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Grand
Prix Finals 2008 - 19-21 June
Men & Women | Ipswich Sports Club
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21-Jun, Finals:
[1] Vicky Botwright (Eng) bt [2] Laura Lengthorn-Massaro
(Eng)
5/11, 11/8, 11/3, 11/8
[2] Adrian Grant
(Eng) bt [1] Peter Barker (Eng)
11/8, 6/11, 11/6, 11/8
21-Jun, Finals:
Botwright & Grant take GP titles
Martin Levens reports
The BSPA finals were completed at Ipswich Sports Club on Henley Road
tonight, with both defending champions losing out.
Vicky deposes Laura ...
The Ladies final was first up and here Laura, got off to a great start,
she dominated from the T and looked simply stronger in all areas. She
picked the volleys off, was quicker on to the ball and generally gave
Vicky a torrid time, the first game went away quickly 11-5. The second
started in similar fashion, Laura was getting onto the ball early and
producing some great little trickle boasts to get herself an early 6-3
lead, a dodgy decision seemed to fire Vicky up however. From here on
Vicky started to dominate, early on to anything loose in the middle, she
also put more pace on to her drives and started to put in some lovely
drops as well.
She won the 2nd 11-8 and went 9-0 up in the third before Laura could get
back into her stride, Laura tried at this point to stem the tide, but
the third went 11-3 to Vicky.
In the fourth Laura came out a little bit quicker and began to push
Vicky around the court a bit more. Vicky kept digging the ball back
under pressure and countered at the front beautifully, when given the
chance, at 6-5 for Vicky, Laura made another couple of mistakes and it
was all over, Vicky took the title 5-11, 11-8, 11-3, 11-8.
 "I'd
like to thank everyone for the tournament, it's pleasing to win it as it
may be one of my last.
"I’ve been looking at retiring now for a while and there may be
something in the pipeline to keep me away from squash, if it happens
this would be a nice way to finish."
"I haven't had a lot of matches recently so I was a bit rusty, but Vicky
simply took the T away from me in the second. You really can only play
as well as your allowed to play."
Adrian dethrones Peter ...
Next up the Men's final and here Peter was hoping to retain the title he
won here last year.
The first game was played at a varied pace, Adrian breaking up the
rhythm nicely and using his speed to counter Peter’s attacks to the
front, Adrian held Peter quite brilliantly at times and the forehand
straight drop in particular hurt Peter a lot. 11-8 Adrian.
In the second Peter upped the pace a touch more and Adrian made one or
two more mistakes. Peter looked incredibly strong on the ball, as ever
and although Adrian kept trying to break the game up he couldn’t stop
Peter keeping the pace up and playing some exquisite volley drops, Peter
hit in a couple of great straight kills to finish the game off 11-6.
In the third Adrian again managed to get his nose ahead and try as he
might Peter couldn’t get back in front. Adrian using his speed to get on
to anything short and then hold, Peter looked like the pace wasn’t to
his liking either. Peter tried to turn the screw, and the pace up, but
all to no avail, 11-6 to Adrian.
In the fourth the boys showed how much these end of season matches
matter, one or two of the decisions were somewhat disputed and it got
rather heated in there, at least they cared.
Peter got into the game a bit more but Adrian once again always seemed
to have the answer for anything Peter did. At 6-5 for Adrian a couple of
lovely holds on the back of two cruel rallies saw Adrian 8-5 up, Peter
hung on point for point from there but it wasn’t enough, 11-8 for
Adrian.
 "My
plan had been not to let him find a rhythm. Peter’s worked really hard
on his movement and he is one of the best if you let him find his rhythm
so I tried to stop him doing that and thankfully most of the time it
worked.
"Can I also thank everyone for their support and Martin and his team for
a very friendly tournament, I hope to be back next year."
"I'm disappointed, but he simply had all the answers today, I think I’ve
played better but he didn’t let me play in the end."
It was just left to Simon Parke to thank
everyone for a great three days and this tournament was done. Ipswich
Sports Club hopes to host a separate Men’s and Ladies event next year
and this event's home looks secure for the next couple of seasons at
least.
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DRAW & RESULTS
The 3 referees'
electronic voting kit ...
