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 Artemis Open 2007 -
25-28 January
Men £7k">
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EDINBURGH
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28-Jan, Day FOUR,
FINALS: |
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[1]
Madeline
Perry bt [2] Laura Lengthorn
8/11, 11/9, 2/11, 13/11, 11/4 (55m)
[3/4] Simon Parke
bt [3/4] Scott Handley 7/11, 12/10, 16/14, 11/6
(74m) |
Artemis
Titles for
Perry & Parke
Steve Cubbins from Edinburgh
Two thrilling finals for the Edinburgh crowd to enjoy, with Madeline
Perry retaining her title in a thrilling five-game win over Laura
Lengthorn and Simon Parke finally winning an event he's participated
in for several years, taking his second BSPA title in a row in the process
...
Finals photos now in the gallery ... |
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Madeline still the champion
 One
of the popular theories about playing women's matches PAR to 11 was that it
could shorten the matches between players outside the top echelon, but would
work well for say the top twenty. The women's matches here this weekend
support that theory, and this final was no exception.
It was a hard-hitting tussle between two of the world's best, played mainly
at the back of the court as both appeared reluctant to go short, relying
instead on powerful drives, and plenty of them, to get their opponent out of
position.
Laura held a slight advantage throughout the first,helped by a few careless
tins from the defending champion in the middle of the game. The second was a
fierce, intense contest, first one then the other going ahead, but it was
Madeline's at the end as she levelled.
 An
error-strewn game by the Irishwoman as she peppered the tin - "too many
times, that's basic squash" - saw Laura take the lead, and when Madeline
squandered a hard-won 4-0 lead in the fourth with four more tins it wasn't
looking good. Laura led 8/6, got two match balls at 10/8, but Madeline, now
cutting down on the errors, clawed it back before taking the game 13/11 on a
volley kill to end one of the best rallies of the match.
And she came out fast in the decider, raced to a 6-0 lead dictating the
pace, and even though Laura "likes a comeback", 6-0 is too much in this
scoring, and after the longest match of the event, Madeline was still the
Artemis Edinburgh Champion.
It was a good match. "The best women's final we've ever had, easily," said
Simon Boughton, and he should know. And it worked as an advert for PAR
scoring too ...
|
 I
can't say that's my best squash, but at least it was better in the fifth,
and it's certainly nice to win.
Neither of us were playing short much, my drops weren't very good but Laura
didn't want to take me to the front much.
I went through a bad spell in the middle of the match, and told myself I had
to change my attitude, I was sulking.
I was in good form when I won here last year and played much better, but
I've been struggling recently so hopefully this will change things around.
 |
 I'm
really disappointed with the way I played, I don't ming losing as long as I
play well.
I've been working so hard on my short game, and it's been going really well
in training, but today I just didn't play any drops or anything short. I
don't know if I got sucked into the pace of the game, or if I was just
nervous.
I've had some really good results recently, so this just isn't good enough.
I couldn't have given any more physically, but you can't give someone a 6/0
lead in this scoring, like I did in the fifth.
 |
It's Parky Again ...
 These
two had contested the Boston Open final in December, with Parky winning 3/2,
and although the scoreline here reads 3/1, that Boston match couldn't have
been any closer than this.
Scott started off looking the more composed, as neat and tidy as ever, and
held an advantage throughout the first, and for most of the second. By now
they were both warmed up, and some fantastic retrieving sprinkled with some
well worked out winners from both rackets were being warmly applauded by the
Edinburgh crowd.
 Simon
saved two game balls to sneak the second, and in a third that saw the
intensity buld by the point, saved three from 10/7 down - one with a shot I
can only describe as a backwards backhand flick volley boast nick! - and two
more on his way to a 16/14, and crucial, win.
"It's their retrieving, their speed about the court, and the changes of
direction are fantastic" said one of the spectators behind me, and he was
right, this was good stuff.
"Are you going to be nice to me this game?" Simon asked the ref at the start
of the fourth. He didn't need the ref's help, though, as after Parky went to
5/2 Scott knew the game was up, and the last few points lacked the intensity
of the rest of the match as the inevitable approached.
So a second BSPA on the trot for Parky, but a first in Edinburgh. What odds
on these two meeting next weekend in Ilkley - if they do it can only be in
the final ...
|
 I
had to dig deep to win the second game, and I knew the third was crucial, I
knew I couldn't let him get the advantage there.
It felt like a game we played a few years ago, one would get ahead then the
other would find a winner from somewhere. If I'd lost that it would have
been hard to come back.
