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Harris Senior Inter-County Finals 2009
02-03 May, Wolverhampton |
Herts & Yorks take
Inter-County titles
Chris Nutley reports
Yorkshire retained the women’s crown while Hertfordshire
took the men’s title in day 2 of the Harris Senior Inter
County Finals.
Women's Final
Cheshire ladies put up a great fight in the final and until
late on it looked title the trophy was heading their way.
Cheshire’s Emily Whitlock continued her great weekend with a
fantastic win over Carrie Ramsey, Sarah Kippax defeated
Lauren Siddall in four while Yorkshire’s Andrea Santa Maria
claimed Yorkshire’s first point with a victory over Amanda
Clegg.
That left Cheshire needed to claim one of the 2 remaining
ties and things got off to the perfect start – Kirsty West
2-0 up in her match with Katie Smith. However Katie never
gave up and fought back to take it 3-2 and square the match
at 2-2. That left it to the No2’s – Kirsty McPhee and Rachel
Chadwick.
Another great match ensued with each game going to a tie
break but it was McPhee who held her nerve to take it 3-0
and enable Yorkshire to grasp the trophy back from the
clutches of Cheshire.
Men's Final
The men’s final was just as exciting and it too went all the
way.
Olly Pett recovered from a game down to beat Adam Fuller to
get Sussex off the mark. That was cancelled out by
Hertfordshire’s Keith Timms who eventually saw off Ben
Hutton3-2 in a wonderful match. Chris Ryder put
Hertfordshire ahead with victory over Tim Vail before
Brandon Hanley squared it at 2-2 after coming back to take
Marc Woolhead’s scalp 11/7 in the fifth.
Then it was left to Adrian Waller and Tom Pashley to fight
it out on the show court. At 1-1 it looked like it was going
to be a classic but Waller had other ideas and turned up the
pressure and took the next two comfortably to claim the win
and the title for Hertfordshire.
It was a great turn around for Hertfordshire who only four
seasons ago were languishing at the bottom of Division 2.
Another great day’s squash.
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Men’s Final
Hertfordshire bt Sussex 3-2
Chris Ryder bt Tim Vail 11/3 4/11 11/8 11/3
Adrian Waller bt Tom Pashley 11/6 2/11 11/3 11/3
Adam Fuller lt Olly Pett 11/1 9/11 7/11 5/11
Marc Woodhead lt Brandon Hanley 11/7 9/11 11/7 7/11 7/11
Keith Timms bt Ben Hutton 14/12 6/11 9/11 11/9 11/2
Women’s Final
Yorkshire bt Cheshire 3-2
Lauren Siddall lt Sarah Kippax 8/11 7/11 11/9 8/11
Kirsty McPhee bt Rachel Chadwick 12/10 17/15 12/10
Carrie Ramsey lt Emily Whitlock 7/11 7/11 6/11
Katie Smith bt Kirsty West 8/11 6/11 11/3 11/4 11/4
Andrea Santa Maria bt Amanda Clegg 11/7 4/11 9/11
Men’s 3/4 Play Off
Surrey bt Yorkshire 5-0
Tom Richards bt Neil Cordell 11/6 11/8 13/15 11/3
Jason Barry bt Sam Wileman 14/12 11/7 11/4
Joe Lee bt Richard Wade 11/5 11/4 11/6
Neil Frankland bt Chris Rusling 7/11 11/6 11/9 11/7
Phil Nightingale bt Neil Guirey 11/9 11/6 11/7
Women’s 3/4 Play Off
Lancashire Essex 4-1
Vicky Botwright bt Becky Macree 11/7 11/8 4/11 6/11 11/8
Helen De Los Rios bt Sarah-Jane Neller 11/8 10/12 11/3 11/5
Jeannine Cowie bt Jackie Gregory 11/1 11/9 11/9
Lauren Tamila lt Colleen Campbell 5/11 6/11 11/6 12/14
Emma Molyneux bt Sarah Lochie 13/11 11/3 11/3
Men’s 5/6 Play Off
Essex bt Lancashire 5-0
Lee Drew bt Pete Billson 11/6 11/7 11/4
Neil Hitchins bt Mike Pearson 11/9 11/6 11/7
Paul Allen bt Danny Massaro 11/0 11/13 11/3 11/6
Ben Coleman bt Chris Longthorn 11/3 11/7 11/3
Rory Pennell W/O
Women’s 5/6 Play Off
Nottinghamshire bt Sussex 5-0
Donna Vardy bt Kelly Eastment 11/4 11/2 11/4
Rachel Pullen bt Bryony Johnson 5/11 7/11 11/7 11/3 11/6
Rachel Hancock bt Katie Hanley 11/4 8/11 11/8 3/0 RTD
