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18th Sep 2010, Day Three:
Men's Final :
Paderborn (Ger) 3-1
Set Marseille
Peter
Barker 3-0 Renan Lavigne
11-2 11-7 11-4
Simon Rosner 0-2 Mathieu Castagnet
5-11 5-11
Tim Garner 3-0 Benjamin Lagier
11-8 11-6 11-5
Lennart Ostorff 3-0 Maxence De Peretti 11-9
11-8 11-5
3rd/4th: Colets 3-1 Fitzwilliam
5th/6th: Roslagen 2-2 (7-5) Recrean
7th/8th: Petroholding 3-1 Aberdeen
Semi-finals
:
Paderborn (Ger) 3-1 Colets (UK)
Pete Barker
bt Scott Handley 3/0
Simon Rosner bt Jesse Englebrecht 3/0
Tim garner lost Lee Drew 3/0
Lennart Ostloff beat Mark Cairns 2/1
Set
Marseille 3-1 Fitzwilliam (Ireland)
Renan Lavigne
bt Derek Ryan
3/1
Mathieu Castagnet bt Niail Rooney
3/0
Benjamin Lagier bt Rory Byrne
3/0
Maxence de Peretti lost Nigel Peyton
3/0
Women's final:
Edgbaston Priory beat Pontefract 2-1 |
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Men's Team
Results
Women's Team Results
Women's
results
Thanks for
Marseille Team
for the early results |
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Paderborn & Edgbaston
deserving winners
Malcolm reports
The men's semi finals
read like a who's who of squash and it is a delight to see
players, who have been competing at such a high level, still
looking so fit and with their enthusiasm for the game
unimpaired.
In the Marseille - Fitzwilliam match Derek Ryan,
looking as young as ever, at least from a distance, moved
with the languid ease that characterised his game when he
was in the world's top ten, but could not quite stay with
the busy Renan Lavigne, not long ago active on the
world scene and lost 3-1. Teammate Nigel Peyton
scored his team's only win in a 3-1 victory for the French
team.
Two bastions of the European scene, Paderborn and Colets,
locked horns in the other semi and Paderborn, with their
undoubted strength at the top of the order in Peter
Barker and Simon Rosner proved too strong, though
Lee Drew beat Tim Garner at three in a game
between two excellent men, who typify the spirit of the
European Club championships.
They both contribute a great deal to the game: Tim as one of
the best tournament directors around and Lee as a coach of
burgeoning reputation. The match was immensely competitive,
but played in the most sporting of spirits and with a smile.
Credit to them and pity that more sport is not played in a
similar way. Any child - or adult - watching could only be
better for the experience.
MEN'S FINAL
So to the German-French final. Three 3-0 wins for Paderborn
by Barker, Garner and Lennart Osthof settled matters
in style and Norman Farthing's Paderborn were once
more European champions. No team has supported or championed
European squash more, the result was nothing more than they
deserved.
LADIES FINAL
The Women's final was an all England clash between two young sides, all
of whose players have played internationally. Pontefract,
the holders and Edgbaston Priory. Pontefract is well
known for its support of its players, but never in its
illustrious history has the club been so full, vantage
points being hard to gain.
Unusually the first strings were on first: Lauren Siddall
and Victoria Lust and perhaps surprisingly it was the
Birmingham player who settled much the better winning the
first game comfortably. Although Siddall improved and won
the third she never looked entirely at ease and played
without the toughness that once characterised her game and
Lust ran put a deserved winner 3-1.
Deon Saffery and Emma Chorley had contested
the final of the British Under23 championships earlier this
year, Saffery winning in the fifth, but this time, looking
lively and playing with confidence, Saffery was always in
control and she levelled the match for Pontefract to set up
a thrilling climax to the whole event.
So to the match which would decide the outcome; Becky
Botwright, who works with the great Geoff Hunt in Doha, Qatar, holidaying to play for her long-term team, and
England under 19 international Julianne Courtice,
about to begin a physiotherapy degree course at Manchester
University on Monday.
Once again the Pontefract player was
slower to settle, despite her greater experience, perhaps
down to home expectations and the smooth striking Courtice
took a 1-0 lead. Botwright did settle better and seemed to
be on course to give Pontefract the win, appearing to have a
slight fitness advantage as the match progressed, but
Courtice's technique never deserted her, even at 2 all and,
aided by errors from Botwright, incuding serving out twice,
it was she who took Edgbaston to victory on a tie break.
Kirsty McPhee, the Pontefract captain, who has been in good
form, finishing third in the World Universities
championships in Melbourne, may well be rueing her unselfish
decision to leave herself out in the final, though nothing
should be taken away from Edgbaston, who thoroughly deserved
their win.
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TROPHY TIME....
The
presentations were made by Zena Wooldridge, European
Squash Federation vice president, Giles Choyce,
President of Pontefract sqush club and most notably by
Yvette Cooper, M.P., who was instrumental in helping the
club through difficult times some ten years ago.