I've been coming here for a few years, and although I've played well this is
the first time I've made the final, so I'm really pleased to win it, it's a
great city to come to and club and the event are really good.
 |
 I
felt pretty comfortable in winning the first game, and I had game balls for
the second and third, I really needed one of those.
I knew he was getting tired, but I was too, it was a high-paced game.
The third was our fifth really, I felt pretty bad about losing that, and
although I gave all I had at the start of the fourth there was just nothing
left in the end.
I'm getting fed up of losing to him in finals ...
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27-Jan, Day THREE,
SEMI-FINALS: |
Boston
and Edinburgh reunions ...
Steve Cubbins in Edinburgh
Tonight's semi-finals saw two repeat finals set up, as the anticipated
ladies' climax and an unexpected men's one materialised at ESC.
Top seeds and last year's finalists Madeline Perry and Laura
Lengthorn maintained their run of 3/0 victories, although both were
pushed in patches by Vicky Hynes and Sarah Kippax, respectively. Asked her
thoughts on tomorrow's final Laura's single word, tongue in cheek answer was
... "revenge".
The men's final will also be a repeat encounter, but of a more recent
meeting. 3/4 seeds Simon Parke and Scott Handley both took
advantage of opponents tired by this afternoon's exertions and will replay
December's Boston Open final, the previous event on the BSPA circuit.
|
Artemis Image Gallery |
Super
Simon
How does he do it? Three hectic days running two full BSPA draws (he played
in it too) plus the Artemis Graded Championship, tournament director
Simon Boughton is still going strong.
After the matches died down last night Simon helped himself to the biggest
helping of Haggis I've ever seen - it was Burns Night at the ESC, and he did
well to not only arrange some food tobe kept back for us, but managed to get
us on to a table with nine single ladies!
Then, mere minutes later, he was up on the floor performing one of those
strange Scottish rituals they call dancing.
Mind you, he did look a little worse for wear this morning, admitting it
might have been a mistake to accept a late invitation to continue the
partying at one of the members' after-Burns-night meetups.
Keep going Simon, just one day to go ... |
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Darren Lewis fan club in full swing |
Music from North Star |
A match too far for Whippy & Stiffy
 They'd
both come through five-setters at lunchtime, one to oust the top seed, one
to stem the challenge of the latest Egyptian wonder-boy ... the question was
would they have much left for the semis.
First up was Hadrian against Simon Parke. Simon was in the ascendancy from
the start, easing ahead from 4/3 in the first to 6/3 then 10/4. This wasn't
the Parky of old - "I won't hit a winner if you pay me" - he was picking his
moments to go for some lovely dropshot winners, and wrapped up the game with
one of them.
The second was quick. "Nothing's going up,"bemoaned Hadrian, which was true.
But Parky was ruthless, always putting it back where it's hardest to get,
firing in some of these new-fangled winners when he could. The pace took its
toll on both, Parky was breathing heavily after the second, and mid-way
through the third asked the ref if he could have a rest. "If we both agree
we can have a rest, surely," quipped Hadrian.
The third was the hardest, but Hadrian could never quite close the gap, and
true to style Parky finished it off with a crosscourt volley nick ... just
like he always does ...
 Next
up another 3/4 v 5/8 seed clash, as Andy Whipp, conqueror of Alex Gough at
lunchtime, took on Scott Handley, who himself had endured a five-setter to
reach the semi.
After an even opening Scott made some unfortunate errors to let the first
slip, but from mid-way through the second it was Andy's turn to find the tin
with increasing regularity. Scott seemed to sense that his opponent was
tiring, played steady squash and took what was on offer.
6/0 in the third quickly became 11/3, and although Andy picked up the pace
at the start of the fourth, which was very competitive up to 4-all, a couple
more errors saw Andy's frustration get the better of him as he started
blasting the ball as hard as he could on every shot.
It didn't work of course, as Scott lapped it all up, closing out the match
on a stroke to reach a second successive BSPA final. |
 This
weekend's the most squash I've played in years, and it just caught up with
me in the end.
I just couldn't move at the start, couldn't step onto the ball and take it
early, which is what you have to do with Simon. I was quite pleased with how
I played in the third, at least I was getting stuck in which was the minimum
I wanted to do, but Simon's game is so disciplined, you just can't get him
out of his rhythm.
The last tournament I played was this time last year, so it's a lot to ask
but I'm happy to reach the semis, I'd have taken that if you'd asked me on
Wednesday.
I'm pleased that my body held up this long, I certainly couldn't have done
this last year.
 |
[3/4] Simon Parke bt
[5/8] Hadrian Stiff 11/4, 11/2, 11/7 (38m)
 I
carried on playing at a fast pace, as I've been trying to do in every round,
and so far it's worked, it's been 3/0 all the way.