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Men's Draw |
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Quarters, Thu 19th |
Semis, Fri 20th |
Final, Sat 21st |
[1] Peter Barker
11/3, 11/5, 11/8
Steve Meads |
[1] Peter Barker
11/6, 11/5, 11/7
[4] Tom Richards |
[1] Peter Barker
11/8, 6/11,
11/6, 11/8
[2] Adrian Grant |
[4] Tom Richards
11/4, 11/6, 11/9
Joel Hinds |
Andy Whipp
5/11, 11/4, 6/11, 11/8, 11/8
[3] Daryl Selby |
[3] Daryl Selby
11/5, 6/11, 8/11, 11/8, 11/5
[2] Adrian Grant |
Scott Handley
12/10, 11/6, 13/11
[2] Adrian Grant |
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Women's Draw |
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Semis, Fri 21st |
Final, Sat 21st |
[1] Laura Lengthorn-Massaro
5/11, 11/3, 11/3, 11/4
Deon Saffery |
[1] Laura Lengthorn-Massaro
5/11, 11/8, 11/3, 11/8
[2] Vicky Botwright |
Victoria Lust
11/3, 11/4, 11/5
[2] Vicky Botwright |
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20-Jun, Semi-finals:
Seeds Through to Finals,
Daryl Loses out in Fifth to Adrian
Martin Levens reports
The BSPA finals continued at Ipswich Sports Club on Henley Road tonight,
and all four seeds came through safely. Daryl Selby was again involved
in a five set thriller but this time on the wrong end.
The Ladies matches were on first and Vicky Botwright gave
Victoria Lust a hard time, there was some great Squash in patches
but Vicky always had the edge. Her great length and touch to the front
never really allowed Victoria into the game and although Victoria had a
few bright patches in the third she never really threatened Vicky, 11-3,
11-4, and 11-5 to Vicky Botwright.
Vicky was full of praise for Victoria afterwards, “ She’s improved a lot
since our last meeting and the quality of Squash was pretty good I felt.
We really blessed in this country to have so many strong women and up
and coming juniors coming into the game.”
Deon Saffery next up against Laura Lengthorn-Massaro; Deon
started off at a great pace, Laura wasn’t quite up for it and the first
game was dominated from the T by the diminutive Deon, 11-5 Deon.
Laura had somewhat underestimated Deon in the first and in the second
she stepped up a gear. She stepped forwards in the court and slowly Deon
got a bit looser. Laura was now beginning to pick Deon off from the T
and Deon never really go back into it, she had a little patch in the
fourth when she got ahead 3-2, but Laura dragged out a few of the
rallies, stepped forward and slowly Deon fell away.
Laura eventually ran out a 5-11, 11-3, 11-3 and 11-4 winner.
Laura was also full of praise for Deon, “I simply underestimated her,
the last couple of times we’ve played I’ve been able to dominate but
today she was much quicker on to everything. Fortunately I managed to
get back on top in the second and then pick off her looser shots from
the middle.”
The Men's semis followed; first up Peter Barker and an improving
Tom
Richards.
Peter was awesome tonight, he kept the pace up from the start and
whatever Tom did Peter had an answer. Peter played not only at a pace
but he also changed the pace seemingly at will, a couple of lovely deft
touches too and tonight only ever one winner. Tom played some lovely
winners in amongst it not least a straight kill on the forehand in the
second but never quite enough, 11-6, 11-5, and 11-7 for Peter.
Peter himself was somewhat surprised by his form, “I’ve just started
training again so I’m amazed at where I’m at, I couldn’t do much wrong
tonight. Just hope I can keep it going tomorrow.”
Last one of the night, last night's thriller winner, Daryl Selby and
Adrian Grant. Daryl kept us entertained tonight for 102 minutes and
although yesterday’s game was more explosive, and therefore somewhat
shorter, he certainly has earned his corn this weekend.
In the first both got into there rhythm nicely and Adrian just seemed to
have the better shots when it mattered, a couple of delightful straight
backhand volley kills in particular stood out. 11-5 Adrian. In the
second Daryl went up a gear and although Adrian was matching him shot
for shot, Daryl just edged ahead. At 5-4 up, Daryl produced a couple of
great drops on the backhand side and edged himself ahead, a couple of
long old rallies later and Daryl had the game 11-6.
