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Fairmount AC Open 2011
26-30 Jan, Philadelphia, Usa, $5k |
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30-Jan, Final:
Balbo takes Fairmount
title
Nick Hunter reports
The 2011 edition of the Fairmount Open concluded today, with
Julien Balbo emerging triumphant in a well contested four game
match. The PSA final was the climax of five days of squash at
Fairmount that featured literally hundreds of school children, from
grade school, through to high school, training and competing in the
club - the Pennsylvania Skill Level Championships, which acted as a
qualifier for the US Squash National Skill Level Championships, -
and, less formally, the annual Fairmount doubles Pro/Am.
The Fairmount Open final itself was a fantastic match, with both
players having been relatively untested throughout the event, and
neither having so much as dropped a game. While the younger Le Roux
had the somewhat more adventurous front court game; movement,
fitness and overall athleticism went to the more experienced Balbo,
who went on to take the title. The match was notable for runs of
point, with first one player, then the other, completely dominating
the run of play.
The first went to Le Roux, the second to Balbo and on it went,
until, unfortunately, Shaun made one lunge too many, and was forced
to retire with a groin injury early in the fourth game. The
appreciative crowd were disappointed that the match was cut short,
but equally, supportive of the young man’s decision not to injure
himself further.
In non-PSA play, the Pennsylvania Championships went off
without a hitch for the 80 odd amateur participants, and Australian
Josh Cardwell and his partner Chris Wright outlasted Lyall Paterson
and Norm Blords – 15/13 in the fifth, despite Paterson’s attempts to
put the ball through the front wall…
Plans are already afoot to make the Fairmount Open a bigger and
better event next year – thanks to our title sponsors, Cozen and
Rothman, and our enthusiastic club members, whose excitement in
the whole week was undiminished by snow storms, states of emergency
and two days of digging! See you next year…
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SquashSite
LIVE
 Salut
framboise,
Je viens de terminer le 2ème tournoi de l’année ici à Philadelphie
avec le trophée après une grosse déception à Barcelone.
L’objectif pour moi était d’emmagasiner un maximum de matchs,
reprendre confiance et rentrer dans une spirale positive.
Même si je ne pense pas encore avoir retrouvé mon meilleur squash,
je me rapproche.
Le moral est bon et physiquement je suis de nouveau à mon meilleur
niveau.
J’espère continuer à progresser à Chicago cette semaine
Merci d’avoir suivi ces tournois et merci à ceux qui me soutiennent
A bientôt
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  Fairmount
AC Open
26-30 Jan, Philadelphia, $5k |
Round One
27 Jan |
Quarters
28 Jan |
Semis
29 Jan |
Final
30 Jan |
[1] Julien Balbo (Fra)
11/4, 11/3, 11/2
[Q] Arshad Burki |
[1] Julien Balbo
11/7, 15/13, 11/6
Lewis Walters |
[1] Julien Balbo
11/7, 11/6, 11/6
Thomas Brinkman |
[1] Julien Balbo
9-11, 11-9, 11-8, 5-3 rtd
[2] Shaun Le Roux |
Lewis Walters (Eng)
11/4, 11/5, 11/7
Maxym Leclair (Can) |
[Q] Jamie Macaulay (Sco)
11/7, 7/11, 11/9, 13/11
Lyall Paterson (Sco) |
[Q] Jamie Macaulay
9/11, 11/8, 11/9, 11/9
Thomas Brinkman |
Thomas Brinkman (Can)
11/9, 9/11, 11/9, 11/8
[3] Wade Johnstone (Aus) |
[4] Tyler Hamilton (Can)
13/11, 11/4, 14/12
Josh Cardwell (Aus) |
[4] Tyler Hamilton
11/4, 11/7, 15/13
Alex Grayson |
[4] Tyler Hamilton
11/6, 11/6, 11/7
[2] Shaun Le Roux |
[Q] Adam Murrills (Eng)
11/8, 11/9, 11/6
Alex Grayson (Nzl) |
Chris Truswell (Eng)
11/1, 11/4, 11/5
[Q] Fernando Lopez (Mex) |
Chris Truswell
11/7, 11/7, 11/5
[2] Shaun Le Roux |
Rory Pennell (Eng)
11/6, 11/5, 11/9
[2] Shaun Le Roux (Eng) |
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29-Jan,Semis:
Top seeds ease into
Fairmount
final
Nick Hunter reports
The semi-finals of the PSA event were conducted today with a
backdrop of the Pennsylvania Skill Level Championships, and our
annual Pro-Am Doubles – all of which made for a huge day of squash
at Fairmount.
In the first semi, Julien Balbo didn’t give young Thomas
Brinkman a look in, defeating him 3/0 in relatively quick time.
Julien is yet to be tested in the event and has looked every bit the
number one seed.
Shaun Le Roux, similarly, defeated Tyler Hamilton.
Tyler, who had looked so impressive up to this point, had no answer
to the relatively unspectacular, but very consistent Englishman’s
game.
Both players should have fresh legs for the final, and the club
members are primed to watch a great match. |
28-Jan,Quarters:
Quarters at Fairmount
Nick Hunter reports
Quarter final night at the Fairmount Athletic Club lived up to its
billing – with whole hearted efforts from our eight protagonists and
a delighted crowd.
Match of the night, again, featured Philadelphia’s favorite
Shetlander, Fairmount Professional, Jamie Macaulay. However
this time, the fairytale ending was not to be, with Thomas
Brinkman ending the hopes of both Jamie and the home crowd with
a high standard four game win. The match featured everything –
accurate and varied stroke play, desperate and courageous
retrieving, and more than the usual amount of x-factor specialness…
a match to remember for those present.