It takes a lot out of you to play that way though, it's not brutal but it's
really intense.
I played quite a few shots, yes, I can go for my shots at this level, but if
you try to play like this against the top ten you run out of steam very
quickly, they just absorb it all.
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[3/4 Scott Handley bt
[5/8] Andy Whipp 8/11, 11/7, 11/3, 11/5 (35m)
 I
tried to keep the pace high without rushing it, but I made too many mistakes
in the first game.
In the second I took my time, relaxed and just let it flow and develop it
from there, and after that he got tired and started making mistakes.
I'm looking forward to playing Parky in the final, hoping to change that 2/3
result in Boston ...
 |
 I
can't do that any more, two hard games in a day. Maybe five years ago, but
I'm not training enough to do that now.
Even in the first game I didn't feel I was there, it was his mistakes that
gave me that one, but after that I had nothing left.
Still, I've been here five times and each time I've gone a round further
than I was seeded to. I wanted to win this title but I was just too
tired. I'll be back next year though ...
 |
Top Two Through Again
 It
will be a repeat final in Edinburgh as Madeline Perry and Laura
Lengthorn maintained their runs of straight-games wins to reach the
final once more.
Perry took on Vicky Hynes, and for the first two games it was a good
contest, both girls hitting the ball crisply and moving well. From 6-all in
the first a couple of innoportune tins from Vicky gave Madeline a little
daylight, and she closed the game out quickly.
The second was again close, level all the way as the Irish champion strived
to contain Vicky, who was picking off some nice winners into the nick. It
finished 12/10, but under 'normal' scoring would only have reached 2-0 (to
Madeline). Madeline came out firing in the third and Vicky quickly found
herself 8/1 down with nowhere to go.
 In
the second match Laura and Sarah Kippax traded blows for two and a half
games, both using the low, hard drive as their stock in trade. After Laura
took a quick 4/0 lead in the first, the match was quite even throughout.
That lead was enough to ensure the Lancastrian took the first, but Sarah
started the second stronger and led 3/0 and 7/3. Laura settled to take six
unanswered points before doubling her lead, finishing as Sarah lifted the
ball out on the longest rally of the match.
The third was level all the way to 7-all before Laura played three winners
to earn match-balls. One went begging, but a service return into the nick
was enough to take the match - something that's not been said about a
women's match before ... |
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[1] Madeline Perry bt
[3/4] Vicky Hynes
11/6, 12/10, 11/3 (20m)
 She
played well, her backhand drop was going in well, and with american scoring
kept picking up points with that one.
I'm playing ok, I've had a few illnesses and injuries in the last months, so
it's good to play these tournaments to get back into things.
I'm looking forward to the final, I like it here and I like the court, it's
got a good atmosphere.
 |
[2] Laura Lengthorn bt
[3/4] Sarah Kippax
11/4, 11/9, 11/8 (28m)
 It
was really warm and bouncy, you couldn't put it short or it would just get
punished, so we were both driving to a length. I don't think I volleyed
enough, which would have put her under a bit more pressure.
I went a few points behind in the second, but I love the comeback, and even
though it's harder with american scoring I was determined to pull it back.
The final? Revenge ...
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Stiff stops Shorbagy,
Whipp axes Alex ...
Steve Cubbins in Edinburgh
The top four seeds are through to contest the women's semis after three
quick and one long matches. Last year's finalists Madeline Perry and
Laura Lengthorn eased through in three games, and Sarah Kippax
fought off a determined first-game comeback from Frania Gillen-Buchert to
also win in straight games. Vicky Hynes was taken the full distance
by Adel Weir in a see-saw battle, and she now faces Lengthorn for a place in
the final.
In the men's quarters Simon Parke won 11/9, 11/9, 11/9 against Alex
Stait while Hadrian Stiff came from 2-1 down to end the run of
Egyptian wonder-boy Mohammed El Shorbagy.
Scott Handley reached his allotted semi-final place with a 3/2 win
over Tim Vail, and to round the session off Andy Whipp took out top
seed Alex Gough in five, after the welshman saved a match-ball in the third
... |
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Hadrian Stiff
bt
Mohammed El Shorbagy
11/9, 2/11, 7/11, 11/5, 11/6 (54m)
 I
was expecting that to be tough, not that I'd ever seen him play, but from
what everyone else was telling me.
I had a plan, to control him as much as possible and not give him anything
at the front, he's so good there, if you take that part of the court away
from him then he's beatable.
I quickly learnt that I couldn't afford to boast, he's got such a choice of
shots from that position I lost the point every time I boasted, every time.
