The England Squash Masters circuit returned to Ipswich Sports Club for the fourth and final Regional Open event of the 2022/23 season, the Karakal East of England Masters Open.
An excellent club where the Masters are always well looked after and vital ranking points were at stake for players hoping for England selection this year. And, of course, lots of good squash, competition, and camaraderie.
Women’s Over 60. Played in two pools there was a fine win for Polly Woodward (CHS) who beat Irish International Maureen Duke from 2-0 down and then took third place beating Julie-Anne Pegram (SFK). Sarah Howlett (CBE) topped the group and met Jackie Gregory (ESX) in the final and in a terrific contest that went point for point it was Gregory who edged ahead in the fifth for her first Regional Championship.
Women’s Over 50. Linda Pritchard (SPE) managed to justify her top seeding by narrowly overcoming Isobel Smith (HFD) 14-12 in the fifth and there she met Vivienne Berkemer (BRK) who scored two straight game wins to reach the final. Pritchard has been very close to wins this season but she converted her final here with a good four game win over Berkemer after sharing the first two games 11-9, 9-11, her first Regional Championship.
Women’s Over 45. Top seed Rachel Calver (LEC) the British Open Champion powered through her matches to reach the final and there will meet in form Catherine Ruffle (KNT) who last month won her first Regional at the South of England. The final promised to be a good one but at 1-1 Calver had to retire unwell so a second Regional for the Kent woman.
Women’s Over 35/40. This event was also played in two pools and the match of the tie was Nicky Green (NOR) beating top seed Michelle Knight (NHM) 12-10 in the fifth and in the final she then met Heather Joy (BUX) but was unable to reproduce the form of yesterday and Joy’s clever forecourt game saw her win through for her first Regional Championship in straight games.
Men’s Over 75. Top seed Barry Featherstone (HPH) powered through his draw and meets second seed Aubrey Waddy (BUX) for the fourth time this season as Waddy similarly demolished his opposition including current National Champion James Dubois (SRY). It was all Featherstone in the final and he outplayed Waddy on this occasion for a straightforward 3-0 win and his 33rd Regional Championship – second in the all time list.
Men’s Over 70. There was an early upset in this group as Sam Balsdon (DVN) notched up a first regional win on his 70th birthday beating Andrew Edmondson (LCN) 3-2 but he got no further going down to Open Champion Ian Graham (SSX). But in another upset Graham went down in four to the talented shot maker Paul Reader (HPH) and he met John Goodrich (SFK) who came from 2-1 down to beat Geoff Walton (CHS) in five. Goodrich proved too steady in the final and took his 7th Regional in four games.
Men’s Over 65. Allen Barwise (CBA) is just into the group and overwhelming favourite. He powered through the draw to meet Ian Bradburn (LNH) in the final after he got past Ripley Oyler (BRK) in four and then had a tremendous battle with Gordon McManus (KNT) second seed winning 15-13 in the fifth. Barwise was brutal in the final however and against his good friend and someone he plays regularly showed no mercy winning in straight games.
Men’s Over 60. The 2021 British Open and National Champion John Parkes (WOC) was top seed here and looking for an eleventh Regional title. He overcame Nigel Bacon (ESX) in four in the semi to line up against Steve Martin (YKS). Parkes looked a bit out of sorts as Martin played some beautiful squash to set up match points in the third and fourth games but Parkes scrambled to save them. Martin was not to be denied however and he kept his nerve and form to get the fifth for his first Regional win.
Men’s Over 55. Middlesex star Alex Betts with his all action style of game proved too much for Ray Burke (LNH) in one semi-final while Steve McLoughlin (HPH) just had the edge on Andrew Murray (WKS) in the other getting through in three closely fought games. Good to see McLoughlin back after injury and he pushed Betts very hard but the Queens player powered through in four for a 4th title.
Men’s Over 50. Another event that went to seeding at the semi-final stage with Matt Stephenson (YKS) meeting Chris Lynam (HFD) and John Simpson (YKS) getting through to his appointed place to play Jeremy Krzystyniak (SRY). The final was another all Yorkshire affair between Stephenson and Simpson that contained some lovely rallying and shot making. Stephenson is having a great season and is full of confidence and duly took his third title of the season and his fourth overall 16-14 in the third.
Men’s Over 45. The tie of the event was probably Jolyon Head (KNT) beating Nick Freer (MDX) 13-11 in the fifth in an action packed battle but after that he had no answer to the sublime talents of Matt Holland (HPH) who is winning everything at the moment. In the final he took on Mick Biggs (MDX), new in the group and who convincingly won through his half of the draw. Biggs managed to force uncharacteristic errors from Holland and came through to win his fourth Regional in four games.
Men’s Over 40. There was a shock in this event as top seed and South of England Champion Neil Cross (NOR) went down to Antony Savage (ESX) in straight games in one semi-final. In the final he met Steven Davies (BFD) and in match which showed their skills beautifully it was the Essex County star who emerged the winner coming from a game down to take his first Regional in four.
Men’s Over 35. Top seed and former pro player Rory Pennell (ESX) had a superb win over the dynamic Gbenga Adeyi (BFD), Pennell getting through from one game all 13-11, 15-13. In the final he met the evergreen Jamie Goodrich (NOR) who has a remarkable 21 Regional Championship wins all at Over 35 level. He upset the form book by beating Dave Palmer (DVN) in four games to reach the final. Pennell was just too strong and his powerful hitting was the telling factor as he took a second Regional Championship in straight games.
Thanks were paid to our sponsors Karakal for their continued support. Thanks to Ipswich Sports Club, Managers and Members and the catering and bar staff who were excellent. As always, the England Squash referees were thanked as were the Committee who ran the event, especially Brian Brock, ably assisted by Ros Featherstone.
Further thanks were paid to England Squash Masters Hon. President and Founder Martin Pearse who was present and this is the twentieth year of ESM.
The next event will be the iProSports British National Championships at Edgbaston Priory Club Birmingham from 8-12 February 2023. Entries close Friday 20th January.
Stuart Hardy
Chairman