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FINALS:
MO75 Pat Kirton bt Lance
Kinder 8/10 9/4 9/5 5/9 9/3 in 53m
MO70 Adrian Wright bt Mike Clemson 9/6 9/5 8/10 9/3 in 37m
MO65 Barry Featherstone bt Aubrey Waddy 9/4 9/2 9/3 in 21m
MO60 Nicholas Drysdale bt Ronnie Bell 9/6 9/2 9/3 in 23m
MO55 Jeremy Goulding bt Alan Barwise 9/3 9/2 9/2 in 40m
MO50 Eamonn Price bt Colin Payne 3/9 9/5 9/2 9/7 in 57m
MO45 Andrew Cross bt Murray Scott 11/7 11/5 11/7 in 34m
MO40 Nick Taylor bt Nick Wall 11/9 11/3 11/7 in 27m
MO35 Simon Parke bt Marc Woolhead 11/3 11/6 11/4 in 32m
WO60 Pauline Douglas bt Bett Dryhurst 9/2 9/1 9/4 in
18m
WO55 Helen Gould bt Julie Field 2/9 9/6 9/7 9/3 in
40m
WO50 Mandy Akin bt Fiona McLean 4/9 9/4 7/9 9/4 9/4 in 51m
WO45 Andrea Santa Maria bt Rose Bamber 4/9 10/8 9/2 9/5 in
50m
WO40 Claire Walker bt Rachel Pullan 7/9 9/6 7/9 9/6 10/8
in 50m
WO35 Laura Mylotte bt Rachel Calver 9/0 9/4 9/5 in 25m
Semi-Finals:
MO35
Simon Parke bt Danny Massaro 11/6 11/7 11/7 in 32m
Marc Woolhead bt Mick Biggs 11/9 12/10 11/6 in 25m
MO40
Nick Taylor bt Jamie Goodrich 11/6 11/8 11/6 in 31m
Nick Wall bt Mike Gregory 3/11 11/9 11/9 11/6 in 45m
MO45
Andrew Cross bt Rick Weatherall 6/11 14/12 11/7 11/8 in 54m
Murray Scott bt David Youngs 9/11 11/6 8/11 11/4 1/0Rtd in 55m
MO50
Eamonn Price bt Steven Calvert 9/6 9/1 9/4 in 35m
Colin Payne bt Gary Raw 9/6 9/2 9/0 in 39m
MO55
Jeremy Goulding bt Stuart Hardy 9/4 9/1 9/7 in 33m
Alan Barwise bt Duleep Adhihetty 5/9 9/7 9/1 10/8 in 58m
MO60
Nicholas Drysdale bt Alan Hathway 9/3 10/8 9/5 in 29m
Ronnie Bell bt Stephen Jackson 9/7 9/3 9/1 in 24m
MO65
Aubrey Waddy bt Larry Grover 9/5 7/9 7/9 9/2 9/4 in 54m
Barry Featherstone bt Martin Pearse 9/1 9/4 9/0 in 26m
MO70
Adrian Wright bt Graham Fisher 9/7 5/9 10/9 9/3 in 40m
Mike Clemson bt William Wilson 7/9 9/7 9/6 9/4 in 38m
WO35
Laura Mylotte bt Krissy Burkin 9/3 9/4 9/0 in 26m
Rachel Calver bt Judith Allgrove 8/10 10/9 9/2 9/4 in 55m
WO40
Rachel Pullan bt Shayne Baillie 9/4 4/9 9/5 4/9 9/2 in 55m
Claire Walker bt Amanda Warren 10/8 10/8 9/4 in 29m
WO45
Andrea Santa Maria bt Kay Fallows 9/4 2/9 9/0 9/7 in 35m
Rose Bamber bt Julie Palmer 9/1 9/2 9/0 in 18m
WO50
Mandy Akin bt Lesley Sturgess 9/1 9/0 9/0 in 20m
Fiona McLean bt Fran Wallis 6/9 3/9 9/4 9/1 9/7 in 49m
WO55
Julie Field bt Jill Campion 8/10 9/3 9/5 9/7 in 30m
Helen Gould bt Lynne Davies 9/1 9/6 9/3 in 27m
WO60
Pauline Douglas bt Jane Hill 9/1 9/1 9/4 in 16m
Bett Dryhurst bt Rebecca Czuczman 9/7 9/2 9/4 in 23m
Men’s Over 35
 Former
World No3 Simon Parke (Yorkshire) was able to use his vast all
glass court experience in his semi final against Lancashire’s
Danny Massaro. It was far from one way traffic but Parke always
looked to have the edge….and that little bit of the old magic
and came through unscathed with a 11-6 11-7 11-7 win in 32
minutes. Parke’s opponent in the final will be No2 seed Marc
Woolhead (Hertfordshire) who defeated Mick Biggs (Middlesex)
11-9 12-10 11-6 in a good open game.