My body was on the edge towards the end, and I was thinking "come on, he's
only 15/16," you expect them to collapse after some brutal squash like that,
but he just kept going.
I've had a few massages over the last few days to keep me in shape, and
although I felt quite stiff at the beginning it eased nicely, although he's
the worst sort of player for me to play.
Once I managed to dictate the pace my movement was ok. If you don't put any
pace on the ball then he has to hit it, if you give him pace he just feeds
on it and kills you, so I could sense him getting frustrated.
I'm at the stage now where everything hurts, but if my physios can sort me
out then Parky should be fairly straightforward ...
 |
Scott Handley
bt
Tim Vail
11/6, 4/11, 9/11, 11/8, 11/3 (53m)
 Tim
was a bit slow to start with, I think he was still suffering from his 3/2
yesterday, but once he started moving he was hitting it tight and gaining in
confidence.
I managed to hang in there in the fourth and just sneaked it, and I came out
more confident in the fifth. I came out attacking and he was a bit tired by
then ...
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Andy Whipp
bt
Alex Gough
12/10, 11/6, 11/13, 7/11, 11/7 (72m)
 That
was a good match. Alex shook my hand at the end and said he really enjoyed
it, and I did too.
I was pretty happy with how I played in the first two, but he's just so hard
to beat, he's so clever with where he puts the ball and gives you nothing to
attack.
I was so angry at the end of the third, I really thought he had a double-hit
on match-ball, but I've got to learn not to let these things get to me.
I tried to keep my head and not say anything in the fifth, and in the end I
enjoyed it and I think the crowd did too.
 |
I should have taken the first, I missed a couple of game balls, but then I
could have lost in three which wouldn't have been what I wanted. It was a
good game, I enjoyed it.
I was just trying to get the best out of it, to get my body right after a
hard couple of weeks. I've got Sweden, the Nationals and the ToC coming up,
so I've got ten days to put my body in order and this tournament was a good
step towards that so I'm not overly disappointed.
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Madeline Perry bt Fiona Moverley
11/2, 11/8, 11/7 (19m)
 I
was a bit shocked in the first, but then I got into it more and got more
confident, I think I gave her too much respect in the first.
I enjoyed it though, it makes you realise what you have to do to move up to
that level, what you're up against to get to what you're aspiring to.
I like the scoring though, it makes you think about what you're doing more,
you can't just go for silly shots knowing you'll only lose the serve.You
have to concentrate more ... a couple of errors and the game can be almost
gone.
 I'm
still not used to this scoring, but it does seem to make the matches closer.
You've just to get used to it, put the scoring out of your mind and play the
same way as you would under normal scoring ...
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Vicky Hynes
bt
Adel Weir
11/7, 3/11, 5/11, 11/6, 11/8 (33m)
 She
was a bit nervous at the start, but then I dropped the pace in the second
and let her back in, so I had to push hard in the last two games.
I've been out for two years, so I'm not used to two hard matches in a day.
My back was a bit stiff from yesterday and she knew it, shekept putting the
ball where it was hurting me to reach.
I thought I'd have to give it all to win this one, then I could relax in the
next, knowing there's no pressure on me.
I'm only playing once a twice a week, my husband's a coach but he doesn't
have time to go on court with me ...
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Laura Lengthorn bt
Emma Chorley
11/7,11/1, 11/4 (18m)
 The
first game was very close, she was competing well and I don't think I gave
her enough respect.
I stepped up the pace in the second, kept her to the back and she was
struggling to get some of my lengths out of the back corners.
 |
Sarah Kippax
bt
Frania Gillen-Buchert
11/9, 11/1, 11/3 (16m)
 The
first game was good - I came from 10-2 down to 10-9 and I thought I might
take that one, but after that she played well, hitting the ball really hard
and making no mistakes.
I just need to play more people of that standard, but that should stand me
in good stead for the nationals in a couple of weeks, I'll be trying to win
that again ...
 |
26-Jan, Day TWO:
The Busiest Day
Steve Cubbins in Edinburgh
Two 32-draws, two rounds in each, BSPA Fridays are pretty hectic ...
The Women played their first full day of PAR scoring, making a noticable
difference to match times. Two upsets as Frania Gillen-Buchert kept
Scottish hopes alive and Emma Chorley advanced at the expense of
Rachel Wilmott.
One stunning upset in the men's event as Mohammed El Shorbagy took
out second seed Stacey Ross, and nearly a second as Jesse Engelbrecht's
comeback against Tim Vail failed at the last ...
|
Mohammed El Shorbagy and Emma Chorley |
Shorbagy
takes out Stacey
...
