[1] Laura Lengthorn bt [2] Lauren Briggs (60m)
       9/4, 9/7, 6/9, 9/6
[1] Peter Barker bt [3/4] Ong Beng Hee
       6/11, 11/8, 11/13, 11/2, 11/8 (81m)

Top seeds take GP finals
Martin Levens reports
 
Today’s finals at Ipswich Sports Club saw two great finals, a fitting finale to a great tournament and a great season's squash, in the Head BSPA grand prix series.

Laura completes Ipswich double

A repeat of last years women's final, Laura was simply too strong for Lauren last year, after hearing that Lauren had only just got back after injury you had to assume that today’s final would be no different.

The first game did indeed see Laura dominate. Although Lauren was getting onto the ball early to pressure Laura, Laura was using her reach to counter and dominate Lauren, who seemed to be the one doing the work, and although Lauren produced a couple of great shots at the end of the game, she never looked like getting back into it, the first going to Laura 9-4.

In the second Lauren really started to use her speed to attack Laura, she started to cause her some real problems. 5-0 up in quick time and Laura had to dig deep herself to get back into it, at 7–7 a couple of loose balls through the middle from Lauren, a couple of cheap strokes and Laura was 2-0 up. Lauren must have been kicking herself.

In the third Lauren kept up the pressure, everything to the front she was onto quickly and although Laura was using her volley to attack anything loose through the middle, Lauren was able to keep the pressure up, she was able to stay ahead of Laura and work her. A couple of great shots from Laura in the middle of the game were to no avail as Lauren finished the game off with a couple of great shots of her own.

In the fourth Laura tightened up and began to create more opportunities to volley, a couple of her backhand volley drops were particularly special. Laura got herself 7-3 up and although Lauren then got on to a couple of shots very early to counter with a couple of great drops of her own to claw her way back in, Laura wasn’t going to give her a chance to go to five.

Laura, in spite of looking tired, stepped up again to volley more and she took the fourth 9-6.

As Melvin Robinson, Ipswich Sports Club Squash Chairman said, “A great advert for women’s squash.” It certainly was that.
 
Barker sees off Beng Hee challenge

On to the Men's, Ong Beng Hee or Peter Barker. After Ong Beng Hee’s lightening fast game against Ben Ford last night a lot of people fancied him to take the title today to complete a Malaysian Double, Aslan Iskandar winning last year.

Peter started off with some lovely balanced controlled squash, not allowing Beng Hee to play at the speed he’d used the previous night.

Ong was very patient, awaiting his chances to step up the court. There were some tough, gruelling, old rallies out there, each player using the full court to work their opponent to the full. At 5-4 Beng Hee pulled away, and after one controversial decision Peter lost his focus and the game was gone 11-6.

At the start of the second Peter still seems somewhat fired up and Beng Hee used his chance to go 3-1 up. At this point Peter steps up a gear; the rallies are just as long and just as much a grind, but Peter is a touch earlier onto the ball and he begins to sneak ahead. There are some unbelievable rallies and both players get some incredible balls back and produce some unbelievable shots. They really are trying to play everything and it’s a pleasure to watch. Peter gets himself back into it and takes the second 11-8.

If it's possible the rallies get even longer in the third, but Beng Hee is always just ahead, 5-2, 5-5, 7-5.

At which point each produce a couple of blinders just to let us know they can given the chance. A harsh no-let at 9-8 for Beng Hee sees him go to game ball. Peter hits a roll nick boast and a brilliantly crafted rally and we are in a tiebreak.

Beng Hee produces yet another blinder and Peter leaves one really loose in the middle, 13-11 for the Malaysian.

Peter comes out with all guns blazing at the start of the fourth and Beng Hee loses his focus for a moment, it really is such a finely poised game, if either one lets up his opponent has the ability at any time to finish off the rally very quickly.

In a very short space of time Peter has taken the fourth 11-2.

In the fifth Beng Hee starts off the better, his focus is back again and he is on to the ball a touch earlier, at 6-2 you’d think he must have it now. Peter digs in again and Beng Hee loses his perfect balance, just a little but enough.

The rallies are long and protracted but Peter looks the better balanced of the two and he reels off eight points in a row, Beng Hee pushes again, but its too little too late, Peter runs out a very happy 11-8 winner in the fifth.


At the end of the night Peter Barker thanks the match night sponsors Isles, Storer and Emsden Match Night sponsors, Head the main sponsors and the club for its warm welcome.

Myself, I’d like to thank the players for some great squash and the club for its support. Tonight’s games were yet again proof of what a great game this is. The Men's final tonight took 81 minutes, what a match, and the ladies were out there for an hour. Great to watch and I look forward to seeing more of the same as
Ipswich Sports Club looks forward to hosting the BSPA finals next year.