Men’s Over 40
 Nick
Taylor (Lancashire) will be back on ‘his’ all glass show court
tomorrow for the final of the men’s over 40’s. The former
nationals finalist and ex head coach here at the National Squash
Centre booked his place in the final with a solid 9-6 9-8 9-6
win over Jamie Goodrich of Norfolk. In the other semi final Nick
Wall (Yorkshire) came back after losing the first easily to
claim a good 3-11 11-9 11-9 11-6 win over ¾ seed Mike Gregory of
Devon.
Men’s Over 45
3/4 seed Andrew Cross ensured that D&C were represented in
the men’s O45 final after Yawar Abbas’s shock defeat yesterday.
Cross avenged Abbas’s loss to Rick Weatherall (Warwickshire)
with a hard fought 6-11 14-12 11-7 11-8 win over the
Warwickshire man. The second semi saw No2 seed Murray Scott
(Derbyshire) get into a usual long and physical tussle in his
quest to reach the final.
Norfolk’s 3/4 seed David Youngs took the first 11-9 then back
came Scott to level things up only for Youngs to forge ahead
once more. But as the pre-written script predicted Scott wasn’t
going to lie down and levelled again at 2 all. Unfortunately a
fall and injury to Youngs early in the decider put an end to the
intriguing contest and Scott moves on to face Cross.
Men’s Over 50
Eamonn Price (Hertfordshire) is a class act and yet again showed
why he is the No1 seed – this time dispatching 5/8 seed Steven
Calvert with a comfortable 9-6 9-1 9-4 performance. In the other
half of the draw Colin Payne looks to be a man on a mission
after he stormed past fellow 5/8 seed – Gary Raw 9-6 9-2 9-0 in
39 minutes. The final definitely looks like it’s one to watch.
Men’s Over 55
 Allen
Barwise (Lancashire) must be the player of the tournament –
unseeded he has systematically dispatched seed after seed as the
rounds have unfolded. Today it was the turn of former National
Champion and 3/4 seed Duleep Adhihetty (Middlesex) to try and
halt his progress.
The first two games were shared before Barwise upped the anti
and took the third 9-1 and although Adhihetty fought back it was
Barwise who closed it out 10-8 in the fourth to seal another
scalp and earn a final spot which at the start of the week
seemed at best a long shot. In the final he will face No1 seed
Jeremy Goulding (Avon) who continued his great form with yet
another 3-0 victory, this time over 3/4 seed Stuart Hardy of
Middlesex.
Men’s Over 60
 Favourite
Nick Drysdale (Avon) faced 3/4 seed Alan Hathway in the first
over 60 semi and although a tough well contested game ensued
Drysdale emerged victorious with another 3-0 win and maintains
his run without dropping a game. In the other semi final Ronnie
Bell (Cumbria) proved his fitness and form are back near their
best as he eased past the second seed Stephen Jackson in three.