Match of the day in the men's last 16 was undoubtably Mohammed El
Shorbaggy's 60-minute 3/2 win over second seed Stacey Ross. The BJO U17
champion came from 2/1 down to set up a quarter-final meeting with
Hadrian Stiff, who ended the comeback run of John Rooney in straight
games.
No such problems for top seed Alex Gough, although Darren Watson,
aided and abetted by his 16-strong fan club from Leicester - kept the
slightly under-the-weather Welshman on court longer than he would have
liked. Gough meets Andy Whipp for a place in the semis.
3/4 seeds Simon Parke and Scott Handley enjoyed comfortable
passages into the last four, Parke with a straight-games win over Joel Hinds
while Handley gratefully accepted a walkover against the injured Jon Tate.
Parke meets Alex Stait and Handley plays Tim Vail, who
squeezed through in the last match of the night, fighting off a comeback
from Jesse Englebrecht to win on a no let to Jesse at 11/10 in the fifth ... |
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Mohammed El Shorbagy bt Stacey Ross
11/8, 9/11, 8/11, 11/9, 11/8
Super
Shorbagy
Well, we expected a close one, as the BJO U17 champion had been looking good
all weekend while Stacey seemed a little lethargic at lunchtime.
Close it was too, with the 15-year-old Egyptian taking the game to the
Surrey stalwary, attacking with gusto, picking up so many of Stacey's
winners, as he took a tight first game.
Stacey steadied, slowing the pace down where he could, but still needed a
few errors from his opponent in order to level. He seemed to have it under
control in the third though as some early mistakes from Shorbagy seemed to
herald a turning point.
The rallies became longer and longer in that third game, and although Stacey
held on to take the lead, he didn't look in control any more.
In the final two games there was never more than a couple of points in it,
but Shorbagy, seemingly playing better as the match went on, found enough to
close out both of them for his best win yet - and when players like Alex
Gough, Simon Parke and Tim Vail say "didn't he play well", you can believe
it's true ...
 "I
got my tactics wrong today, I was maybe a bit under the weather, but I lost
to a better player on the day, he played really well.
"I thought I'd got on top a bit in the third, but he wasn't as tired as I
though he should have been ..."
 |
 "I
can't believe I won, I didn't expect to, I'm so happy.
"When I was down I had to stop making mistakes, that's junior squash and it
doesn'twork against players like Stacey, I had to keep it away from his
backhand volley especially, he has a very good drop shot from that.
"I saw he was getting tired at the end so played a quick tempo and lots of
volleys. At 9/7 in the fifth I though I could win, and went for a silly
winner, I had to stop myself and get back to what I'd been doing.
"I had a flight booked tomorrow morning, but the tournament's not over for
me yet, I'll have to change that ..."
 |
|
Alex Gough bt Darren Lewis
11/4, 11/7, 11/5
 I
tried to play shots in the first, but he's too good for that, so in the
second I decided to just get the ball back, or 'hack it' as Alex said, he
didn't like that.
It's so lively on there though, you have to have a real touch game tobe able
to hit winners, and that's not my game.
I got a bit tired in the third, he started putting his little drops in and
towards the end I just couldn't push on any more.
 I've
been feeling a bit poorly all week, so I wasn't sure how the body was going
to hold up - if I'd played that match a couple of days ago I'd have lost,
for sure.
It's been a hard couple of weeks in the states, but this is the sort of
tournament I need to get myself back into in. It will be tough against
Whippy tomorrow, he his the ball more severely than Darren ...
 |
Simon Parke bt
Joel Hinds
11/7, 11/5, 11/3
 Doing
the MC job in Chicago was hard, the first few sessionjs were long, and I
ended up watching all 31 matches.
But I had a few practice games over there, with Ong Beng Hee, Dan Jenson and
Rafael Alarcon, so I knew I'd be ready for this weekend and those matches
helped today, even though I only got back last night, did some coaching and
got up at six to come here ...
I'm planning to play at this level, BSPA and Leagues, for a few years yet...
 |
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Most
Quick, One Long ...
Eight matches for the women's first round with just one that reached the
half-hour mark.
Using PAR scoring to 11 most of the matches were over quickly, although to
be fair most of them would have been quick using standard scoring too.
Analysis of the marking sheets showed that most games would have been
unfinished under standard scoring, so match times were definitely reduced.
There were two upsets, as Emma Chorley took out 5/8 seed Rachel
Wilmott in straight games, underlining her recent rapid improvement under
the tutelage of Jonah Barrington at Millfield.