Hannah Carey bt Wendy Simpson 11/8 11/4 11/8
Thea Harvey bt Sophie Denman 11/4 11/3 11/8
Men’s 7/8 Play Off
Shropshire bt Kent 4-1
Jamie Haycocks bt Issa Kamara 11/2 13/11 11/4
Andrew Birks bt Neil Baker 11/4 13/11 11/9
Richard Birks bt James McMekan 11/5 13/11 11/9
Sam Hodgkins lt Tom May 11/8 9/11 8/11 7/11
Courtney Downing bt Zeb Young 9/11 9/11 11/4 11/8 11/7
Women’s 7/8 Play Off
Surrey bt Merseyside 5-0
Harriet Ingham bt Heather Tweedle 11/5 11/8 11/8
Vicky Strange bt Laura Hamilton W/O
Claire Bake bt Amy Barnes 11/7 11/8 11/4
Carly Buchanan bt Lauren Dixon 11/8 11/9 11/4
Maggie North W/O
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Sat 2nd May, Day ONE:
Chris
Nutley reports from Wolverhampton
The Harris Inter County road show rolled into Wolverhampton
this weekend for the revamped senior finals. For the first
time the top eight men’s and women’s county teams are all
involved in the finals and are playing out for final
positions. By the end of Sunday afternoon not only will have
found our new champions but relegation looms from the bottom
two in each category.
In round one Yorkshire Men, led by Neil Cordell and David
Campion saw off Shropshire who had been weakened by the late
withdrawal of Jonathon Kemp. Hertfordshire and Essex fought
out a tight affair but it was Hertfordshire who were
victorious over their local neighbours with wins for Chris
Ryer, Adrian Waller and Marc Woolhead. The favourites for
the men’s crown look to be Surrey whos impressive line up
includes Tom Richards, Jason Barry and Joe Lee.
They dominated their match with Lancashire taking the spoils
5-0. The only game Surrey dropped was in a wonderfully
entertaining 4th string between Neil Frankland and Nigel
Willis – neither player listening to their captains who were
eager to remind them that the match was already over at 4-0
and they would be better keeping themselves fresh for the
later games! Surrey now face Tim Vail’s Sussex in round 2
after Sussex had recorded a resounding 5-0 win over Kent.
The Women’s first round progressed with little incident -
5-0 wins for Lancashire, Cheshire and Yorkshire and a 4-1
win for Essex over Kent. Lancashire’s charge was led by
Vicky Botwright while Sarah Kippax and Lauren Siddall were
spearheading Cheshire and Yorkshire’s attach respectively.
The afternoon saw round two which decided the line-ups for
tomorrow’s finals. The first women’s semi final was between
Lancashire and Cheshire. The number three string saw 15 year
old Emily Whitlock, former Under 13 National Champion; take
on a National Over 35 Champion in the shape of Jeannine
Cowie.
The youngster took a quick two nil lead before Cowie found
her game and took the third on a tie breaker. The fourth was
also close but it was youth that prevailed to give Cheshire
a great start. Sarah Kippax had a real go at Vicky Botwright
but after taking the first lost out 3-1 to last year’s World
Open finalist. Cheshire then went on to take the remaining
ties to secure their place in Sunday’s final. Hertfordshire
continued their good day with a professional 4-1 beating of
Yorkshire, Neil Guirey claiming the only victory for the
northerners. In the second women’s semi Yorkshire showed
their strength in depth to overcome Essex 4-1.
Missing Jenny Duncalf and Deon Saffery, both on
international duty at the European Team Champs, Yorkshire
were still able to field a strong side. However Essex’s
former World top 10 player Becky Macree showed she has lost
none of her competitive streak with a gritty 3-2 victory
over rising star Lauren Siddall to prevent a 5-0 loss which
had looked on the cards. The last semi final saw Surrey and
Sussex men battle it out.