She must have been rewarded by what she saw on finals night,
and young Harry Carr, who designed the logo for the
event. Tim Garner, speaking on behalf of Paderborn,
paid tribute to Terry Dudley, tournament director and
all his team and Norman Farthing, master chef, was
lavish in his praise of Dave Taylor, who provided
such excellent fare for everyone throughout the event.
Victoria Lust thanked everyone on behalf of the
women's champions and Belfast will be the 2011 port
of call for the next European Club championships.
AND FINALLY...
Party time then began and went on long into the night and
the next morning, some still there at 7a.m.
Unsurprisingly, Mick Todd, Pontefract's driving
force, was one of the last, if not the last to leave.
Martin Sunderland, of the band Lost for Words, was there
to entertain as he always does and he was aided and abetted
by Alan [Elvis] Norrish and Angie Abbott, who
gave her inimitable rendition of 'It should have been me',
much to the delight of several inebriated players, who
suitably found themselves soaked to the skin, as Angie
sprayed them!
The European club championships represent so much that is
wholesome in sport and so much that the game should be proud
of and protect..
The feeling, if I read it right ,was that Pontefract had
provided a suitable setting for such an occasion and the
club and all those associated with it hope you, the players
and supporters, had an experience that you will recall with
fondness. |
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THE FRENCH VIEW
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MARSEILLE WITHOUT OLLI
This was the original Marseille Team
N°1 Olli Tuominen
N°2 Renan Lavigne (Capitaine)
N°3 Mathieu Castagnet
N°4 Benjamin Lagier
N°5 Maxence de Peretti
(Président et remplaçant) |
Our team was validated in July, with
on the 16th June by an email from ESF, telling us that the ranking
from September would be the one to be taken in account.
Unfortunately, we then received another email on the 10th September
telling us that in fact, it was June's.
Lost in translation...?
Our team suddenly was "too heavy" ranking wise apparently., and we
had only 4 days to find a player. Which of course, we couldn't do.
So, I had to change my status from replacement to main team!
But it takes more than that to discourage Marseille, and here we are
in the final.
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Results of the day
Men
Quarter finals
Paderborn 4 Roslagen 0
Colets 4 Petroholding 0
Fitzwilliam 3 Aberdeen 1
Marseille 3 Recrean 1.
So the semi final line-up for tomorrow is:
Paderborn v
Colets
Fitzwilliam v Marseille. |
Women
Karteria Diesl 2 Pontefract 2 1
Mulhouse 3 Pontefract 2 0
Pontefract 1 3 Victoria 0
Edgbaston Priory 3 Stockholm 0
Karteria Diesl 2 Stockholm 1
Edgbaston Priory 3 Victoria 0
Pontefract 1 3 Mulhouse 0. |
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Day Two in Ponte
Apologies to squashsite readers for lack of coverage of
to-day's European Club championships, but a visit to
Manchester restricted my time at Pontefract today.
Peter Barker
will lead Paderborn, Renan Lavigne will lead Marseille and
Irish legend, Derek Ryan, Fitzwilliam and there will be an
array of other well-known players on display.
The semi finals are at 10-30, with the final at 4 o'clock.
With Aberdeen beaten in the quarter finals, there will be a
new Men's European Club champion.
Playing for the ninth and
tenth positions are host club Pontefract and Topgrund.
Pontefract beat Vaduz 4-0 and Topgrund beat Angels
similarly.
Women's round robin
With two more
round robin matches to play tomorrow, the final pairing is
not settled, but it looks more than likely to be between the
two English teams, Edgbaston and hosts Pontefract.
Should Pontefract make the final in their bid to retain
their title, they will not on the evidence of this evening's
match with Mulhouse, lack support. The club has been packed
throughout the tournament and the famed Pontefract support
was out in force this evening.
There is much to look forward to tomorrow, both here and in
Manchester, where Pontefract is guaranteed a semi-finalist.
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Thursday's Results:
Men
Pool A
Recrean 3 Vaduz 1: Paderborn 4 Vaduz 0
Pool B:
Roslagen 4 Topgrund 0:Marseille 4 Topgrund 0
Pool C:
Fitzwilliam 4 Angels 0: Colet's 4 Angels 0
Pool D:
Aberdeen3 Petroholding 1: Pontefract 4 Wohlen 0:
Petroholding 3 Pontefract 1: Aberdeen 4 Wohlen 0
Women:
Victoria 3 Stockhom 0 Mulhouse 3
Kateria Diesl 0 Pontefract 1 3 Stockholm 0
Edgbaston 3 Pontefract 2 0 Pontefract 1 3
Pontefract 2 0 Edgbaston 3
Kateria Diesl 0
Mulhouse 3 Victoria 0. |
Ukranians
Impress
Malcolm reports
The
Ukranian club champions, Petroholding's performance
against holders Aberdeen suggested that they were more than
a useful team and they were impressive again in their match
with the young Pontefract side.
