The last of the England Squash Masters Regional events of the season, the Karakal Midlands Masters Open, took place at the excellent Wolverhampton Lawn Tennis & Squash Club, kindly supported by club sponsors Xeinadin – a leading provider of accountancy services and business advice. A total of 168 players registered for the event, with a few unfortunately entering too late to gain a place. Nevertheless, it was a tremendous weekend of squash across all age groups, with valuable ranking points on offer for those aiming for England selection in the internationals in April and May.
Women’s Over 65
Played in two pools, there were some unexpected results. National Champion Lesley Sturgess (DYS) lost to Sue Pyneger (NOT) in five but secured a solid win over Julie-Anne Pegram (SFK) to reach the final. In the other half, second seed Lynne Davies lost a battling five-setter to Welsh international team-mate Sian Johnson, with two games going to extra points. Sturgess recovered her form in the final and collected her ninth Regional title with a straight-games win over Johnson.
Women’s Over 55/60
Top seed Mandy Akin (KNT) has suffered some recent injury problems but remains a class act. She proved too experienced for Jackie Gregory (ESX) in one semi-final, while National Champion Hilary Kenyon (CHS) overcame a spirited challenge from Tamsin Bennett (SRY) in three tight games. Kenyon edged the first two extraordinarily hard-fought games 13/11, 15/13, before securing her eighth Regional Championship in three games.
Women’s Over 50
Christine McMullen (CHS) has been in superb form this season and remains the player to beat. She dropped the first game of her semi-final to Kate Smith (YKS), who had eliminated former National Champion Linda Pritchard (SPE), but progressed to the final to face another former National Champion in Sarah Parr (BRK), who had removed Wales No. 1 Helen Barnard. Parr took the first 12/10, but McMullen moved up a gear to reel off the next three and claim her eighth Regional title.
Women’s Over 45
Played in two pools, one of the best early matches came from Kate Fuller (SFD), who recovered from two games down against Natalie Townsend (WKS), taking the third 13/11 before winning in five. She pushed British Open Champion Kate Bradshaw (HFD) hard, losing in four. In the other half, National Champion Catherine Ruffle (KNT) reached the final without difficulty. The Bradshaw–Ruffle encounter was, as always, a superb match. They shared the first two games 12/10, 9/11, before Bradshaw crucially took the third 11/9 from behind and then the fourth for her sixth Regional title.
Women’s Over 35/40
This group has become increasingly competitive this season with new players and strong performances throughout. In the early rounds, Sophie Beake (BRK) surrendered a 2–0 lead but held on to defeat Heather Joy (BUX) 14/12 in the fifth. The top two seeds, Kirsty West (CHS) and two-time winner this season Kelly Eastment (SSX), looked destined for the final. They shared the opening games in a high-quality match, but West proved the more resilient and took the match in four for her first Regional Championship after two previous final defeats.
Men’s Over 80
The ‘Elder Statesmen’ of the game delivered fine, thoughtful squash. The star name was former World Champion Chris Ansell (BRK), but he has recently lost to former National Champion Allan Whittow (BUX), who was nearly taken out by Leo Kingston (LNH) after Kingston saved the third 11/9 before losing the fourth by the same score. Kingston then had a good tussle with John Culverhouse (KNT), winning in four close games. The final was another Ansell–Whittow showdown; after sharing the first two games, Ansell’s class showed as he pulled away to take his twelfth title in four games.
Men’s Over 75
A solid eight-player draw produced close matches throughout, although the final pairing had a sense of inevitability. Andrew Edmondson (LCN) boosted his international prospects by edging Bryan Francis (MDX) 11/9 in the fifth and pushed British Open holder Ian Graham (SSX) hard over four games. In the other half, perennial champion Barry Featherstone (HPH) had a tremendous four-game battle with Irish No. 1 Paddy Butler before reaching yet another final against his recent nemesis Graham. Graham was too strong on the day, and the slower court did not suit Featherstone. Unusually, their encounter finished 3/0 to Graham – his tenth Regional title.
Men’s Over 70
Top seed and National Champion Stuart Hardy (WLT) was unstoppable last season, but injuries this year have hampered him. Back to some form, he removed Alan Mackenzie (WKS) in the semi-final after Mackenzie had beaten Cornwall Champion David Matthew. In the other half, Wales No. 1 Anthony Bevan proved too strong for four-time champion John Hithersay (NHM), winning in four. Bevan thrived on the slower court with deadly volley drops. Hardy hung on with a flurry of winners from the Welshman but clinched the fifth 13/11 for his 21st Regional Championship.
