Women’s Over 65: Lynne Davies of Wales is a regular competitor on the England circuit and has 7 previous Regional championships. Today she was up against England International Lesley Sturgess (DYS) who herself also has 7 wins. The tie break was broken in favour of the Welsh Wizard with a straight games win, although the third went to 14-12.
Women’s Over 55/60: The two outstanding players in this event were British Open Champion and Wales Champion Helen Barnard and 26 times Regional winner Fran Wallis. Barnard seems to have the edge over her recently and so it proved today as Barnard won the first two before Wallis hit her best game only just losing the third 14-12. The third Regional for Barnard.
Women's Over 45/50: Former Open Champion Catherine Ruffle is a formidable player and very mobile but her opponent is renowned as a very talented shot maker. Nicky Green took the first with some dazzling stroke play but Ruffle stuck to her task , retrieved well and put more and more pressure on Green’s game forcing errors and taking the next three for a four game win for her 6th Regional title.
Women's Over 35/40: Keeley Peacock made her debut on the Masters circuit here and did so in some style. Playing lovely squash she reached the final against Natalie Davenport-Husdan, the top seed. The Essex girl went 2-0 up and reached 10 all in the third before her opponent found her range and really got into the match. She took the next three games in a very good quality match. The first Regional for the Cheshire star.
Men’s Over 75: The outstanding player in this group was Barry Featherstone the recent World silver medallist and chasing Adrian Wright’s all time record of 37 Regional wins. He was favourite today and duly overcame the resistance of Martin Day in straight games to draw level on 37 Regional wins with legendary Wright.
Men’s Over 70: Stuart Hardy beat Ian Graham in the British Open final and repeated the performance here today. Graham is a former British Open and National Champion but Hardy had too much pace for him as he powered through in straight games to reach his 18th Regional championship.
Men’s Over 65: A wonderful event with some fine players coming through the draw. It was good to see the return of former National Champion Richard Millman from the USA and he got through to the semis where in a game of exquisite lobs, drops and clever shots he only just fell short losing to British Open Champion Nick Gollaglee. In the final he took on newcomer to the group, another former National Champion, Neil Harrison who plays a more orthodox powerful game. On the day Gollaglee’s unconventional style again won through and he took his third Regional in a good 3-1 win.
Men’s Over 60: Two exceptional Masters Champions in this final with both having won British Opens and National titles. Parkes started the better and hung on to squeeze the first 12-10 but renowned of his relentless match play Price struck back to dominate the rallies and keep his opponent pinned back before administering the winning shots. 3-1 to Price and 21st Regional title.
Men’s Over 55: Andrew Eilfield and Sam Hanbury were the outstanding players in this group and duly powered their ways through to the final. On the day the Sussex man found his top game and proved to be too good for Eilfield. A straight games win for Hanbury with some lovely squash and his first Regional championship.
Men’s Over 50: In an event where seeds fell regularly the two players who came through the chaos both previously won a Regional apiece. But local Yorkshire player Stuart Hargreaves, a former British Open Champion, was probably favourite. Joss Hargrave did not give him it all his own way but Hargreaves class came through and a 3-1 win for him.
Men’s Over 45: Paul Warner reached the final the hard way with a massive five game win over James Greenhead (SRY) where he was two games down and had to clinch the third 14-12 to survive. From there he took that match in five to book his final place against Mick Biggs who had an easier route but still some very good contests. The final was touch and go and could have gone either way but in the event Biggs just kept his nose ahead and took the fourth 13-11 for his 7th Regional championship.
Men’s Over 40: Cross of Norfolk was top seed here and had a previous Regional win behind him but Ross Kneller of Yorkshire had other ideas and in a match full of great hitting and retrieving Kneller came through a very tight and tense first game 14-12 to take control of the match and record his first Regional.
Men’s Over 35: Adam Taylor, top seed, was ranked at one as a Junior International through the age groups and played under legendary Malcolm Willstrop at Pontefract. A superb racket player he had shots from everywhere. David Allman is a superb athlete and covered the court fantastically well pushing Taylor all the way in the first two games that Taylor clinched 11-9, 14-12. After that Taylor was on top and ran out a winner in straight games. A fantastic match from two excellent players making their Masters debut.