The England Squash Masters circuit moved to the renowned Pontefract Club for the North of England Championships. With some of the top players in the U.K. from 35 to 75 yrs of age in five year age groups, there was some superb squash from the 137 entrants.

The Women's over 50s was played in round robin groups but the final pitted current British Champion Jill Campion (Middlesex) against slightly younger Hilary Kenyon from Cheshire. After dropping the first game it was Jill who asserted herself and ran out a comfortable 3/1 winner. The Women's over 45s was also a round robin which ended in a North /South final. This time Yorkshire Champion Andrea Santamaria, playing at her home club and combining refereeing duties won through at the expense of Sarah Parr of Berkshire.

In the Women's combine 35/40 event there were some very good competitive matches but Leicestershire's Rachel Calver was the class act as she overcame a good field and Louisa Dalwood of Herts in the final 3/0. Krissy Burkin edged Kate Bradshaw for third place.

Having ruled the roost for two seasons Rodney Boswell was top seed in the Men's 70s but Hampshire's Barry Featherstone has overcome serious injury and is training relentlessly . The Cheshire British Open Champion got to the final comfortably but Featherstone overpowered him 3/0 with a ruthless display. The 65s is increasingly competitive and Scotland and European Champion John Rae removed top seed Ronnie Bell in a tight match having won in five against Joe Richardson of Berks. Cumbrian Terry Belshaw had a slightly easier run but had to battle from two games down to edge out Rae in five games.

The Men's over 60s saw Stuart Hardy from Middlesex struggle through his semi final against Durham's Colin Shields while his England team mate Simon Evenden of Northants looked strong again Geoff Redfern of Warwickshire. The final was an epic.

Hardy looser than usual and Evenden strong and mobile dashing to every corner of the court. Hardy lost a lead and the first 16/18, then levelled but was soon 1/2 down before in a long, frantic match squeezed home 15/13. 16/14. in 1hr. 20mins.

John Parkes (Worcs) in the 55s is the man to beat but David Box of Cumbria won the last event without Parkes and a good rivalry is developing. They got to the final at the expense of the improving Nick Peel of Kent and England Captain Neil Harrison of Durham. It was a very even match always destined for five games and so it proved with Parkes taking the decider.

The Men's 50s is another strong group and there were some fierce matches. Gary Raw of Herts. winning in five over former British Champion Andy Cross being exceptional then losing to Surrey's Cliff Martindale also in five. Top seed David Youngs of Norfolk playing his wonderful game, full of variety in pace and shot came though to meet Martindale. Youngs went two up but the Surrey man pulled two back before fading in the fifth. Two in a row for Youngs, his 16th. Regional title in all.

Michael Harris the Edgbaston Priory Pro. is new to the Masters circuit and immediately made his mark in the 45s. He survived a tough test again Yorkshire's Matt Stephenson to take this final slot. James Powley another pro, from Cambridgeshire had a long hard battle to get to a semi final. He overcame John Riley of Yorks in five tight games but then went down to top seed Andy Normile the Surrey Champion again in five. Unfortunately Normile pulled a muscle and had to concede the final to Harris.

The Men's over 40s top two always looked to be the finalists and only Paul Johnson of Wales made any headway, a game off Jonathan Gallagher of Devon. Top seed Ashley Bowling of Oxfordshire cruised through to the final and won the first 12/10. From there Gallagher asserted his game and ran out a 3/1 winner with a fine display of accurate squash.

The Men's 35s is always the flagship event and there was a shock when British Open over 35 Champion Alex Preston (Bucks) went out to Surrey's Tony Webb who in turn lost to Leicester star Paul Stroud. Meanwhile second seed Matt Marshall, also of Bucks. eased through to the final and constructed a sound performance to take the match against Stroud three games to one.

As always, thanks were made to Pontefract Club, Mike Todd, Malcolm Wilstrop, Steve Ridge and Nathan Tipple who made the presentations.

The next Regional Masters event is the Midlands Open at Edgbaston Priory from 10-12th. November 2017.