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[2] Peter Barker bt Simon Parke  11/7, 11/4, 13/11

Simon started off reasonably well and was 4-3 up after a couple of great gets and some lovely touches. From there on in Peter just began to take control, he seemed to be quite happy playing at the slower pace Simon wanted, but injected pace whenever he needed. This just kept Simon on the back foot, first game 11-7. The second was no better for Simon, he seemed to be always chasing and on the wrong end of the rallies, after losing this one 11-4 the writing was on the wall.

The third started in a similar vein Peter playing happily with Simon pushing up and down the wall, holding and flicking and whenever possible upping the pace.

6-3 for Peter and Simon is looking tired, maybe Peter thought o.k. now I’ve got him, nearly a big mistake, Simon gets a couple of chances and puts them away, Peter plays a couple of sloppy balls through the middle and we are back at 7-7, Peter puts in a couple of great shots, Simon makes one mistake and two match balls for Peter, o.k. this time its all over, but again someone forgot to tell Simon! He plays a pair of beautifully crafted rallies easing Peter out of position before putting the ball beyond Peter's reach. 11-10 Simon, surely he isn’t going to stage another fightback, Simon makes one mistake to many and after a close let call in the middle Peter nicks it 13-11.

Afterwards in the postmatch interview Peter’s respect for Simon shows through, “He won’t go away, since he’s retired he’s possibly become even more stubborn, he just doesn’t give up.”

[1] Ong Beng Hee bt Ben Ford   11/4, 11/7, 11/8

That brings us to last night's hero of the hour, Ben Ford, an easier task tonight surely, Ong is only World no.18 as compared to Adrian Grant's 15.

Ong had obviously been watching carefully the previous night, he really didn’t intend giving Ben any chance, the pace was awesome, it became an achievement for Ben to hit the back wall.

Ben played well, he missed one or two and made the odd mistake, but to be honest at the pace the game was played at it was no great surprise.

The first two went to Ong Beng Hee, 11-4, 11-7 and although Ben put in another gallant effort in the third, Ong really was playing at an awesome pace tonight and took the final game 11-8.

Ong Beng Hee said afterwards, “I knew Ben had to be tired from yesterday so I just kept the pace up, and although it was hurting me, I knew it had to be hurting him more.”

What a tournament for Ben though, beating the World no.15 must surely rank as one of his best ever results. Great game last night, thanks for the entertainment.

So on to the final: Peter Barker and Ong Beng Hee, two contrasting styles and a great game in the making, I’m looking forward to it!

 

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The ladies started the proceedings today.

[1] Laura Lengthorn bt
Victoria Lust
9/1, 9/1, 9/2

[2] Lauren Briggs bt
Fiona Moverley  
9/0, 9/4, 9/1

The draw was left somewhat depleted after Vicky Botwright had to pull out with a back injury and Laura Hill had to withdraw, having suffered whiplash from a car accident.

It was left to two England juniors, Fiona Moverly and Victoria Lust to step into the breech at the last moment.

Unfortunately neither Lauren Briggs nor Laura Lengthorn were prepared to give them any sympathy and both set about their work very professionally.

Lauren started off very strongly and never looked like giving Fiona any chance, there was a brief burst from Fiona in the second but Lauren ran out a clear 3-0 winner.

The second saw some competitive exchanges but again Laura never looked like giving Victoria a look in and she ran out a comfortable 3-0 winner.

One assumes that Fiona and Victoria will be back again and Ipswich Sports Club looks forward to seeing them come through.

Tomorrow's final then a repeat of last year, Lauren Briggs – Laura Lengthorn, Ipswich Sports Club squash chairman Melvin Robinson is, “ looking forward to some top quality women’s squash.”

Ben Ford bt [1] Adrian Grant 11/7, 7/11, 6/11, 11/9, 11/9

Ben starts well, he gets on to the ball early, seems to be reading Adrian’s game pretty well and is showing some lovely touches, a couple of mistakes, however and Adrian goes 4–3 up. At this point a couple of shots from Adrian and at 7-4 you’d think, “ok business as usual,” not a bit of it, Ben fights his way back in and gets back to 7-7, a couple of long rallies later and game point for Ben. Ben takes his chance and takes the first 11-9.

Adrian appears to be moving as well as ever and starts to get the upper hand and although Ben is competing it looks like Adrian is slowly but surely turning the screw and Ben is getting tired. Adrian seems to have more time on the ball and Ben less, Adrian goes 9-3 up, Ben pulls a few back but Adrian takes it 11-7.

In the third you get the feeling that all the hard work is telling on Ben and although he never looks out of it Adrian seems to be getting on top, 11-6 Adrian.