In less eventful, but equally whole hearted play, Julien Balbo,
(proudly supported by our club’s French contingent) showing the
solid and courageous play he is noted for, accounted for an improved
Lewis Walters in three games. Contentious in parts, the game was
never likely to go against the Frenchman after the second game
tiebreak. The favorite continues through…
Tyler Hamilton, who is perhaps the “dark horse” of the event,
dismissed a game Alex Grayson, also in three straight – with
both young players offering enough to impress – Tyler with the
racket and Alex with pure athleticism. Tyler in particular has a
great range of stroke, deception and speed – it will be interesting
to see whether he can push through the more experienced campaigners
in the draw.
Finally, second seed Shaun LeRoux defeated Chris Truswell
in three relatively simple games – despite Chris giving what he
had.
Tomorrow sees Balbo/Brinkman and LeRoux/Hamilton. Both matches will
entertain, with the enthusiastic Fairmount crowd, bolstered by the
start of our amateur event, the Pennsylvania Skill Level
Championships, looking to see if the top seeds live up to their
billing.
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SquashSite
LIVE
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27-Jan,Round One:
Full house at Fairmount
Nick Hunter reports
 The
first round of the Fairmount Open started with a bang, with a full
house and delighted spectators.
The evening was highlighted by a five game tussle between Fairmount
teaching professionals, and Scottish stalwarts, Jamie Macaulay and
Lyall Paterson. A full house was treated to 90 minutes of full court
bedlam, with Philadelphia’s favorite Shetlander winning the tiebreak
at the end of the fifth.
 In
other matches, Julien Balbo summarily dismissed Arshad Burki, Lewis
Walters was too strong for Max Leclair, and Adam Murrills lost the
battle of the speedsters to the dangerous Alex Grayson.
Thomas Brinkman defied the seedings to send third seeded Australian,
Wade Johnstone, home in four games and Lopez had no answer for
Truswell, after the aforementioned Lopez’s five game qualification
match this morning. Finally, Shaun le Roux was slightly too strong
for Rory Pennell across the court, with the left hander unable to
impose himself upon proceedings.
The quarter finals start tomorrow night at 5:45 – with the Fairmount
crowd eager to see if Macaulay has the legs to go further, and
whether the top seeds, Le Roux and Balbo, can be troubled by anyone
in the field.
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27-Jan, Qualifying:
Qualifying finally concludes
Nick Hunter reports
After “digging out” of an interesting snow storm here in Philly,
qualifying was finally completed.
Fernando Lopez and Chris Lloyd were first on, with Fernando, a crowd
favorite, coming out on top of Chris in five hard games. Chris
played well, but showed the effects of a brutal five games with
Scotland’s Kevin Moran yesterday… Fernando through to play Chris
Truswell this evening.
In our only other match of the morning, Fernando had the treat of
refereeing Ryan Thompson and the erstwhile Ashad Iqbal Burki – which
went down to a slightly acrimonious 11/8 in the firth. Ryan, a real
gentleman on court, played a tough and intelligent match, which some
days isn’t enough, and Ashad is through to play Julian Balbo
tonight… which may be slightly less eventful (?!)
So, after some delays and modest natural disasters, our first round
is off and running from 5:45 this evening – some great squash, a
welcome party and fourteen courts of organized (?!) mayhem. All
welcome!
26-Jan, Qualifying:
Snow disrupts play in Philly
Nick Hunter reports
The Fairmount Athletic Club’s annual PSA event kicked off today with
a storm, a snow storm – which slightly complicated the start a very
full five days of squash in Philly.
The Fairmount Open is at the forefront of five great days of squash
at the club, with the PSA event being run alongside the Pennsylvania
Skill Level Championships (Graded Champs, for those outside the
States), our Hard-Ball doubles Pro/Am and guest clinics – all in
addition to approximately four hundred kids, from grade school,
right through to high school teams who are in the facility to watch,
train and compete themselves. Suffice to say, the timetable’s a
little tight, and we could have done without the snow…
 None
the less, despite the slow start, two good solid matches kicked off
the tournament. Fairmount’s own Nick Malinowski fought well,
but went down to Fairmount’s own Jamie Macaulay. Despite
opening up the second game with a 6/0 run of rollers, Nick was
somewhat run down, and subsequently run over – J in three.
Match of the morning was Scot, Kevin Moran, versus Kiwi,
Chris Lloyd. Kevin, despite having taken longer to get from
Edinburgh to Philly than it usually takes to get from Philly to
Melbourne – and losing his luggage en route – put up a great fight.
The Boston based Kiwi eventually won in five – much to the delight
of his lovely Russian wife… truly a multicultural match…
In the afternoon’s final qualifying round, only two matches were
able to be played – with the remainder scheduled for tomorrow
morning.
 Adam
Murrill defeated Maxime Blouin in a competitive three games –
both players demonstrating a willingness to run – in Adam’s case, a
little further than Maxime. I’m sure there’s more to come from him
in this event.
And finally, Fairmount’s (perhaps Philadelphia’s?) favorite
Shetlander, Jamie Macaulay, who finished the tournament hopes
of Lekgotla Mosope – a man who dismissed him in the event last year
– in a well contested four games. Now he can get back to shoveling…
Qualifying will conclude tomorrow morning, barring further acts of
God... with the main draw kicking off in the evening.
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