in three.

The all England battle between Alexandra Norman and Jenna Gates was tight and close but Alexandra played superbly to win in three games. A second qualifier made it through to the quarters when Miranda Ranieri came from two games down to beat Neha Kumar.

06-Aug, Qualifying:
Six go through at Jericho

While six Canadians featured in the qualifying finals at the Jericho Club in Vancouver, only two - Miranda Ranieri and Laura Gemell - won through to the main draw. The other qualifying winners were Mexican Ivonne Diaz and England's Alexandra Norman.

However, the withdrawal through injury of Latasha Khan and Karen Kromemeyer - first and third seeds - left two 'lucky loser' spots up for grabs, which were gratefully accepted by Jackie Moss and Jennifer Gemmell, taking the Canadian main draw count up to 11.