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Les Callow reports – Day 3
The third of final day of the ETC division 3 tournament
started with Norway vs Monaco. Norway needed to secure
victory against Monaco to gain top place in the play offs.
Unfortunately Monaco's pit stop speeds let them down and the
viking warriors stormed through to a 4-0 victory, securing
Norway 9th place, Monaco 10th and the Isle of Man 11th.
After the Isle of Man played both their matches on day 2,
they had the day off and spent the day sightseeing and in
the local spa!!!
Poland really basted Turkey in the match for 7th and 8th
places and won 4-0. For 5th and 6th place, Croatia and
Malta, next years host of the ETC division 3, met again in
day 3, yet again the game was tight finishing 2-2, but this
time Croatia winning on countback.
The rock of Gibraltar was not as steady as normal when they
came up against giants Russia, Gibraltar eventually won by
winning more games than Russia.
In the final of the men's competition, new comers to the
tournament, Portugal came up against tournament favourites
Greece. Greece suffered an early and major set back with
their number 1 player picking up a groin strain which
allowed Portugal, a team with a mixture of youth and
experience to gain an upper hands and proved to strong for
the greek gods, Portugal winning 3-1. Both finalists qualify
for next years ETC division 2 tournament.
In the women's competition, for 7th place, Croatia beat
Turkey 2-1 after a tight fought match from both sets of
players. For 5th place, Russia came up against Greece, the
giant russians proved too strong for Greece winning 2-1.
For 3rd place, an experienced Maltese ladies team played
Luxembourg and ramped home a 2-1 win.
The final of the women's competition saw tournament new
comers and hosts Hungary come up against polished Polish
team. With the home crowd on the side of Hungary, Hungary
won 3-0 whilst playing some brilliant squash as well as
looking good off the court.
The hungarian women's team now qualify for next year's ETC
division 2 competition.
All the teams would like to thank Hungary for a well ran
tournament and enjoyed their three days there. The
tournament showed some great young talent with their skills
both on the court and OFF the court.
Lyndon Cheetham brought home the bacon for Isle of Man team,
and as he snores he says "dust dust dust, bacon bacon bacon
stone!!!"
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Day TWO of the European Division 3 Team
Championships
Les Callow reports
On a sunny, but blowy day in Budapest the Quarter Finals
stage of this prestigious tournament commenced with
Gibraltar v Poland, Croatia v Greece, Portugal v Turkey and
Malta v Russia.
Gibraltar Pole Axed Poland
 Starting
with the first two seeds on court Gibraltar were soon behind
in both matches but after an extraordinary fightback by
cristian navas managed to pull off a stunning 3-2 victory
with hack after hack to the back of the court. Brindle
junior then followed suit in a triumphant 3 -1 victory.
Gibraltar finalised the match by a win at number 3.
Russia found Malta's soft centre with only the number 1
winning giving Russia a shock 3-1 victory.
The self confessed tournament favourites Croatia were
crushed by the trident and trusted hand of zeus.
In a scorchingly hot match 180 degrees Celsius for 1 hour 34
minutes Portugal basted turkey.....its all Gravy now baby!
 IOM vs
Norway......Wow! there was nor'way of stopping the
onslaught, Only one manx man could triumph, yes Gravy
Norman's boat set sail to sink the viking boat in an hour
and 8mins of high sea action, to be the only Manx winner.
From then on it was plain sailing for the Norwegians.
In other News, the climax of the women's group stage matches
were finished this morning, pool A saw Hungary won all the
group matches beating Lucembourg, Turkey and Croatia easily
and finished top of their group with Luxembourg second,
Croatia third and Turkey fourth.
Pool B winners were Poland again winning all theit matches
followed by Malta, Russia then Greece. The Females were also
playing measurements as follows...36'24'30 ....nuff said!!
 Semi-finals
of the men's competition saw Gibraltar play Greece, the
solid rock of Gibraltar fall into the Aegon sea, chin up
Shaka (Laka Boom Boom), after he deserted the rock in a time
of need. Greece winning 3-1.
In the second semi-final, outsiders Russia were beaten
indoors by Portugal 3-1. This set up a interesting final
between Portugal and Greece.
 Semi-finals
of the ladies competition, Hungary came up against Malta,
Hungary were too hungry for the maltesers sealing a place in
the final.
The other semi-final saw Poland defeat Luxembourg to set up
a tasty clash against the Hungarians in tomorrow's final.
In the group for 9th to 11th positions saw the Isle of Man
TT races come up against the Monaco Grand Prix. With lap
records threatening to tumble and speeds exceeding 100mph,
the last encounter from the show of the purple helmets saw a
dead heat after four laps, with the timekeeper being brought
into play and the Isle of Man winning by a wheel, a Laxey
wheel.
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Day ONE
in Budapest
Les Callow reports
On Thursday 7th April 2011 eleven men's teams and eight
ladies teams took part in the inaugural European teams
division three held at the Griff squash club in Budapest.
Mens teams were divided into four pools and the ladies into
two with the first matches starting at 9:30am.
In pool A Greece and the Isle of Man were first on court,
unfortunately for the Isle of Man the No.2 sustained an
injury when he slipt in Greece at the rear of the court. The
Isle of Man number 2 has now been ruled out of the remainder
of the tournament. Greece went on to win 4-0. Meanwhile
Malta played Croatia in pool B with a result of 2-2, with
Malta winning on a countback of games.
With all teams playing a round robin all teams in the groups
had a second match in the afternoon with Poland vs Portugal
being the match of the afternoon games with Portugal winning
3-1.
In Russia vs Isle of Man, Tom Whiteaway fought well to lose
3-2 by 2 points in the last, after coming back of the floor
because of a rushing Russian body checking him. Dave Norman
winning the first match for the Isle of Man in the
tournament.
In the first first match of Gibraltars quest to become
European champions they faced stern opposition in the face
of a young Turkish side. Unfortunately for Turkey there was
no delight and Gibraltar managed to secure a path to the
quarter finals sending Turkey to an early bath!
Ladies pool a matches were all won by a 3-0 scoreline. Match
of note in pool B was Poland against Malta which in a
gruelling brutal encounter, saw Poland come out on top,
which is always good for a ladies match. The face off
between Greece and Russia saw Greece come through 3-0.
Late News......
In the tightest group yet the tournament rules were
strutinised by the Maltese and Croatian teams to discover
who would be rewarded with a passage through to the quarter
finals as winners of the group which was eventually won by
Malta on countback of individual players point scores.
Tomorrows 1/4 finals ties will be decided in the final group
placings of the first and second round on the first day of
competition. |
Women's Pools & Draw
Men's Results
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