Men’s Over 65
Aubrey Waddy (Buckinghamshire) and Larry Grover (Hampshire) were
both determined to make the most of their semi final encounter
and after Waddy had taken the first Grover struck back to snatch
the next two. However this seemed to take a little too much out
of Grover and Waddy was able to regroup, take control back and
race through the final two games and take a well-earned victory
9-5 7-9 7-9 9-2 9-4 in 54 minutes. Waddy’s opponent in the final
is another Hampshire player in the guise of top seed Barry
Featherstone who proved just too strong and fit for Masters
Committee Chairman Martin Pearse of Norfolk winning their semi
final 9-1 9-4 9-0.
Men’s Over 70
 A
Yorkshire winner is guaranteed as both top seeds reached the
final with 3-1 wins. Adrian Wright certainly didn’t have it all
his own way and was kept on the hot court far longer than he
would have liked by 3/4 seed Graham Fisher (Sussex). After
taking the first 9-7, Wright lost the second 5-9 and then just
sneaked the third 10-9 before completing his victory 9-3 in the
fourth after 40 minutes. Wright now faces Mike Clemson who had
to come back after dropping the first to reigning champion
William Wilson (Cheshire) before turning the tide slightly and
taking it 7-9 9-7 9-6 9-4 in 28minutes.
Women’s Over 35
Laura Mylotte (Cheshire) put in a great performance in her semi
to breeze past Krissy Burkin (D&C) in straight games. Next
awaits No2 seed Rachel Calvert of Leicestershire who overcame
Middlesex’s Judith Allgrove 8-0 10-9 9-2 9-4.
Women’s Over 40
 Nottinghamshire’s
Rachel Pullan has spent the past week both managing the tickets
for this event and miraculously transforming herself into the
women’s over 40 top seed and favourite. Pullan’s far from ideal
preparation was tested to the limit today by surprise package
Shayne Baillie of Surrey. Neither player wanted to lose it and
games were traded and at two all it really was anyones. However
after 55 minutes it was Pullen who had the stamina and took it
9-4 4-9 9-5 4-9 9-2. Pullan will now face No2 seed Claire Walker
(Yorkshire) who is yet to drop a game. However her semi was also
a battle and after two tie-breakers she sneaked it 10-8 10-8
9-4.
Women’s Over 45
No1 seed Andrea Santamaria (Yorkshire) reached the final after
overcoming Kay Fallows 9-4 2-9 9-0 9-7 in 35 minutes. Her
opponent in the final will be No2 seed Rose Bamber who enjoyed a
second consecutive 3-0 win, this time over unseeded Julie Palmer
of Hampshire.
Women’s Over 50
 The
women’s over 50 semi finals couldn’t have been more different –
first up hot favourite Mandy Akin (Kent) stormed into the final
with an incredibly professional and clinical performance to
dispatch Lesley Sturgess (Derbyshire) for the loss of a single
point in just 10 minutes. In contrast Fiona McLean joined Akin
in the final but only after finding the mental and physical
strength to fight back from two down to emerge victorious over
the second seed and highly fancied Fran Wallis of Lincolnshire –
a great match that ended 6-9 3-9 9-4 9-1 9-7 in 49 minutes.
Women’s Over 55
 Yorkshire’s
Julie Field was made to work hard for her victory by Jill
Campion (Middlesex) who took the first game 10-8. However this
seemed to spur Field on and it was the top seed who was able to
take control and with it the next three games. Field will now
face No2 seed Helen Gould (Avon) who managed to keep Lynne
Davies (Wales) at bay with a 3-0 win.
Women’s Over 60
Pauline Douglas kept Scottish hopes of a nationals title alive
with a comprehensive 9-1 9-1 9-4 victory over 3/4 seed Jane Hill
of Derbyshire. However it won’t be Rebecca Czuczman (Kent) who
Douglas faces in the final as the seedings predicted – the ever
youthful, and multiple nationals champion Bett Dryhurst saw to
that with a great 9-7 9-2 9-4 win over Czuczman in 23 minutes.