Hadrian Stiff led the team and he has worked with the
Ukranian players. He must be mightily pleased with the way
they played against the host club. Stiff himself,
accompanied by his wife and new baby, led the way with a
smooth and convincing victory over James Earles,
though there were signs in the 11-9 third game that his
exertions earlier in the day against Simon Parke were
telling.
Second string, Russian Sorochynsky - aren't eastern
European names fantastic? - beat Sam Wileman in
taking fashion, impressing with his movement and racket
control, 3-1 and the imposing third string, the veteran of
the side, but looking in great shape, Kostiantyn
Rybalchenko, also impressed, beating George Wileman
3-0.
It was left to Karan Malik, Pontefract's talented
Indian under 19 international, to record their only success,
when he beat Denys Podvorny 3-0, the Ukranian feeling
the effects of his previous efforts perhaps, though Malik
played very well, it has to be said.
Apparently most of the courts in the Ukraine are in Kiev,
but if this team is a sample of how Ukranians can play, then
the sooner more of them get playing the better. I
particularly like their strong silent, Eastwood approach: no
fuss, no footballer's mindless passion, but a lot of inner
strength and toughness.
Just my preference. Well done Petroholding, Ukraine!
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Aberdeen
tested in opener
Malcolm reports
Pick of the early matches was the holders, Aberdeen[Scotland]
against Petroholding [Ukraine]. Three of the four matches
went the full distance in Aberdeen's 3-1 win, with Kostiantyn Rybalchenko beating Jamie Jacobsen 3-2 to
register the Ukrainian team's only success.
Simon Parke, who trains regularly at Pontefract and who will
play National League for the club this season, edged out
Hadrian Stiff 11-5 in the fifth, having been 2-1 down, in a
match which understandably attracted a large crowd.
Derek Ryan, on familiar territory, despite having lost his
way yesterday, led Fitzwilliam [Ireland] to a comfortable 4-0
win over Angels [Luxembourg] and host club Pontefract's young
side-3 teenagers and a twenty year old, led by England
Junior international, James Earles, beat
Wohlen[Switzerland] 4-0.
Pontefract's women's team, holders of the championship, also
made a winning start, beating Stockholm [Sweden] 4-0.
Results:
Fitzwilliam [Ireland] bt Angels [Luxembourg]
4/0
Aberdeen [Scotland] bt Petroholding [Ukraine]
3/1
Pontefract [England] bt Wohlen [Switzerland]
4/0
RecreanSC [Belgium] bt SquashRC Vaduz[ ]
3/1
RoslagenSRC [Sweden] bt
TopgrungLW [HUngary] 4/0 |
THE FRENCH VIEW
Colets Full Blast
Colet's, whose record in the
European Club Championships stands with the best, began their 2010
campaign with a 4-0 win over Luxembourg's Angels.
Small wonder at the ease of the victory when the side consists of
Mark Cairns, Scott Handley, Lee Drew, now firmly establishing a
reputation as a coach in darkest Essex, and Clive Ewins.
Hard to imagine a more experienced team and much to their credit,
they have retained their enthusiasm for the sport. What aggravates
me most is that, whenever I see them, they look much the same. I
must look more closely to see if they are dyeing their hair and to
see what make-up they are using! Whatever, they will take a deal of
beating.
Watching today has been a pleasure: players competing hard, but I
haven't seen a single dispute or incident, After the events in Hong
Kong, which depressed me, I have found that quite re-assuring.
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Ready for
the off in Ponte
Malcolm Willstrop reports
Pontefract Squash club was packed for the opening of the
European Club Team Championships, beginning today.
Faces abounded: Derek Ryan, for many years a valued
Pontefract player, still managed to get his Irish team lost
-overshooting the M62 and almost ending up in Hull!
Simon Parke, Scott Handley, Lee Drew, Clive Ewins, Tim
Garner..... Paderborn's Simon Rosner's pilot failed to show
-no reason given - and he would be arriving late. Peter
Barker will be representing the upper reaches of the game
after his splendid win in Hong Kong.
The Managers made another re-draw. The Mayor and Mayoress
were in attendance and the Mayor stated how pleased and
proud he was that Pontefract was staging such a prestigious
event.
Cath Smith,of the Leydon-Smith School, doyenne of dance,
assisted by Darren Wakefield, provided the entertainment, as
youngsters performed a Moulin Rouge spectacular and cheer
leading and slightly older dancers gave the bemused foreign
players a touch of Pontefract culture, if such a thing
exists!
Pontefract Squash Club has been a hive of activity recently,
as volunteers,with all hands to the pumps, worked cheerfully
to have the club in order for the championships. As happens
with dress rehearsals when it is hard to see light at the
end of the tunnel, by the time everyone arrived all was in
place, though I suspect one or two locals could hardly
believe it.
Now to the squash and let it be played in the spirit this |
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