World Masters 2008

World Masters Squash Championships
19-25th October, Christchurch, New Zealand~

New Zealand takes four titles at New Zealand Masters Squash
John Durning reports

Spearheaded by three-time world champions Barry Gardiner and Richard Purser, New Zealand took out four titles at the HEAD World Masters Squash Championship, which concluded in Christchurch this afternoon.

Gardiner (Christchurch), who was also the chairman of the organising committee, won the men’s 70-74 title beating South African Brian Heath 9-6, 9-0, 9-3. This goes with the 50-54 title he won in Auckland in 1991 and 60-64 title from Sheffield in 2000. Purser (Auckland) was successful in the 65-69 section, beating Ted Vale (Aust) 9-0, 9-6, 9-1. He won previously in Melbourne in 2001 and Auckland in 1991

Kay Newman (Hamilton), another multi champion, added the women’s 45-49 title to the championship she won in Melbourne in 1995, beating Sue Williams (Aust) 9-3, 9-3, 9-2.

Gary Duberly (Auckland) was the last Kiwi winner, taking the men’s 40-44 section in a gruelling hour-long battle over Englishman Richard Elliott 10-8, 4-9, 9-5, 0-9, 9-2.

Final results

Men 35-39:
Jason Mudge (Aus) bt Scott Gardiner (NZ) 9-3, 10-8, 9-0
Men 40-44:
Gary Duberly (NZ) bt Richard Elliott (Eng) 10-8, 4-9, 9-5, 0-9, 9-2
Men 45-49:
Trevor Wilkinson (RSA) bt Warren Miller (Aus) 9-6, 9-3, 5-9, 9-4
Men 50-54:
Geoff Davenport (Aus) bt Pierr Roodt RSA) 9-1, 9-5, 9-1
Men 55-59:
Michael Bester (RSA) bt Bruce Turner (Aus) 9-4, 9-1, 9-6
Men 60-64:
Brian Cook (Aus) bt Hugh Colburn (Aus) 9-6, 6-9, 9-6, 9-0
Men 65-69:
Richard Purser (NZ) bt Ted Vale (Aus) 9-0, 9-6, 9-1
Men 70-74:
Barry Gardiner (NZ) bt Brian Heath (RSA) 9-6, 9-0, 9-3
Men 75 plus:
John Irving (RSA) bt Bill Berry (NZ) 5-9 ,9-5, 9-3, 9-6

Women 35-39:
Amanda Hopps (Aus) bt Lisa Cowlard (Aus) 5-9, 9-2, 9-2, 9-4
Women 40-44:
Sarah Nelson (Aus) bt Sonia Pinter (RSA) 9-2, 7-9, 7-9, 9-2, 9-2
Women 45-49:
Kay Newman (NZ) bt Sue Williams (Aus) 9-3, 9-3, 9-2
Women 50-54:
Julie Field (Eng) bt Lisa O’Grady (RSA) 10-9, 9-2, 9-0.
Women 55-59:
Gay Mitchell (Aus) bt Francy Stephenson (NZ) 9-0, 9-3, 9-3.
Women 60-64:
Averil Murphy (Eng) bt Ann Manley (Eng) 9-7, 9-1, 9-6
Women 65-69:
Jean Grainger (RSA) bt Antoinette Morris (RSA) 9-0, 9-3, 9-1
Women 70 plus:
Averil Heath (RSA) 1, Jean Murray (Sco) 2, Aileen Cook (Aus) 3, Hazel Marsh (Eng)

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World Masters 2008 - Final Stage Results

Mens 35-39 Semi Finals
Jason Mudge (AUS)[1] Clive Ewins (ENG)[3/4] 9-0 3-9 9-4 9-4
Shane Johnston (NZL)[9/16] Scott Gardiner (NZL)[2] 9-6 9-7 9-3
Mens 40-44 Semi Finals
Gary Duberly (NZL)[3/4] Steve Wren (NZL)[5/8] 8-10 10-9 10-9 5-9 9-6
Richard Elliott (ENG)[5/8] Danny Mcqueen (NZL)[2] 1-9 3-9 9-1 10-8 9-0
Mens 45-49 Semi Finals
Trevor Wilkinson (RSA)[5/8] Stuart Davenport (NZL)[1] 9-7 9-4 9-5
Warren Miller (AUS)[3/4] Greg Pearman (ENG)[2] 9-0 2-9 9-1 9-2
Mens 50-54 Semi Finals
Geoff Davenport (AUS)[1] Zainal Ab. Malik (SIN)[3/4] 9-1 9-4 9-0
Pierr Roodt (RSA)[3/4] Jim Mobbs (AUS)[5/8] 9-2 9-3 9-5
Mens 55-59 Semi Finals
Bruce Turner (AUS)[5/8] William Todd (IRL)[9/16] 10-8 9-3 9-1
Michael Bester (RSA)[2] Trevor Colyer (NZL)[5/8] 9-3 9-5 3-9 6-9 9-1
Mens 60-64 Semi Finals
Philip Ayton (ENG)[1] Hugh Colburn (AUS)[3/4] 5-9 9-5 6-9 3-9
Roy Plumstead (RSA)[3/4] Brian Cook (AUS)[2] 6-9 4-9 0-9
Mens 65-69 Semi Finals
Adrian Wright (ENG)[1] Ted Vale (AUS) 9-6 9-4 7-9 8-10 4-9
Richard Purser (NZL)[2] Graham Fisher (ENG)[3] 8-10 9-1 9-1 9-5
Mens 70-74 Semi Finals
Barry Gardiner (NZL)[3/4] John Woodliffe (ENG)[1] 9-3 3-9 9-0 9-4
Brian (Thomas Brian Char Heath (RSA)[2] Lancelot Kinder (ENG)[3/4] 9-4 9-4 9-5