Full Quarter-Final Results:
(report below)
MO35
*1 Simon Parke bt *5/8 Michael Potter 11/4 11/3 11/4 in 25m
*3/4 Danny Massaro bt 5/8* Michael McLoughlin 11/8 11/8 11/2 in
41m
*5/8 Mick Biggs bt *3/4 Tim Burrell 11/8 12/14 11/5 3/11 11/4 in
45m
*2 Marc Woolhead bt *5/8 Ian Cox 11/6 8/11 11/3 8/11 11/8 in 49m
MO40
*1 Nick Taylor bt *5/8 Pete Goodings 11/5 11/6 11/6 in 24m
*3/4 Jamie Goodrich bt *5/8 Jonathan Gliddon 12/14 11/6 11/5
11/8 in 63m
*3/4 Mike Gregory bt *5/8 Paul Boyle 11/4 6/11 11/7 2/11 11/7 in
42m
*2 Nick Wall bt *5/8 Chris Stanley 11/4 11/6 11/7 in 25m
MO45
*5/8 Rick Weatherall bt *1 Yawar Abbas 5/11 9/11 11/4 11/7 11/9
in 40m
*3/4 Andrew Cross bt Simon Spencer 11/8 11/5 11/6 in 28m
*3/4 David Youngs bt *5/8 Nigel Willis 11/8 17/15 5/11 9/11 11/7
in 45m
*2 Murray Scott bt *5/8 Duane Harrison 11/5 3/11 12/10 11/8 in
62m
MO50
*1 Eamonn Price bt *5/8 Ged Martin 9/1 9/2 9/1 in 22m
*5/8 Steven Calvert bt *9/16 David Gray 9/4 9/0 9/0 in 28m
*5/8 Colin Payne bt *3/4 Alan Thomson 9/1 9/2 9/1 in 22m
*5/8 Gary Raw bt *2 Martin Greenslade 8/10 9/0 9/0 2/9 9/2 in
77m
MO55
*1 Jeremy Goulding bt *5/8 Robin Ridley 9/1 9/3 10/9 in 31m
*3/4 Stuart Hardy bt *9/16 David Stones 9/2 6/9 9/7 9/3 in 31m
*3/4 Duleep Adhihetty bt *9/16 David McAleese 9/2 9/4 9/0 in 22m
Allen Barwise bt *2 Mark Cowley 9/5 9/7 9/5 in 28m
MO60
*1 Nicholas Drysdale bt *9/16 Alasdair Niven 9/0 9/0 9/0 in 15m
*3/4 Alan Hathway bt *5/8 John Howie 10/8 9/4 9/2 in 23m
*3/4 Ronnie Bell bt *9/16 Terry Belshaw 9/4 9/1 9/4 in 20m
*2 Stephen Jackson bt *5/8 Mark Thompson 9/2 5/9 9/2 9/7 in 41m
MO65
*2 Aubrey Waddy bt *5/8 Martin Day 9/3 9/2 9/0 in 18m
*3/4 Larry Grover bt *5/8 Geoff Howes 9/2 9/2 9/6 in 24m
*3/4 Martin Pearse bt *5/8 Tony Wheeler 3/9 9/4 9/2 9/1 in 31m
*1 Barry Featherstone bt *5/8 Chris Ansell 9/3 9/2 9/4 in 26m
MO70
*1 Adrian Wright bt *5/8 Ken Reid 5/9 9/6 9/0 9/6 in 32m
*3/4 Graham Fisher bt *5/8 Nigel Belle 9/2 9/2 9/0 in 20m
*3/4 William Wilson bt *5/8 Andrew Beeston 9/4 9/2 9/4 in 27m
*2 Mike Clemson bt *5/8 Brian Hardcastle 9/5 9/3 9/3 in 24m
WO35
Judith Allgrove bt Sarah Robertson 9/7 9/3 9/2 in 37m
WO40
*1 Rachel Pullan bt *5/8 Lucy Murphy 9/6 9/6 9/0 in 18m
Shayne Baillie bt *3/4 Isabelle Tyrrell 9/4 9/6 9/3 in 27m
*3/4 Amanda Warren bt *5/8 Isabelle Tweedle 9/1 5/9 9/6 9/1 in
35m
*2 Claire Walker bt *5/8 Sarah Parr 9/2 9/1 9/7 in 20m
WO45
*1 Andrea Santa Maria bt Sue Smith 9/1 9/1 9/4 in 17m
Kay Fallows bt *3/4 Diana Parums 9/7 9/7 3/9 9/1 in 35m
*2 Rose Bamber bt Rachel Woolford 9/7 9/7 9/1 in 30m
WO50
*1 Mandy Akin bt Hilary Kenyon 9/4 5/9 9/1 9/0 in 26m
*5/8 Lesley Sturgess bt *3/4 Sarah Howlett 7/9 9/6 9/2 0/9 9/5
in 36m
