Chairman’s Report, North of England Masters
 Another
significantly smaller draw. Is a pattern emerging where
players ‘drop out’ during the last 2/3 years of their age
group?
However, thankfully there are a large number of new faces
seeking the coveted England caps. So the draws are still
extremely strong, even if it is easier to administer court
wise!
WO35/40 – A small draw and not helped by one
competitor dropping out of her Sunday match (uninjured)
leaving her opponent with a hefty hotel bill. This will not
be tolerated ever again. The Final was won by European O40
Champion Shayne Baillie who beat Zoe Shardlow, 11/3
11/1 11/7 whilst Krissy Burkin had a walkover in the 3/4
place. 5th/6th were Kate Bradshaw, 11/8 7/11 11/13 11/8
12/10 battle v Natalie Townsend.
WO45 - had a very small draw, unlike last year and
Kay Fallows narrowly beat Alison Goy, 11/5 8/11 10/12
11/6 11/8.
WO55 - ditto with Hilary Kenyon far too good, beating
Sarah Howlett 9/5 6/9 5/9 5/9 and Shelly Walsh, 9/0 9/2
10/8. Walsh edged Howlett 9/1 6/9 5/9 7/6 9/4 for second.
MO70 – with 2 ex World Champions, saw the British
Open Champion bouncing Mike Clemson, win again!
Clemmo is far too athletic for his own good and really
should be a Government Health advert for clean living...
He mopped up John Robertson and then Adrian Wright 10/8 6/9
5/9 6/9 before beating a tired Chris Ansell, 9/6 6/9 9/5 9/4
in the Final. Earlier Ansell had struggled against a
mentally re-energised Dave Hardern, 7/9 9/6 1/9 9/4 9/0
before the consistent intake of amber nectar took its
inevitable toll.
MO65 - the strongest draw I have ever seen in the
Regionals, despite missing two current Internationals, both
injured!...Comprising no less than 7 current or former
National Champions, it eventually fell to the outstanding
player Derek Collins, who beat Martin Day, John
Hithersay, John Rae and Ian Graham in the Final.
Graham had a rare victory over a shattered Barry
Featherstone, who looked as if he needs a month off squash.
Big result was Rod Boswell’s victory over Scottish no 1 Jim
Dougal, 3-2, taken and accepted by Jim with utmost grace!
Larry Grover also wrecked himself on the Friday and Saturday
beating Chris Goodbourn 9/6 in the fifth and Rod Boswell a
very, very tight fight 3-1.
MO60 – Stuart Hardy, suffering from a long
standing knee problem, which will probably need a fourth
operation, entered the select list of 10 Regional winners,
gaining sweet revenge over Paul Harris, whose lone victory
over the travelling Antique Dealer was in the Europeans.
Paul Reader gave himself an England boost taking out 4/5
seed Simon Evendon, 9/7 9/5 9/6, after the latter had
pronounced himself the title favourite! (Sorry Simon we have
some pills available!)
MO50 – Competitive, David Gray beating Peter
Lonsdale, 5/9 9/6 10/8 9/1 before falling 1-3 to Marc
Aldridge. Darren Withey beat Ray Burke before losing 2/9 3/9
(retired) to David Box. Box, very Sharp, claimed his
first Regional, 9/3 10/8 9/0 over Aldridge.
M55 - A new kid on the block, a famous name from my
era!.... Son of PHC Fuente, Charles, an elegant left
hander,always grinning with a hint of old fashioned
gamesmanship, was too fast for everyone, his left hand
volley and consistent length, backed up by quick movement ,
took out Kevin Hedges, Steve Edmonson, and Mark Taylor.
Allan Barwise beat Tom Burton 10/9 9/2 9/5 before falling to
Fuente 10/8 9/3 9/10 9/5
MO45 – Murray Scott made a rare incursion into
the Regionals and came away with his customary gold-wear,
but not as easy as usual. Andy Normile gave him a hard time,
12/10 8/11 11/8 9/11 11/5, whilst Nick Brown eventually
overcame a shoeless Stuart Summers, 9/11 11/8 11/13 6/11 –
16 stone of muscle disintegrated some Prince squash shoes,
totally. Never seen anything like it! The Final saw Scott
just too powerful, beating Brown 12/10 11/5 11/6
MO40 – Ashley Bowling scraped Joss Hargarve,
10/12 11/6 11/8 5/11 11/6 whilst Matt Stephenson overcame no
2 Dave Gouldby, 7/11 7/11 11/5 11/8 11/3. Bowling was too
sharp, beating Stephenson 11/4 11/3 11/5.
MO35 – Goodrich in Goodrich out, but wanted to get
back in when Wall N. Entered. Should have phoned me!
Nick was too hot for all concerned, beating Chris Gillespie
11/8 11/4 11/9, after the latter beat Tim Burrell 3-0.
Many thanks to Mike Todd, Steve Ridge and Co at Ponty, plus
massage Therapist Cliff, very good.
Apologies for not being there to present the prizes etc, as
had to work (for a change)!
Martin Pearse, Chairman
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Masters Photos from the British Nationals
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