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Nidd Vale of Ilkley Open 2009
2008 & earlier
17-19 April
Men & Women | Ilkley Squash Club |
Robbie Burnett | Club Tel: 01943 607182 | LS29 0ND |
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19-Apr, Finals:
[1] Laura Lengthorn-Massaro (Eng) bt [3/4] Dominique Lloyd-Walter (Eng)
11/6, 11/8, 11/6 (33m)
[2] Alister Walker (Eng) bt [1] Peter Barker (Eng)
5/11, 14/12, 9/11, 11/3, 11/7 (100m)
Final rankings and Grand Prix Finalists
Photos by Barry Wilkinson
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Finals
Day in Ilkley
Robbie Burnett report
All Ilkley squash fans have had the
pleasure of two wonderful finals from outstanding squash players and it
has been an absolute pleasure to have been involved with them. It is a
pity some one has to lose.
 The
Ladies final had defending champion Laura Lengthorn- Massaro
playing Dominique Lloyd–Walter, after her thrilling win over
Madeline Perry in the semi-finals. Lengthorn-Massaro won 3-0, but had to
be on her best form to beat a determined Lloyd-Walter, who refused to
stop running and the big crowd were treated to a wonderful game in which
both players show tremendous court coverage.
Lengthorn-Massaro used a good working boast to move Lloyd Walter to all
corners and in the third set, played some outstanding cross courts nicks
as she looked to take control. To her credit Lloyd –Walter refused to
give in, but maybe the 70 minute semi final, started to show in the
latter stages of this match, as Lengthorn-Massaro up the pace and took
out the third set.
33 minutes of good controlled squash and the title was Lengthorn-Massaro's
again. Hopefully Lloyd-Walter will come back next year and look to go
one better.
 The
Men’s Final was a seesaw battle between two well matched players,
Peter Barker ranked 9 in the world and Ali Walker 16 in the
world.
The game was played at a frantic pace, which drew gasps from the big
crowd, as the players showed breathtaking speed and retrieving from
around the court.
Barker looked strong in the first and won, 11/5. The next game took over
30minutes and Walker finally won it 14/12. The third started where the
second finished electrifying. Fearsome pace and speed, with some deft
touches from both players, but it was Barker who took it 11/9. Walker
started strongly in the fourth and opened a big lead which Barker could
not peg back and won 11/3.
We all waited for the fifth and were not disappointed. Both players
continued to punish each other, with gruelling rallies, many ending in
lets, but it was Walker who opened up a slender lead and finally got to
match ball 10-5. Barker tried to hang in and got a couple of points
back, but then the match ended in an unexpected way.
Walker player what looked to be a winning drop in the backhand front
corner, which was called down by the marker, but the referee over ruled
it and gave the match to Walker. Barker tried to reason with the
referee, but he stuck with his decision, so ended a outstanding match
after 100 minutes.
The commitment, enthusiasm and athleticism shown by all players in the
finals, was remarkable and for those who watched these games, we thank
the players for coming to Ilkley and giving us world class squash and we
look forward to hosting the event again next year.
Thanks to our main sponsors Nidd Vale of Ilkley.
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18-Apr, Semis:
[1] Laura L-Massaro (Eng) bt [3/4] Sarah Kippax (Eng)
11/4, 12/10, 11/7
[3/4] Dom Lloyd-Walter (Eng) bt [2] Madeline Perry (Irl)
3/11, 13/11, 11/8, 13/11, 12/10
[1] Peter Barker (Eng) bt Chris Simpson (Eng)
11/3, 11/3, 12/10
[2] Alister Walker (Eng) bt [3/4] Daryl Selby (Eng)
11/7, 11/9, 11/3
Photos from Barry Wilkinson |
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Dominique dashes
Irish hopes in Ilkley
Robbie Burnett reports
The first ladies' semi-final saw
defending champion and top seed Laura Lengthorn-Massaro taking on
3/4 seed Sarah Kippax and winning 3/0. Laura always looked in
control as she had Sarah moving around the court right from the start.