The second came in the longest match, by far, when Scotland's last hope
Frania Gillen-Buchert hauled herself back from two games down to beat
Deon Saffery in a thriller that kept the packed and noisy gallery on
tenterhooks until the end.
|
Frania keeps Scottish hopes alive |
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Frania Gillen-Buchert bt [5/8]
Deon Saffery
10/12, 9/11, 11/8, 14/12, 11/8 (48m)
 I
went on with my head in the clouds, couldn't get my game together. Then I
managed to pick up the pace and get into a bit of a rhythm. I found that as
long as I kept the pace high she started making mistakes, so I just went on
from there.
I like the scoring system, in normal scoring close games aren't reflected by
the score ...
 |
Emma Chorley bt
[5/8] Rachel Wilmott
11/8, 11/7, 11/3 (21m)
 "I
didn't think I played that well, but it's the first time I've beaten her so
I've got to be happy with that.
"I didn't start playing until late, but I moved to Millfield for the sixth
form and I've played squash every day for two years, so all that seems to be
paying off ..."
|
Frania GB & Deon |
Two of Jonah's best ...
Shorbagy & Chorley |
Weir beats Mears |
No surprises in the early matches, although
with top seeds Alex Gough, Stacey Ross, Simon Parke and Scott Handley
all just back from the states, their opponents were probably hoping for a
bit of jetlag effect.
Parke and Gough won easily enough in three, but Ross was tested by Chris
Truswell - after taking the fourth 12/10 Stacey commented "I really wanted
to win in three, but I'm really really glad it didn't go to five!".
There was a welcome return to winning ways for John Rooney, playing
competitively after a two-year layoff with chronic fatigue syndrome, while
Joel Hinds and Mohamed El Shorbagy kept the youngsters' flag
flying as they advanced to tonight's last sixteen.
All the Scottish hopefuls departed in the men's event with Simon Boughton,
Chris Small and Alan Clyne all losing in the final batch of matches. |
Ross v Truswell |
Shorbagy sails on |
Pashley & Khan |
"It looks good until you see me play!" Truswell |
|
John Rooney bt
Keith Timms
11/7, 11/6, 14/12
 He
volleys better than I do, and he worked the ball better today, but I thought
I was in there for a while. I wish him all the best in the next match, but
hopefully like he said to me, I'll get him next time!
It's my first season in BSPA, I'm hoping to play all ten, just trying to get
in as many games as possible.
 I
felt good yesterday, but today I was really tired and heavy, so I'm glad to
get through in three. I'm looking forward to playing Hadrian, we've never
played each other before.
I've been out with chronic fatigue syndrome for two years and only started
playing four or five months ago, so I'm trying not to do too much. Playing
twice in a day is hard, so I'll give Ilkley a miss and then play Manchester.
 |
Tom Pashley bt
Shahid Khan
11/6, 11/6, 9/11, 11/7
 It
was a tough, long game, but I way quite pleased with the way I kept in
there, I made him run for a while ...
 Tough
match, he just wouldn't go away! But I really didn't want it to go to five,
especially with another hard match coming up later on ...
|
|
Joel Hinds bt Chris
Tasker-Grindley
11/4, 11/8, 11/9
 I
was quite nervous at the start, but he hit a few errors early on and that
made me relax and feel much better.
He gave me a lot of angles on the backhand which I could attack, hitting it
hard and low and he was struggling to reach them.
Pleased with that.
 |
|
Stacey Ross bt Chris
Truswell
11/6, 7/11, 11/5, 12/10
 "I
started badly, got the second and then gave him a few start in the third.
He's so accurate though, it doesn't look like he's hitting it hard but the
pace is always there and you find yourself always under pressure.
It's good to get games against players like Stacey though, I nreally enjoyed
it ...
 |
Alex Stait bt Alex
Ingham
11/7, 11/7, 11/8
 I
was always behind in the score, managed to get level a couple of times but he
pulled away again. He was punishing my bad shots with nice kills to the
front - to anywhere, actually. He's very accurate and was always in front of
me.
This is the start of a hectic few weeks with BSPA, Nationals and Juniors,
there's about eight tournaments in a row ...
 |
WOMEN'S ROUND ONE:
DRAWS & RESULTS
The first 'official' women's matches par
to eleven ... |
|
Caren Lawrie bt Moira Atkinson
11/7, 11/6, 11/2 (18m)
An all-Scottish clash, with Caren on top
throughout...
 I
felt that my drives to the back were good today, then taking it on the
volley after a few shots to put the pressureon her, like my coach told me. I
felt pretty good on there.
I think the scoring is more of an advantage if you're ahead, it's easier to
keep a lead and makes the game a bit quicker.
I work full time so although I play for Scotland, coming up against a
world-class player like Madeline will be an experience for me later on today
...
