A fantastic final event for the regional event season! Over 190 players registered to participate in this event at the exceptionally hosted Wolverhampton Lawn Tennis & Squash Club. To the squash:
Women’s 65/70: A group that is growing in strength and numbers. In this event England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales were all represented. European silver medallist Lynne Davies of Wales is the in form player and progressed to the final. Her opponent, Sue Pynegar (NOT) had a tougher route and a fine 3/2 win over Sian Johnson of Wales on the way. The final was very tight and Davies came from 2/1 down to edge home in five. Her 6th regional win.
Women’s 55/60: Another Wales No. 1 in Helen Barnard was top seed here and she showed her class by powering through the field in a series of straight game wins. Second seed Fran Wallis (LNC) has amassed 26 Regional titles but, although nearly taking the third, had no answer to Barnard’s game. A second regional for the Welsh woman.
Women’s 50: Top seed Rachel Calver (LEC) is the star of this group and has a British Open and National title behind her. Louisa Dalwood is a talented player and earlier removed National Champion Linda Pritchard in four. There was no way through in the final, however, and a 9th regional for Calver.
Women’s 45: Some cracking rounds in this event as Ali Hewitt (NHM) overcame Michelle Higgins (ESX) 12/10 in the fifth game, while Natalie Townsend (WKS) removed Clare Kedward (AVN) 13/11 in the fifth. Townsend went on to the final but went down to Kate Bradshaw (CBE) in four good games. A third regional for Bradshaw.
Women’s 35/40: Polly Roylance-Smith (LCN) was top seed here but needed five games to get past Heather Joy (BUX) on her way to the final. In her Masters debut, Natalie Davenport-Husdan (CHS) played beautifully to also reach the final and clinched a tight first game. Polly struck back, however and ran through the next three for her second regional win.
Men’s 75: Barry Featherstone (HPH) is chasing the regional wins record of 37 held by the legendary Adrian Wright. He didn’t have an easy draw and met British Open and European Champion Ian Ross in his semi final. The Englishman won in five to set up a final with Larry Grover (HPH) and they were one win apiece this season before today. In a match of numerous refereeing decisions Featherstone came from 2/1 down to take his 36th regional title in five.
Men’s 70: John Hithersay (NHM) has been a revelation this season and having never won a regional won the first three in a row. Last time he beat his Final opponent John Goodrich (SFK) in the final but the Judge had come to Wolverhampton with a new plan and in this match frustrated his opponent with good length and sharp angles. A seventh regional win for Goodrich and a good marker before next month’s Nationals.
Men’s 65: A very open event and Nick Gollaglee (SOM) took advantage of it. He survived an early scare to win in five over Stuart Hardy (WLT) then removed top seed Tom Burton (HRF) in four. The final combined some great winners and unforced errors and it looked like former National Champion Robin Ridley, the Scotland No. 1, would take his first regional title. But Gollaglee found the right shots and squeezed home 12/10 in the fifth game for his second title.
Men’s 60: Alex Betts (MDX) came looking for a clean sweep of all four regionals this season but a foot injury saw him withdraw in the semi-final and Darren Withey (BUX) a finalist last event went through. Here Darren met Andrew Killey (AVN) last year’s National finalist, who removed the tenacious Eammon Price. (HFD). Withey went two games up but Killey levelled and at 7/7 in the fifth found some magic to take three points for match point. Withey saved two but not the third. 11/9 to the Avon man and a second regional.
Men’s 55: Stephen McLoughlin (HPH) is the British Open Champion but is having a torrid time in the regionals this season. A second loss to a new player in the Masters this season, Gavin Roger-Lund (BUX) put a question mark over his hopes for the National title next month. In a match of two fine athletes, Roger-Lund again found the vital points in tight situations to win in four for his third of the season.
Men’s 50: Stuart Hargreaves (YKS) was top seed here but had to cope with a large and enthusiastic partisan crowd who were rooting for the local club pro Michael Harris (SPE). Hargreaves won through that match but then fell to fellow Yorkshireman and friend Matt Stephenson who has been in great form this year. Meanwhile, another Open Champion, Paul Boyle (BUX) made his way through the bottom half of the draw. The final was another fantastic match full of shot making and retrieving. Stephenson went 2/1 ahead, but Boyle always seems to find a shot when he needs it, and clawed his way to a five-game win and a tenth regional.
Men’s 45: Top seed Mick Biggs (MDX) unusually fell early, losing in the semi-final to Surrey’s James Greenhead who went through to his first regional final. In the other half, Nick Hargreaves (NOT) survived a marathon with Charlie McCall (MDX) then lost another to Paul Warner (BUX). Always an accomplished player, Warner managed to just keep ahead of the Surrey man and notched up his second regional win in four entertaining games.
Men’s 40: Amongst a field of talented players, Darren Lewis (LEC) is outstanding. But the top seed here was well below his best and went out to Jason Varrie (OFE) who duly reached the final. Meanwhile, there was chaos in the bottom half as Steve Davies (BFD) outlasted many-time champion Jamie Goodrich (NOR) 14/12 in the fifth then removed second seed Ross Gore (OFE) in four. The final was too much, however, and Varrie, moving the ball round the court at speed, took the match in four. His second regional title.
Men’s 35: The level of player in the Men’s 35s has soared in the last few years and many time Warwickshire Champion Chris Hall is over 20,000 on Squash Levels. His final opponent Daniel West (SSX) is not far behind him and has appeared in three finals this season. West needed five games to get past Ryan Atherton (LNH) but was solid against Gurhaj Kahlon (BRK), who had removed 3/4 seed David Palmer (DVN), to book his final slot. Hall was just too good in the final, however, and playing with pace and precision took his first Masters regional title in straight games.
Thanks were made to the event sponsors Karakal, to all at Wolverhampton Lawn Tennis & Squash Club for their hospitality and support, the England Squash referees and the Masters Committee who put on a fantastic event. A special mention was made to Badger Brock the Event Manager.
The next Masters event will be the iPROSPORTS British National Masters Squash Championships 2024 at Nottingham Squash Rackets Club from 7-11 February 2024.