One of the matches of the day had to be Joe Lee against Olly
Pett. It was a great game with both players going for
everything and getting involved in some marathon rallies.
Although highly competitive and close it was Olly’s day as
he took it in straight games. Phil Nightingale equalled
things up for Surrey with a 3-0 victory over Ben Hutton.
Tom Richards then recovered from a game down to run out a
3-1 winner against Tim Vail to put Surrey back in front.
Then it was down to Neil Frankland against Brandon Hanley
and Jason Barry against Tom Pashley on adjacent courts to
settle it. Hanley made it 2-2 with a 3-1 win over Frankland
to take it to the wire.
Pashley was ahead twice in his game with Barry but found
himself pegged back to two all. Pashley again forged ahead
in the fifth and this time there was no way back - each
winning shot from Pashley was met with a roar from the
crowd.......well from the ‘Vole’ anyway! and Sussex sneaked
it 3-2 – fantastic stuff.
Round 2 also saw the relegation matters settled with
Shropshire and Kent men and the ladies from Merseyside and
Surrey all finding themselves in tomorrow’s battle to avoid
the wooden spoon - but sadly all four will now be relegated
and will be playing Division 1 next term.
It was a superb day’s squash and on this showing the senior
Inter County Championships is back on the map – the players
loved it and the squash was played in the very best of
spirits.
Finals Line Up:
Women: Cheshire V Yorkshire
Men: Hertfordshire V Sussex
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Full Results
Men Round 1
Yorkshire bt Shropshire 4-1
Neil Cordell bt Jamie Haycocks 11/13 13/11 11/2 15/13
David Campion bt Andrew Birks 11/4 11/4 4/11 11/9
Sam Wileman lt Richard Birks 9/11 8/11 5/11
Richard Wade bt Sam Hodgkins 11/6 11/6 11/5
Chris Rusling bt Courtney Downing 11/3 13/11 11/6
Hertfordshire bt Essex 3-2
Chris Ryder bt Lee Drew 11/4 11/7 11/2
Adrian Waller bt Neil Hitchens 11/9 9/11 11/6 11/9
Adam Fuller lt Iain Higgins 6/11 11/4 6/11 4/11
Marc Woolhead bt Paul Allen 13/11 11/6 3/11 11/2
Keith Timms lt Ben Coleman 8/11 7/11 11/4 8/11
Surrey bt Lancashire 5-0
Tom Richards bt Pete Billson 11/6 11/0 11/9
Jason Barry bt Mike Pearson 11/4 11/3 11/8
Joe Lee bt Danny Massaro 11/7 11/3 11/8
Neil Frankland bt Nigel Willis 11/6 12/14 11/9 11/9
Phil Nightingale bt Chris Lengthorn 11/8 11/3 11/8
Sussex bt Kent 5-0
Tim Vail bt Issa Kamara 11/4 11/6 11/6
Tom Pashley bt Neil Baker 11/4 11/5 11/3
Olly Pett bt James McMekan 11/4 11/9 11/6
Brandon Hanley bt Tom May 11/4 11/7 11/6
Ben Hutton bt Zeb Young 13/11 11/7 11/6
Round 2, Semi Finals
Hertfordshire bt Yorkshire
Chris Ryder bt Neil Cordell 11/5 11/2 11/3
Adrian Waller bt Sam Wileman 11/6 11/8 11/4
Adam Fuller bt Richard Wade 11/9 11/7 11/4
Marc Woolhead bt Chris Rusling 10/12 11/8 11/9 11/9
Scott Rickard lt Neil Guirey 8/11 11/3 7/11 8/11
Sussex bt Surrey 3-2
Tim Vail lt Tom Richards 11/8 7/11 5/11 8/11