*3/4 Fiona McLean bt *5/8 Claire Baker 9/10 9/4 9/0 9/7 in 47m
*2 Fran Wallis bt *5/8 Tamsin Bennett 9/1 9/0 9/1 in 22m
WO55
*1 Julie Field bt *5/8 Jane Law 9/6 9/1 9/0 in 15m
*3/4 Jill Campion bt *5/8 Sue Pynegar 10/8 9/0 9/2 in 20m
*5/8 Lynne Davies bt *3/4 Eunice Bond 9/7 9/7 9/0 in 27m
*2 Helen Gould bt *5/8 Karen Hume 9/7 9/4 9/3 in 18m
WO60
Bett Dryhurst bt Pat Appleton 9/1 7/9 4/9 9/3 9/1 in 29m
Quarter-Finals Friday
Chris Nutley reports
Men’s Over 35
Simon Parke (Yorkshire) eased into the semi finals with a
professional 3-0 win over Michael Potter (Cheshire) and now
meets Danny Massaro (Lancashire) after he also took a 3-0
victory over Michael McLaughlin of Middlesex.
No2 seed Marc Woolhead (Hertfordshire) had to fight it out with
5/8 seed Ian Cox of Norfolk and although leading 1-0 and 2-1 had
to battle on before putting out Cox’s resistance 11-8 in fifth
after 49 minutes. Woolhead’s next opponent is Mick Briggs
(Middlesex) who also had to dig deep to see off the higher
ranked Berkshire’s Tim Burrell.
Men’s Over 40
Nick Taylor always prepares well for his returns to
Manchester and this year looks no different – today seeing off
Pete Goodings (Essex) in three. Next up for Taylor is 3/4 seed
Jamie Goodrich (Norfolk) who was kept on court for over an hour
by 5/8 seed Jonathan Glidden before claiming a hard fought 3-1
win.
The other 3/4 seed Mike Gregory (Devon) also had a battle on his
hands and had to keep battling until finally defeating Pul Boyle
(Buckinghamshire) 11-7 in the decider.
Men’s Over 45
In one of the big shocks of the championships so far 5/8
seed Rick Weatherall (Berkshire) fought back from two down to
defeat No1 seed and former champion Yawar Abbas (D&C). It was
close encounter but Weatherall gradually managed to draw Abbas
out of his comfort zone and after 40 minutes put a run of four
consecutive points together to take the decider.
Weatherall now faces 3/4 seed Andrew Cross (D+C) who is yet to
drop a game in his three matches so far. 3/4 seed David Youngs
(Norfolk) was involved in a great tussle with Lancashire
favourite Nigel Willis (Lancashire) and after sneaking the first
two games was pegged back by Willis to take it into the fifth.
It could have gone any way but in the end it was the higher
seeded Youngs who prevailed and now faces No2 seed Murray Scott
(Derbyshire).
Men’s Over 50
In the top half of the draw Eamonn Price (Hertfordshire)
showed his pedigree once again with a 9-1 9-2 9-1 win over 5/8
seed Ged Martin (Yorkshire). Price has now dropped just 19
points in 3 rounds but tomorrow faces Steven Calvert of
Northumbria who has conceded but 14 points himself – a semi to
watch out for!