In the third Daryl began to look the stronger and after a couple of
horror rallies Adrian seemed to guess a bit, and Daryl forged on. The
pace looked to be very high and Daryl was, on the surface at least
getting the edge, he was taking it in early and then pouncing on
anything through the middle, third game to Daryl, 11-8.
Adrian got away to good start in the fourth getting a couple of easy
balls to put away and Daryl threw in a couple of tins to boot. There
were then a couple of long, long rallies ending in lets, 5 to be
precise, Daryl nicked a couple of points again but then got a couple of
no-lets he didn’t like, 6-3 Adrian. About now Daryl started to look
ragged. He just got that little bit looser, and Adrian, very kindly,
upped the pace. Daryl seemed to not be quite getting around Adrian
anymore and another couple of no-lets left him frustrated and wanting to
know why not. Adrian eventually winning the fourth 11-8.
Off at a tangent here but a downside to the tri-ref system is that there
is never going to be an explanation forthcoming. It stops the
discussions and the rows mind, which I personally think has to be the
greater of the two evils.
Anyway back to the squash, Daryl now started to look really tired and
although you still gave him an outside chance in the fourth, in the
fifth it was all over. He tried, by god he tried, but all to no avail.
He just simply couldn’t stay forward long enough to really attack Adrian
anymore and in spite of a couple of winners early on he was never going
to take the fifth. Adrian eventually ran out an 11-5 winner.
Both players stayed on to chat to compere Simon Parke.
Daryl, “I thought I played really well considering that I’ve just been
on holiday, but in the end the pace of the second and third told, I just
couldn’t take it short anymore and then cover it. Result defensive
squash and Adrian, all credit to him, took full advantage.”
Adrian was pleased with his win and looking forward to tomorrow, “I’ve
just come back off holiday so I’m pleased to have sneaked through in
five. As for Peter, I think I’ve won the last two but they weren’t
really important games. I’m sure tomorrow will see us giving one hundred
percent and we’ll see what the outcome is.”
I’m looking forward to tomorrow’s finals.
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01473-251143
DRAW & RESULTS
01473-251143
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19-Jun, Men's Quarters:
All
seeds safely through ... just!
Martin Levens reports
The BSPA finals returned to Ipswich Sports Club on Henley Road tonight,
and all four seeds came through safely. But not before Daryl Selby was
given one hell of a shock by Andy Whipp.
Richards Romps Home
The night started tamely enough, Tom Richards always seeming to
have the edge over Joel Hinds. It was only in the third that Joel
seemed to get to grips with Tom’s speed. He seemed to step up to the
plate at this point but without ever getting to game point, he
eventually lost 11-4, 11-6, 11-9.
As Tom suggested afterwards, University life is no replacement for the
training of a professional, “I’ve been training hard since coming out of
the juniors and Joel has probably been doing other things at
University.”
Barker's defence begins
Peter Barker seemed to want to get Steven Meads out of the
way quickly and although Steven briefly got ahead in the third he never
really looked like competing with Peter.
Peter was pleased with the win, “I felt good tonight and although my
legs are heavy from my training right now, it felt important to keep
ahead of him before he got into it.”
Peter came through 11-3, 11-5, and 11-8. Looking forward to a tough
match tomorrow, I’m sure Tom Richards will be hoping to push Peter all
the way.
Adrian avoids Handley hurdle
Next game up was Scott Handley and Adrian Grant; Adrian
had been surprised last year by a great performance from Ben Ford so one
expected a more determined approach this year.
Scott had other ideas however and he held on to Adrian point for point
in the first game without ever getting to game point, first game 12-10
for Adrian, Scott looked a little worse for wear in the second and made
one or two mistakes early on, 11-6 for Adrian. In the last Scott
produced a couple of great cross court flicks early on and got himself
ahead, Adrian dragged his way back but never looked totally comfortable,
in the end Adrian hung on to the third 13-11 but Scott had certainly
pushed him all the way.
Daryl denies Whippy
The last match produced the fireworks; Andy Whipp went off like a
firework, putting pace on to his drives and forcing Darly Selby
to lift more than he would have liked and then chopping the ball away.