Sarah had her chances in the second game but a couple of unforced errors
cost her the game. The third was close up to 6-all, but Laura won the
next five points to take the match. A solid performance from the
reigning champion.
Dominique Lloyd-Walter caused the big upset in the second
semi-final, defeating world number nine, second-seeded Madeline Perry.
It was a fantastic display from Dominique who, after losing the first
game easily, showed real toughness to take the second after being 10/7
down. Madeline took the third 11/8 and looked like taking the fourth,
having match-ball at 10/8. Dominique hung in and clawed back to take it
13/11, and the decider was close all the way. The Irish champion had
another match ball at 10/9 but once again Dominique refused to give in
and took the match 12/10.
It was 70 minutes (the longest-ever women's match at Ilkley) of world
class squash, missed chances for Madeline but a wonderful victory for
Dominique.
Men's top seed Peter Barker never really allowed Chris Simpson
to settle, and he always looked in control as he pushed his opponent
to all corners of the court. Peter looked in good form, it was only a
couple of let calls late in the match that seemed to unsettle him, but
to his credit Chris hung in there and pushed the defending champion all
the way to the finishing line.
Finally the last match of the day, with second seed Alister Walker
beating Daryl Selby in straight games. The speed around the court
of both players was amazing, with Daryl putting in many attacking shots
which Alister kept getting back. After two close games it looked like
Daryl ran out of ideas and Alister quickly closed out the third 11/2.
So the Nidd Vale of Ilkley Squash Open has the prospect of two world
class finals ... we can't wait ...
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18-Apr, Day Two:
Simpson moves into Ilkley semis
Robbie Burnett reports
The quarter-finals produced some outstanding matches.
As expected in the Ladies, the top seeds went through comfortably, but
3/4 seed Sarah Kippax was pushed all the way by Emma Beddoes,
Kippax winning in four games. Tonight's semi-finals see top seed
Laura Lengthorn-Massaro take on Kippax, followed by second seed
Madeline Perry against Dominique Lloyd-Walter.
In the men's quarters 5/8 seed Chris Simpson beat John Rooney,
seeded 3/4. Rooney took an extended first game 18/16 but it looked as
though that took its toll on the Irishman as he lost the second 11/4.
Both players knuckled down and there were many long hard rallies, but
Simpson managed to keep ahead, finally winning 11/8 in the fourth.
The other seeds all looked in good form, winning 3/0. The semi-finals
will see Peter Barker playing Simpson and, possibly the match of
the night, second seed Alister Walker taking on 3/4 seed Daryl
Selby.
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World's top squash players in Ilkley Open
Ilkley Gazette - UK
By Rachel O'Connor
» SOME of the world’s top squash players will be in Ilkley for
the Nidd Vale Ilkley Squash Open which runs from Friday, April 17,
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17-Apr, Day One:
Home Nations assemble in Ilkley
England,
Ireland, Wales and Scotland are all well represented in the 2009 edition
of the Ilkley Open, with Englishmen Peter Barker, Alister Walker and
Daryl Selby topping the men's draw amongst those hoping to get some
valuable match practice in advance of their trip to Sweden for the
European Team Championships.
No men's upsets to report on the opening day, but Irishman John Rooney,
seeded 3/4, was taken the full distance by Chris Truswell in the second
round.
 In the quarter-finals Barker meets veteran Steve Meads while Rooney
faces another young Englishman in Chris Simpson. The bottom half of the
draw sees Selby take on Ireland's Arthur Gaskin while Walker faces
in-form Scottish number one Alan Clyne.
In
the women's event one seed fell as Ireland's Kerri Lankester (formerly Shields)
beat English veteran Jeannine Cowie to set up a quarter-final meeting
with Dominique Lloyd-Walter, and it could be an all-Irish semi with
second seed Madeline Perry meeting Dominique Lloyd-Walter.
In the top half Laura Lengthorn-Massaro meets Wales' Deon Saffery while
Sarah Kippax versus Emma Beddoes is an intriguing all-English clash.
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