5/8 seed Colin Payne showed his intentions with a fabulous win
over 3/4 seed Alan Thomson (Middlesex) 9-1 9-2 9-1 in just 22
minutes and now moves on to face 5/8 seed Gary Raw of
Hertfordshire who defeated Dorset’s No2 seed Martin Greenslade
with a seesaw 8-10 9-0 9-0 2-9 9-2 match.
Men’s Over 55
Lancashire’s Allen Barwise followed up his giant killing
exploits of yesterday, when he dispatched both a 9/16 and 5/8
seed by raising the bar once again to brush aside the tough No2
seed Mark Cowley of Middlesex with a hugely impressive 9-5 9-7
9-5 win inside 30 minutes.
Tomorrow Barwie faces 3/4 seed Duleep Adihetty (Middlesex) and
who would bet against his run continuing. The other semi final
will be as predicted with Jeremy Gould (Avon) taking on Stuart
Hardy of Middlesex.
Men’s Over 60
Favourite Nick Drysdale (Avon) looks to be in formidable
form as he reached the semis in 15 minutes and without dropping
a single point, and now faces 3/4 seed Alan Hathway who defeated
John Howie of Scotland – also in three.
The all Cumbrian battle between Ronnie Bell and Terry Belshaw
was taken by Bell in three – Belshaw unable to repeat his
earlier win over the higher seeded Richard Whitehouse. No2 seed
Stephen Jackson progressed but again dropped a game – this time
against 5/8 seed Mark Thompson (Yorkshire).
Men’s Over 65
The top four seeds will contest tomorrows semi finals after
all enjoyed good victories. Martin Pearse (Norfolk) the only one
to lose a game but after dropping the first moved up a gear and
smooth his way past the Oxfordshire’s 5/8 seed Tony Wheeler.
Men’s Over 70
Top seed Adrian Wright (Yorkshire) got off to a slow start
before bouncing back to defeat 5/8 seed Ken Reid (Oxfordshire)
5-9 9-6 9-0 9-6 in 32 minutes. Wright now faces Graham Fisher
(Sussex) for a place in the final while the other semi sees
Wright’s Yorkshire team mate Mike Clemson come up against
William Wilson (Cheshire).
Women’s Over 35
The only match so far has been between Judith Allgrove
(Middlesex) and Sarah Robertson and it was Allgrove who
prevailed with a 9-7 9-3 9-2 win in 37 minutes.
Women’s Over 40
Shayne Baillie (Surrey) continued her great run with a
controlled and professional 9-4 9-6 9-3 win over the 3/4 seed
Isabelle Tyrell. Next up for Baillie is a shot at No1 seed
Rachel Pullen in the semi’s after Pullen eased to victory over
Lucy Murphy of Kent. The other semi is between Claire Walker
(Yorkshire) and Amanda Warren.
Women’s Over 45
Andrea Santamaria of Yorkshire looked to be worthy of her
No1 seeding with a commanding performance as she progressed with
a straight sets win over Sue Smith (Derbyshire). Santamaria now
faces Kay Fallows (Lancashire) who saw off North West rival and
3/4 seed Diana Parums (Cheshire) 3 games to 1. The other semi
final will be between No2 seed Rose Bamber (Avon) and Julie
Palmer (Hampshire).
Women’s Over 50
Favourite Mandy Akin (Kent) got her event off to a solid
start with victory over Hilary Kenyon who had put out the 5/8
seed Pippa Green (Avon) in R1. 5/8 seed Lesley Sturgess
(Derbyshire) upset the seedings by taking out 3/4 seed Sarah
Howlett (Cambridgeshire) in a tough 5 setter.
No2 seed Fran Wallis (Lincolnshire) seemed fired up today and
wasted little time in overwhelming the 5/8 seed Tamsin Bennett
(Surrey) 9-1 9-0 9-0 in just 22 minutes - her reward a semi
final against Scottish 3/4 seed Fiona McLean .