Daryl begins to drag the rallies out a bit but at 10-5 in the first he
duffs one through the middle and game for Andy.
In the second Daryl gets away to a much better start and seems to get on
to the ball a bit earlier to take away Andy’s chances, Daryl seemed to
be back in control, 11-4 Daryl.
The third chapter in our saga, and Andy attacks again chopping in some
great nicks but Daryl seems to be hanging on point for point dragging
the speed out of Andy. Then the pace told, at 6-6, Darrl serves out
Andy, chops in another outrageous winner and all of a sudden Daryl looks
a bit ragged. 11-6 for Andy, and he’s looking good.
The fourth was close all the way to 6-6 but Daryl managed to get on to a
couple of short balls a little bit earlier and get himself a couple of
points ahead. At which point a couple of decisions from the tri-ref
began to bother him, but who to argue with, with the electronic system
not even a sign of whom he can turn to.
The best rallies of the match were at this point, Andy attacking
everything and Daryl getting onto everything early to counter-attack
with some unbelievable speed and accuracy, when you watch this sort of
stuff you remember what inspired you to start the game, great for the
kids watching!
Anyway eventually after a couple more discussions with the electronic
ref Daryl hangs on for an 11-8 fourth game.
Surely the fifth can’t be as good, truth be told, unfortunately not,
both players want it badly enough for it to be ragged at times. Of the
first six points five were decided on errors, 4-2 for Daryl. Andy gets
back into it again, and after another couple of great winners and long
punishing rallies later we are at 6-6 again. Darryl manages to put in a
couple of great winners of his own when it matters and Andy clips the
top of the tin. 9-6 for Daryl and although Andy has one more blast it’s
not quite enough and Daryl comes away a relieved man, 11-8 in the fifth.
The last game was a truly great advert for Squash and on the back of it
a few more tickets were sold, also the kids loved it, I’m sure its no
consolation but thanks Andy.
Super Semis in prospect
Tomorrow, Peter Barker against Tom Richards, one can only imagine that
Tom will be looking to give it his best shot. Followed by Daryl and
Adrian, got to be a close one that. I for one one can’t wait.
The ladies start tomorrow as well and in the semis Deon Saffery will be
hoping to push Laura Lengthorn-Massaro and Victoria Lust will be hoping
to give Vicky Botwright a shock.
I can’t wait.
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01473-251143
DRAW & RESULTS
01473-251143 |
Back
to Ipswich for
Barker and Lengthorn
Preview from Martin Levens
The BSPA finals return to Ipswich Sports Club on Henley Road from
the 19th-21st of June, this years draw will be stronger than ever and
some top quality squash will be on offer over the three days.
In the Men's draw Peter Barker, World no. 12 and last year's
winner will be out to consolidate last years win and his world ranking
position. He will be facing some stiff opposition however; Adrian
Grant (World no.15) and Daryl Selby (World no. 34) have both
beaten him this year, Adrian at the BSPA finals at the Esporta Open in
Surrey, whereas Daryl got the better of Peter at the Artemis Open in
Edinburgh in February.
Local favourite Bradley Ball was due to be making an emotional
farewell to the tour at his home club, but sadly has been forced to
withdraw through injury - he is replaced by Joel Hinds.
Completing the draw Tom Richards (World no. 64), Andy Whipp,
Scott Handley (World no.87) and Steve Meads (former world
no.12), are all capable of producing a big upset on their day.
Andy Whipp has managed to win two events this year and is always a
dangerous customer, Tom Richards is still a young man developing his
skills rapidly and again he can be expected to produce some
scintillating attacking squash. Steven Meads is at age 37 one tough
cookie; nobody will look forward to playing him. Last but by no means
least Scott Handley is always a tough competitor, in spite of his lowly
world ranking (87), he is not a player to be taken lightly by the top
four
in the quarter finals.
In the Ladies event a big match can be awaited in the final on Saturday
night, Vicky Botwright World No. 11 is seeded to play defending
champion Laura Lengthorn-Massaro, World No. 9.
Victoria Lust and Deon Saffery will be trying to
put a spanner in the works in the semis though ...
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