 The
scoring favours the underdog I think, at least you're geting points and not
getting demoralised withlove games. Getting a few points perks you up a bit.
 |
Carrie Hastings bt Claire Kidd
12/10, 11/8, 12/10
This was a really close tussle, with
Claire's hard-hitting style just losing out to Carrie's more precise game
...
 Claire
won a lot of her points on her boasts and winners, but fortunately she lost
a few point on them too with mistakes.
I always feel nervous when I go onto court, and ten to come off feeling
relieved rather than elated when I win. I started crosscourting too much in
the third and she was picking them off, so I had to go back to hitting it
straight.
At breakfast I was thinking 'I'll never get my head around this scoring',
but on court I never thought about it once.
You feel you can relax more in normal scoring, knowing they have to win two
rallies to get a point when you're serving. I went 5/0 down in the second
but within a couple of rallies I was back into it, so as long as the gap
isn't too big you can come back quite quickly.
|
Back ...
and hoping for good news
It was good to see a familiar face in Edinburgh ... John Dale. You
may remember that the North-East star who won several National Junior titles
and was a regular on the BSPA circuit, survived a brain tumor a few years
back, then three years ago moved on to a coaching position in the USA.
So it was nice to see John, now 30, again, but the main reason for his trip
back home - he was coaching Jon Tate to victory in the qualifiers -came as a
bit of a shock.
"I started a new coaching job at Casino Heights in Brooklyn a few months
ago, working with Julian Wellings, Fiona Geaves, Stefan Casteleyn and
Meredith Quick," said John. "It was going really well, then I started to get
back pains.
"I got it checked out and they found two tumors in my back. So I came home
to the UK to get full tests, and although I haven't had the results yet the
doctors think it might be some sort of blood cancer.
"Casino Heights were great, they paid for the flight home and they've held
my job open, so hopefully I'll be able to go back there soon, we'll just
have to see."
We hope so too John, and on behalf of everyone at SquashSite and on the BSPA
circuit, here's wishing for the outcome we all want ...
|
 |
 |
Back to the Bearpit
Steve Cubbins in Edinburgh
The Artemis Edinburgh Open is under way at Edinburgh Sports Club, with a
full complement of qualifying matches on Thursday evening.
BSPA events are getting larger and larger draws these days, so while you
used to feel unlucky to have to play on the Thursday, these days you're
relieved to get a bye.
So, Alex Gough, Stacey Ross, Simon Parke, Scott Handley and Tim Vail, plus
all the girls, arrive tomorrow, while tonight saw some some stiff
competition to make the men's last 32.
The later stages will be played out on the club's famous 'bearpit' court,
but with the early rounds covering five courts, bear with us as ever as we
bring you snippets of the action ... |
 |
The corridor gossip ... |
Hardball Doubles |
Burns Night Sold Out! |
|
Chris Small bt Joe Lee 11/5,
11/7, 12/10
 I'm
very disappointed. I couldn't get my head straight today, I'd try a tactic
for one shot then when it didn't work I'd try another one. I should have
stuck to something, like keeping him at the back or something.
The third was close, he got to 8/5 but I pulled it back. If I'd won that
one, even though I didn't deserve to, it might have been different.
It was a tough crowd, when he hit a good shot it was like Wembley stadium,
and when I hit one, nothing.
 I've
been trying to get fitter, and it certainly helps. I felt strong, I was
playing well and it was strange having the legs to play a full match, I'm
not used to it.
I struggled a bit at the end to finish it off, but he helped me a bit there.
Normally my new year resolutions last about three weeks, but I'll try to
keep this one going longer ... I was supposed to be at work tomorrow morning
but I might take the day off ...
 |
Jon Tate bt Andrew Birks
7/11, 11/6, 11/9, 11/13, 11/8
 I
had to win that last game, I've come here with a squad from Birmingham
University and I was dreading what they'd say if I'd lost. My movement's
been good for the last two or three weeks, but I felt a bit sluggish today,
glad to have sneaked it in the end.
I qualified here last year then got to play Ben Garner, so my aim is to go
one better than that ...
 |
|
Jesse Engelbrecht bt Nathan
Cole
11/5, 12/10, 11/9
He played well, he played a consistent
length and got in front of me, but then I got 'the eye of the tiger'.
I went to see the premier of Rocky VI, and it inspried me, all squash
players are suckers for Rocky, with the training routines, the competition
... it's an inspiration!"
 |
 |
 |
Will Newman bt Paul Tuffin
12/10, 11/5, 11/5
I'm over here from New Zealand for a couple
of months, playing here, Ilkley and Manchester, also doing some training and
getting some games in ready for our season. It starts in March, and we have
tournaments every weekend plus three PSAs in a row, so it's a hectic few
months.