Womens 35-39 Semi Finals
Amanda Hopps (AUS)[1] Susan Davis (AUS)[5/8] 9-2 9-7 9-0
Lisa Cowlard (NZL)[5/8] Yoriko Michishita (JPN) 9-2 9-4 10-8
Womens 40-44 Semi Finals
Sonia Pinter (RSA)[5/8] Vicki Beker (NZL)[5/8] 9-7 8-10 2-9 9-7 9-1
Sarah Nelson (AUS)[1] Annie Hall (NZL) 9-1 9-2 9-0
Womens 45-49 Semi Finals
Kay Newman (NZL)[5/8] Janet V.D. Westhuizen (RSA)[3/4] 9-0 9-0 9-0
Sue Williams (AUS)[2] Claire Baker (ENG)[5/8] 9-0 9-0 9-0
Womens 50-54 Semi Finals
Lisa O'Grady (RSA)[3/4] Pauline Douglas (SCO)[2] 9-7 3-9 9-4 9-2
Julie Field (ENG)[3/4] Anne Richards (AUS)[1] 9-3 9-4 9-0
Womens 55-59 Semi Finals
Francy Stephenson (NZL)[3/4] Sue Volzke (AUS)[1] 9-6 9-6 6-9 9-2
Gaye Mitchell (AUS)[2] Kathleen Paterson (AUS)[3/4] 9-4 10-8 9-1
Womens 60-64 Semi Finals
Ann Manley (ENG)[1] Marilyn Kennedy (AUS)[3/4] 9-7 9-3 9-1
Averil Murphy (ENG)[2] Bett Dryhurst (ENG)[3/4] 4-9 1-9 9-7 9-7 9-3

Davenport top seed
in Masters squash

Twenty-one years after retiring from the world squash circuit, Stuart Davenport has been named top seed in his age group (aged 45-49) at the Head World Masters Squash Championships to be held in Christchurch from October 19-25.

The former world No. 2 ranked player and British Under 23 Champion has played very little squash since that time, although he confesses to have packed in some extra games over the last few weeks.

“I didn’t pick up a racket for about eight or nine years after I retired and over the last three years I have been having only one game a week at Club Kelburn.

“I do keep pretty fit so I think I will be reasonably competitive, but at these sort of events you will also get someone who is super fit and when you have to play a match every day, the body will take a bit to recover. There are also some pretty handy guys in the grade. I can remember playing Trevor Wilkinson from South Africa back in my competitive days. He is be a tough customer.

“The squash aside it is going to be great to catch up with so many different people,” he said.

Davenport started his squash in Christchurch before his family moved to Wellington in the late 1970s.

Seven hundred and sixty nine players from 35 countries will compete in the eight-day event, which will be held at six host clubs, Christchurch, Christchurch Football, Burnside, Squashways, Richmond and Squash HQ. The New Zealand Masters Championships are incorporated into the World Masters Championship.

worldmasterssquash.com

11-Sep-08:
750 enter World Masters Squash

The Head World Masters Squash Championships to be held in Christchurch next month will be one of the largest squash tournament ever held with over 750 entrants taking part.

Seven hundred and fifty five players from 39 countries will compete in the eight-day event, which commences on October 19.

Barry Gardiner, chairman of the organising committee and himself a two-time world masters champion, said that the event will be bigger than Cape Town of two years ago and one of the biggest ever held in the world.

“Nearly half of the entries are from overseas which is amazing considering our isolated spot on the globe and the present tough world economic conditions. It indicates the pulling power New Zealand has as a tourist attraction and the good thing is that many of these visitors have indicated they will holiday in the country afterwards,” he said.

“We have strong support through all the grades, especially in the 45 – 49 and 50 – 54 age groups and even have 13 entered in the men’s over 75 age group which is incredible,” he said.

Gardiner was optimistic that Peter Snell would also play in the event as he is a keen racquetball player in the United States, but a knee injury while competing in the US Orienteering champs in Wyoming last month ruled him out of coming back ‘Downunder’.

The event will be held at six host clubs, Christchurch, Christchurch Football, Burnside, Squashways, Richmond and Sockburn. The New Zealand Masters Championships will be held immediately after the world event so that is another reason for our optimism.

worldmasterssquash.com