Tom Pashley bt Jason Barry 11/3 7/11 11/4 6/11 11/6
Olly Pett bt Joe Lee 11/8 11/3 14/12
Brandon Hanley bt Neil Frankland 11/8 11/6 8/11 11/7
Ben Hutton lt Phil Nightingale 6/11 15/17 5/11
5-8 Play Offs
Essex bt Shropshire 4-1
Lee Drew bt Jaymie Haycocks 8/11 11/7 11/7 11/8
Neil Hitchens bt Andrew Birks 5/11 11/6 11/8 11/3
Iain Higgins lt Richard Birks 11/9 5/11 3/11 11/6 11/13
Paul Allen Sam Hodgkins 11/5 11/3 11/4
Rory Pennell Stuart Dix 11/7 11/3 11/4
Lancashire bt Kent 5-0
Pete Billson bt Issa Kamara 11/2 11/9 11/4
Mike Pearson bt Steve London 11/4 6/11 12/10 11/2
Danny Massaro bt Neil Baker 11/5 11/4 11/4
Nigel Willis bt James McMekan 11/9 12/10 11/6
Stephen Withington bt Tom May 11/7 11/5 11/2
Women Round 1
Lancashire bt Surrey 5-0
Vicky Botwright bt Harriet Ingham 11/4 11/0 11/2
Helen De Los Rios bt Vicky Strange 11/7 9/11 11/7 11/3
Jeannine Cowie bt Sandra Dunn 11/2 11/2 11/6
Lauren Tamila bt Carly Buchanan 4/11 11/8 11/7 6/11
14/12
Cheshire bt Nottinghamshire 5-0
Sarah Kippax bt Donna Vardy 11/2 11/8 5/11 11/4
Rachel Chadwick bt Rachel Pullen 11/5 3/11 11/7 8/11
11/3
Emily Whitlock bt Rachel Hanwick 11/2 11/5 11/3
Kirsty West bt Hannah Carey 11/4 11/5 11/9
Amanda Clegg bt Thea Harvey 6/11 13/11 11/5 11/9
Yorkshire bt Merseyside 5-0
Lauren Siddall bt Heather Tweedle 11/4 11/9 11/1
Kirsty McPhee bt Laura Hamilton 11/5 11/6 11/6
Carrie Ramsey bt Amy Barnes 11/3 11/4 11/4
Katie Smith bt Lauren Dixon 11/0 11/7 11/1
Andrea Santa Maria W/O
Essex bt Kent 4-1
Becky Macree bt Jenna Gates 11/9 11/9 11/2
Sarah-Jane Neller bt Kelly Eastment 11/8 12/10 11/3
Jackie Gregory lt Katie Hanley 11/13 3/11 11/8 11/7 5/11
Colleen Campbell bt Wendy Simpson 14/12 8/11 10/12 11/9
11/6
Sarah Lochrie bt Sophie Denman 11/8 2/11 11/5 9/11 11/6
Round 2, Semi Finals
Cheshire bt Lancashire 4-1
Sarah Kippax lt Vicky Botwright 11/7 11/13 8/11 8/11
Rachel Chadwick bt Helen De Los Rios 12/10 9/11 11/1
11/7
Emily Whitlock bt Jeannine Cowie 11/4 11/6 10/12 11/9
Kirsty West bt Lauren Tamila 11/7 11/4 11/4
Olivia Howell bt Emma Molyneux 11/4 11/7 11/13 14/12
Yorkshire bt Essex 4-1
Lauren Siddall lt Becky Macree 11/13 9/11 11/9 11/4
10/12
Kirsty McPhee bt Sarah-Jane Neller 11/9 11/3 11/4
Carrie Ramsey bt Jackie Gregory 11/8 11/4 11/3
Katie Smith bt Colleen Campbell 11/8 7/11 11/3 11/2
Andrea Santa bt Maria Sarah Lochrie 10/12 11/5 11/2 11/4
5/8 Play Offs
Nottinghamshire bt Surrey 4-1
Donna Vardy bt Harriet Ingham 11/7 11/7 11/7
Rachel Pullen bt Vicky Strange 8/11 11/8 11/3 11/3
Rachel Hancock bt Claire Baker 6/11 11/7 11/8 11/4
Hannah Carey lt Sandra Dunn 9/11 8/11 7/11
Thea Harvey bt Carly Buchanan 11/3 11/7 9/11 11/9
Sussex bt Merseyside 5-0
Jenna Gates bt Heather Tweedle 11/6 11/5 12/10
Kelly Eastment bt Laura Hamilton 12/10 11/8 3/11 11/9
Katie Hanley bt Amy Barnes 6/11 11/7 11/7 11/6
Wendy Simpson bt Lauren Dixon 11/5 11/5 11/5
Sophie Denman W/O
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