Women’s Over 55
Lynne Davies (Wales) prevented all top four seeds reaching
the semi finals with a comprehensive 3-0 performance against 3/4
seed Eunice Bond (Scotland). Davies now plays Helen Gould (Avon)
while the other semi is between habitual nationals winner Julie
Field (Yorkshire) and Jill Campion (Middlesex).
Women’s Over 60
There was only one match in this category but it turned into
a great battle between Bett Dryhurst (Worcestershire) and Pat
Appleton of Lancashire. Dryhurst took the first but then found
herself 2-1 down before regrouping and claiming her spot in the
semi’s with a 9-1 7-9 4-9 9-3 9-1 victory.
Friday Quickie - up to the quarters
The men’s over
60’s R3 was definitely a tale of two halves. The top half of
the draw saw fairly comfortable wins for the top seeded players,
Nick Drysdale (Avon), Alan Hathway and John Howie (Scotland).
9/16 seed Alasdair Niven gate crashed the quarters after
recovering from losing the first game 0-9 to get his game going
and in the end ease past 3/4 seed Neil Nightingale (Derbyshire).
The bottom of the draw was very different with 3 matches going
the distance and even No2 seed Stephen Jackson (Surrey) having
to fight back to defeat 9/16 seed Ian Smith of Kent in four. 5/8
seed Richard Whitehouse (Staffordshire) was another casualty as
he slipped to defeat against 9/16 seed Terry Belshaw (Cumbria)
despite looking good in taking the first 9-5. Belshaw now faces
fellow Cumbrian and former national champion Ronnie Bell after
he too came through a five set battle against Geoff Redfern of
Warwickshire.
In the Men's O50 Eamonn Price (Hertfordshire) continued
his excellent start to the event with a comprehensive 3-0 win
over Paul Clark (Wiltshire). 9/16 seed David Gray (Cumbria)
upset the seedings as he proved too resilient for 3/4 seed
Darren Withey, taking the decider 9-1 to set up a quarter final
against 5/8 seed Steven Calvert (Northumbria). The remainder of
the draw went to seed with only Alan Thomson (Middlesex)
dropping a game as he beat Steve Smith of Herefordshire in four.
Masters Thursday Roundup
Chris Nutley reports
This year has seen a record
masters entry with 278 players vying for the prestigious
national titles on offer in 15 differing categories ranging from
Over 35’s up to Over 75 year olds. After two days of frantic and
congested squash most draws are well under way:
Men’s Over 35
Simon Parke (Yorkshire) was National Champion back in
1998 and this year starts as clear favourite in the over 35’s.
The now silver haired Parke could be playing in the over 40’s
but has chosen to drop back down and try to reclaim the 35
title. Parke’s opening match didn’t go without hiccup and he was
kept on court for 45 minutes before defeating James Bowden
(Warwickshire) in 4.
Parke now faces 5/8 seed Michael Potter
(Cheshire) in the quarters. No 2 seed Marc Woolhead
(Hertfordshire) progressed smoothly with a straight games win
over James Biggin whilst Danny Massaro joined his wife – World
No2 Laura - as a quarter finalist after defeating Geoff Taylor
(Hertfordshire) with a professional 3-0 win.
Men’s Over 40
Manchester’s former favourite Nick Taylor (Lancashire) is
the No1 seed and reached the quarter finals with a comfortable
win over Matthew Stephenson (Yorkshire) and now faces Pete
Goodings (Essex). The quarter finals line up is as predicted by
the seedings but only after Mike Gregory had to dig deep and
battle back to beat Paul Boyle (Bucks) after conceding a 2 game
advantage only to find himself pegged back to 2 all. In the end
t was a 3-2 victory for Gregory in 58 minutes.