At the start of the fourth Ben goes for it and Adrian has a momentary lack of concentration, the trouble for Adrian is that Benis now on a roll, he hits a couple of belters, Adrian makes a couple of mistakes and all of a sudden Ben is 7-0 up. Adrian ups it a gear, and off go those legs. He gets everything, gets on to it a little bit earlier and we're back at 7-7, surely now he’ll show Ben who the boss is. Ben hits another couple of beauties, Adrian makes a mistake and we have three game balls for Ben. He takes a couple of goes this time but still takes it 11-9.
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Adrian ups the rhythm and pace at the start of the fifth and Ben is starting to look tired. At 5-0 for Advian surely that’s it, all over, but no, Ben goes again, some lovely racket work and at 4-6 he’s back in there. Edrian puts a couple down, Ben hits another great shot, 7-6 Ben, now everyone is on the edge of their seats, and Ben pushes again, a couple of great rallies later and Ben is 9-7 up, 10-8 for Ben two match balls! A couple of close calls, couple of great pick-ups from Adrian 10-9, but Ben hits one more drive too tight and deep down the wall, 11-9 for Ben. What a result for Ben Ford!

Afterwards he tries to play the result down by telling everyone that, “Adrian wasn’t quite there today, normally he tucks me up easily.”

I’m sure the last person to make an excuse would be Adrian, the better player on the day was Ben Ford what a game.

[3/4] Ong Beng Hee bt Joel Hinds 11/2, 11/5, 11/7

Back to the first game of the night, Joel Hinds against Ong Beng Hee. Joel just qualified for this tournament, although he’ll be pleased with his season he knew he was unlikely to push Ong Beng Hee. Joel competed well in patches in the second and third but ultimately he never really looked like troubling the Melaysian who won in straight games.

[2] Peter Barker bt Scott Handley 11/1, 14/12, 11/9

he third game of the night saw second seed Peter Barker pitched against Scott Handley, the Grand Prix champion after amassing the most points over the season.

In the first Peter went off really well and Scott never really got into it, Peter was too powerful and he won the first 11-1. In the second Scott got going; after some great retrieving and countering he was 5-1 ahead. Peter dug in, upped the speed a touch and got himself back to 5-5. At this point they both played some of their best Squash and throughout it Scott kept his nose ahead, 10-8 for Scott. After a couple of close calls and some great shots from Peter the we were in a tie-break, Peter played a couple of flicks which just caught Scott off balance and Peter nicks it.

In the third Peter always had his nose ahead and he closed out the match for victory.

[3/4] Simon Parke bt Daryl Selby 11/8, 11/4, 11/9

The last game of the night bought together Daryl Selby and Simon Parke, the oldest player in the tournament.

Daryl had not beaten Simon up until tonight but Simon retired from the PSA tour during the season and Daryl has now risen to his highest ever ranking, 36. Maybe tonight ...

After a long, long first rally Daryl sneaks ahead 2-0 and he appears to be taking the game to Simon. Upping the pace then slowing it down and firing in some great shots. Simon does what Simon does well, get the ball back, again and again, and if you watch carefully Daryl always has to go a long way to get the ball. Simple really!

Simon gets back to 5-6, Daryl gives a couple of strokes away and Simon produces a couple of lovely touches, 11-8 Simon

In the second game Parke gets himself on the wrong end of a couple of horror rallies but as the man behind me, Del Harris, said, “He’s got a good pair of lungs on him.” An understatement if ever I heard one!

The other thing are those legs. All the new boys on the block have big, strong legs, Simon's are, how does one put it, not as big! At 5-4 for Parke when you think those legs must be getting tired, those legs go on, 6-4, and on 7-4, and on 8-4, and on 9-4, and on 10-4,and on game 11-4.

Daryl looks somewhat bemused by it all; but in the third he goes for it again and gets himself 5-3 and 7-4 ahead and Simon looks$tired. Daryl might just have believed Simon was tired, I don’t know, but he just gives Simon a bit of time on a$couple of balls, gives a couple of strokes away and Simon shows his class and experience to nick it away from Daryl 11-=.


All in all a great night at Ipswich Sports Club, the sponsors Head and matgh night sponsors Bristo’s, Renault car dealers in Ipswich, were delighted with the turnout on the first night and the club is expecting a full house tomorrow.

What a win for Ben Ford, and as for Simon Parke, he will be trying to make a certain programme writer eat his somewhat premature comments about him being a fading star. As Paddy Ashdown once said “ Dear lord let my words be sweet for one day I may have to eat them.” I hope he can prove hms point tomorrow.

Both Ben and Simon will be out to upset the seedings tomorrow and I’m sure were in for a great couple of matches.  

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