Men’s Over 65
In an unexpected result, four-time National Champion Allen Barwise (CBA) lost in five close games to England team-mate Tom Burton (HFD), who then lost in five to Alan Borrill (LCN), a player in fine form this season. In the other half, second seed Phil Wakefield (YKS), also in good form, fell to George Kousseff (HPH), who then found the unconventional skills of Norfolk’s Richard Millman too difficult. In the final, Millman edged the first 12/10 but then lost two close games; he nearly took the fourth, but Borrill used his reach well to close it out 13/11 for his first Regional title.
Men’s Over 60
Top seed Simon Spencer (NOT) has already claimed two titles this season and continued his good form. He faced the ever-combative John Parkes (WOC) in a blisteringly paced semi-final, recovering from 2–1 down to win in five. Meanwhile, Alex Betts (MDX) progressed smoothly through the bottom half, removing the dangerous Andrew Killey (AVN), who had eliminated No. 3 seed Steve Martin (YKS). The Spencer–Betts final did not match the standard of their previous classics, and Betts – the man in white from Queen’s Club – secured a straight-games win for his eleventh Regional title.
Men’s Over 55
Two British Open Masters Champions featured in the draw and duly reached the final. Top seed Stuart Hargreaves (YKS) beat Mark Steeden (KNT), who had earlier upset the seedings by defeating Sam Hanbury (SSX) in four. Steve McLoughlin (HPH) battled past Nigel Rowe (WLT) in five before overcoming the shot-making of Steve Dodridge (BRK) to reach the final. The final showcased high-class squash, with only a few points separating the players. Hargreaves clinched it 11/9 in the fourth for his fourth title.
Men’s Over 50
This event produced numerous exciting matches. Top seed Andy Marsh (SOM) saved seven match points against Adam Dominey (IOW), winning 15/13 in the fifth to reach the final. There he met Wayne Beglan (SRY), who came through a long, tough match against Jason Burgon (CBE) before repeating his win over England team-mate Matthew Stephenson (YKS) in four hard games. The final was a testament to both players’ fitness and ability, lasting nearly an hour before Marsh prevailed in five for his first Masters Regional title.
Men’s Over 45
The story of the season in this event has been the return of Lee Jemmett (ESX). A former World Junior Champion for England, he re-entered Masters squash in style, winning all three Regionals so far this season – each final 3/2. He reached the final again without difficulty to face his frequent opponent, Paul Warner (BUX). Warner had a tougher route, enduring an attritional match with Nick Hargreaves (NOT) and coming from 2–1 down to beat Mick Biggs (MDX) 11/9 in the fifth. In the final, Jemmett went 2–0 up before Warner snatched the third 12/10 and then the fourth. Jemmett, seemingly benefitting from extra post-Christmas fitness work, dominated the fifth to secure his fourth consecutive Regional title – a rare achievement.
Men’s Over 40
Top seed and former champion Jason Varrie (OFE) progressed comfortably through the draw before meeting the imposing Paul McDonald (LNH), who had efficiently dispatched all opponents. The Lancashire player took the first game and then found the crucial shots at key moments to win the second 13/11. Varrie responded by taking the third, but McDonald resumed control and stayed ahead throughout the fourth to win the match, claiming his third Regional title and taking a major step toward further England selection.
Men’s Over 35
Double British Open Masters Champion James Snell (DVN) has not lost in an England Masters event for three years and remains in a class of his own. John Welton (AVN) demonstrated his current form by pushing Snell hard and taking a game from him. In the other half, Richard Underhill (NOT) used a 15/13 first game to defeat Oliver Hudson (CHS) in four, but he fell to Ryan Atherton (LNH), who had been ahead when No. 2 seed Jamie Douglas (NLD) was forced to retire injured. Atherton threw everything at Snell and entertained the crowd, but Snell – who simply does everything right – delivered another sublime performance to win 3/1 and take his fifth Regional title.
Thanks were expressed to Circuit Sponsors Karakal, and to club sponsor Xeinadin, represented by Kevin and Kate Corey. Appreciation also goes to Wolverhampton Lawn Tennis & Squash Club and all involved there, especially Head Coach Mike Harris, and to the England Squash referees. A special thanks goes to the Event Manager, Badger Brock, whose work makes these tournaments so successful, ably supported by Ros Featherstone.
Stuart Hardy
Chairman