Men’s Over 45
Defending champion and favourite Yawar Abbas (D&C)
reached the quarter finals with two good wins over Steven
Hollindrake (Lancashire) and 9/16 seed Martin Geear
(Leicestershire) and now faces 5/8 seed Rick Weatherall
(Berkshire). Simon Spencer has proved the seeding panel wrong
taking out two seeds on his way to the quarters. First to go was
5/8 seed John Hanson (Yorkshire) in a five set thriller and
Spencer followed that up with a slightly easier straight games
win over 9/16 seed Mark Hildred to set up a quarter final
against Andrew Cross (D&C). This is the first year that the over
45’s have played PAR scoring which should make the business end
of this category a little easier on the event schedule!!!
Men’s Over 50
Eamonn Price (Hertfordshire) is the No1 seed and is
looking to add the over 50 title to his impressive record in his
first year in the age group. He kicked off his campaign with a
sound performance dispatching Duffield’s PSL Manager Felix
Frixou (Derbyshire) in three but only after 40 minutes on court.
The only seeds missing from round 3 are 9/16 Les Hughes who was
well beaten by Wiltshire’s Paul Clark and fellow 9/16 seed
Steven Martin (Yorkshire) who withdrew. Two rounds await this
age group on Friday.
Men’s Over 55
Lancashire’s Allen Barwise is having a great start to the
tournament and has already seen off two seeded players on route
to the quarter finals. First off he took out 9/16 seed Keith
Gristwood (Scotland) for the loss of only 5 points and then
fought back after losing the first game to 5/8 seed Tom Burton
(Shropshire) to set up a daunting quarter tie against the
eternally strong second seed Mark Cowley (Middlesex). All other
seeds are safely through.
Men’s Over 60
42 players started out on Wednesday and so far all the seeded
players have progressed without major scare. However 5/8 sees
Richard Whitehouse (Staffordshire) had to recover from losing
the first game in his round 2 match against John Duckworth.
Whitehouse forged back to take a 2-1 lead….then losing the 4th
to love before finally putting the match to bed in the fifth.
Last years losing finalist Nick Drysdale (Avon) is back as the
No1 seed and will be hoping to go one better come Sunday
afternoon.
Men’s Over 65
Red hot favourite Phil Ayton (Sussex) withdrew before the
event leaving the draw wide open and ready for someone to take
things by the scruff of the neck. Hampshire’s Barry Featherstone
is now the No1 seed with Aubrey Waddy (Buckinghamshire) stepping
up as the new No2. Larry Grover (Hampshire), Geoff Howes
(Surrey), Tony Wheeler (Oxfordshire) and Chris Ansell
(Berkshire) all enjoyed comfortable wins in round 1 to join the
other seeds in the quarter finals.
Men’s Over 70
World Champion and No1 seed Adrian Wright (Yorkshire)
will be out to avenge last year’s final defeat and reclaim his
crown. Wright kicks off his campaign against Ken Reid
(Oxfordshire) who defeated Geoff Coe (Cheshire) in R1. Last
year’s champion Bill Wilson is a 3/4 seed this time around and
could meet Wright again in the final but has the likes of Andrew
Beeston (Merseyside) and Mike Clemson (Yorkshire) to navigate
past first.
Men’s Over 75
Pat Kirton (Surrey) will take on Lance Kinder (Hampshire) in
Sundays final.
Women’s Over 40
The surprise of R1 belonged to Shayne Baille (Surrey) who
took out 5/8 seed Sam Mueller (Buckinghamshire). Top seeds
Rachel Pullen (Nottinghamshire) and Claire Walker (Yorkshire)
are yet to start and face quarter finals against Lucy Murphy
(Kent) and Sarah Parr (Berkshire).
Women’s Over 50
Hilary Kenyon caused the only upset of the over 50 draw
so far with a great hard fought 11/9 10/8 10/8 win over 5/8 seed
Pippa Green (Avon)…and for her troubles now faces No1 seed Mandy
Akin (Kent).
Women’s Over 55
In the only 2 games so far 5/8 seeds Susan Pynegar
(Nottinghamshire) and Karen Davies (Wales) both progressed with
wins over Jan Ellis (Avon) and Rebecca Moore (Cambridgeshire)
respectively.
The remaining women’s categories are yet to start.
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