I came over in 1999 for the Scottish and British Junior Opens, but I had the
flu, so just spent all the time in bed, getting up to play my matches - I
hope to do better this time!
I went down 3/0 today but it was close, I had game balls in the first,
should have won that one ...
 |
Rooney always in front |
Tate in five |
Jesse pounces |
|
John Rooney bt Stuart Crawford
11/4, 11/8, 11/4
 That
was tough. It was hot and bouncy on there, your eally feel it when you're
running around like I was, but I'm sure he found it ok!
There were two dropouts, and if they'd happened in a different order I would
have got an easier draw, that's for sure ... thanks Tim!
 |
Joel Hinds bt Kris Meadows
11/9, 11/5, 11/5
 "That
was quite tough,but I'm happy with how I played. I went for a shot I
shouldn't have in the first and grazed my knee ...
"It's Chris Tasker-Grindley next, last time I played him was in the
semi-finals of the Europeans - I won that 3/0 but he's full-time now so I'm
not expecting an easy match tomorrow ...
 |
 "I
had an overnight travel to get here and felt a bit stiff in the first, but I
managed to get into it after that.
 |
I was 10-nil up in the third and he got a nick
at the back of the court. That would have been my first 11-0, and I was
looking forward to that. I've got an easy one next ... Scott Handley!
 |
|
Robert (70), David (79), George (74) and Graham (73) |
Four
Men, Five Hips
and 296 Years ...
You don't get to see hardball doubles much in the UK ... only if you come to
Edinburgh.
 When
you first see the doubles court here you're taken aback ... there's a
badminton court marked out inside it, and the height of the out of court
lines on the side walls made me drool (I should point out that last year I
played in the 'C' event, and served into the illegally low roofs of the
'normal' courts at least 50% of the time ... well, if you've been practicing
lob serves for 30 years it's difficult to adapt!).
Anyway, apart from the dimensions, what struck me as I walked past on the
way to the bearpit was the age of the players. Look at the photos, and
you'll realise that this wasn't the fastest action I'd ever seen on a squash
court. But then, given that the combined age of the four players was 296,
what else would you expect!
"We've been playing since about 1955," George told me afterwards. "There's
Tuesday and Thursday sessions, some of us play onece a week, some of us
twice. It's reliable, when someone says they'll play, they play!"
There were four players and five original hips on that court tonight - "I
had my hip replaced last year," said George, "and was a bit wary about my
first game of tennis until I realised that between the four of us there were
only two original hips ..."
It's like they say ... once you try squash you're hooked! I'm just looking
forward to coming back next year when they break the 300 barrier!
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Artemis Open 2007 -
25-28 January
Men £7k, Women £3k, Edinburgh Sports Club
Tournament Director: Simon Boughton
0131 539 7071
DRAWS & RESULTS |
16-Jan-07:
Gough goes for one better
in Artemis Open
Last year’s beaten finalist, World No. 21 Alex Gough, and World No. 6
Madeline Perry top the seedings at this year’s Artemis Edinburgh Open
Squash Championships to be held at the Edinburgh Sports Club on 25-28
January.
 Gough
is seeded to meet England’s Stacey Ross in the Men's Final. Irish
number one Perry is once again seeded to meet England’s Laura Lengthorn,
World No 12, in a repeat of last year’s Ladies Final. The home challenge is
led by Scottish international Alan Clyne and former Scottish
International Helen Macfie.
Artemis, the Edinburgh based investment management company, are sponsoring
the event for a seventh consecutive year. The event remains the richest on
the BSPA Head UK Grand Prix with a prize fund of £10,000.
 "The
continuing support of Artemis, for which we are extremely grateful, is
wonderful news for Edinburgh Sports Club and for squash in Scotland
generally.
"The event continues to attract high quality international players with a
host of professional players seeking to progress via a qualifying round on
the opening day of the tournament."
Manager,
ESC
 The
Championships begin on Thursday 25th January, concluding with the finals on
Sunday 28th January.
Ticket information
0131 332 0088
|
Alex Gough
www.artemisonline.co.uk
 "Artemis is
delighted to continue to support the Edinburgh Open Squash Championships
which, since its inaugural event seven years ago, has gone from strength to
strength."
Artemis Chief Exec
Established in 1997 as an owner-managed
business, Artemis manages an asset base of £13.5bn*.
Clients’ investments are spread across a range of unit trust funds, an
investment trust, hedge fund products, venture capital trusts, as well as
segregated institutional portfolios.
www.artemisonline.co.uk
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