For the first time, the England Squash Masters circuit travelled to the fine facilities of Ipswich Sports Club in Suffolk. A lot of players were obviously feeling the affects of the festive season but a good entry of 170 provided some excellent competition.
Men's O75. Martin Pearse (NOR) was again top seed in this event but his mobility let him down and James Dubois (SRY) took advantage to take a place in the final. Here he played Chris Ansell (BRK) a former World champion returning to the game after prolonged illness. Dubois had the edge in mobility and controlled the match well to take his debut Regional title in four games.
Men's O70. The seedings were correct for the last four here and a much awaited semi-final between British Open finalist Terry Belshaw (CBA) and Ian Graham (SSX) produced a sensational match where Belshaw went 2 up before former National champion Ian Graham stormed back to take the next 2 both 11/9. The fifth was a dog fight and Graham narrowly prevailed. He played many times champion Barry Featherstone (HPH) in his last regional in this age group proved to be still too good and recorded a remarkable 31st Regional win in 4 games.
Men's O65. Top seed Stuart Hardy (WLT) having reached three finals this season failed to fire here and lost in a quarter to former National champion Judge John Goodrich (SFK) playing on his home courts. The Judge couldn’t reproduce that form and then lost to Rob Ballingall (BUX) who took his first slot in a final. Here he met England player Simon Evenden (NHM) who had the unenviable record of losing five Regional finals. Today however he held his nerve in the fifth to edge home against Ballingall for his first title.
Men's O60. Former British Open champion Dermot Hurford (SRY) was the favourite for this title and recovered from some injuries is now back to his best. The final saw him up against the talented Nick Gollaglee (SOM) who had caused some upsets beating No. 2 seed Nick Peel and then 3 seed Phil Wakefield (YKS) in four games. Hurford showed his class in the final with his firm hitting game and good movement overcoming the lob and drop shot playing of Gollaglee in four games.
Men's O55. Top seed Simon Spencer (NOT) had to withdraw injured in his first-round match and Duane Harrison (KNT) took advantage of the gap to reach a semi-final before coming unstuck against former British Open champion and World ranked player Peter Gunter (MDX). In the other half Raymond Burke MBE (LNH) scored an unexpected victory over the mercurial Jonathan Clark (CHS) to take a final slot. He carried his form into the final where he outlasted Gunter in five gruelling games. A second Regional title for the former Army man.
Men's O50. The seeds tumbled in the Men's 50s as well. Perhaps it was the festive season that caused these upsets across the board but Warwickshire’s Andy Murray always a fierce competitor managed to squeeze home 12/10 in the fifth against top seed John Simpson of Yorkshire while Tim Clark (DCL) won through a cat and mouse match against David Youngs (NOR) also in five games. The final was full of great hitting and retrieval with Clark going two up but Murray a great competitor coming back to level. The fifth was point for point and could have gone either way but it was Clark who squeezed home 12/10 for his first Regional title.
Men's O45. Top seed and recently crowned British Open champion Matt Holland (HPH) moved smoothly through to the final with straight game wins. The other half of the draw was more chaotic with Joss Hargrave (LEC) beating second seed Nick Freer (MDX) before losing to Jolyon Head (KNT) in a very tight five-setter. In a tournament of very classy players, Holland is very, very classy. He put in another superb performance and is odds on for the National title next month.
Men's O40. Darren Lewis (LEC) is the star turn in this age group having won British Open and National titles previously. He got through a tight semi with Paul Wallace (ESX) in four games to meet a regular opponent in the powerful form of Mick Biggs (MDX) who survived a great match with Paul Blom (ESX) taking the third game 14/12 and the fourth 13/11 to stay in the match before clinching the fifth. It was apparent that Lewis had a slight muscle pull and his movement was a bit compromised but Biggs playing his brand of powerful squash stuck to his task and recorded a notable first Regional win after six finals.
Men's O35. 2019 British Open champion Phil Nightingale (SRY) was top seed here and despatched multi O35 Regional winner Jamie Goodrich (NOR) early on but he found another former World ranked pro-Rory Pennell (ESX) a tougher proposition and at two games down and down in the third retired with an injury. No. 2 seed Nick Sutcliffe (MDX) is based in Texas and rarely in the UK but proved his class by taking out Jason Pike (WKS) who has been playing exceptionally well this season. The final was a superb match. Sutcliffe all energy and attack won the first but Pennell struck back to take the second. The third was all Sutcliffe 10/4 up but Pennell saved six-game balls to level before Sutcliffe held his nerve to pinch it 13/11. Pennell took the fourth but again Sutcliffe managed to dictate proceedings in the fifth to take the match and the title.
Women's O60. Former World Champion Karen Hume (KNT) was favourite here but had to survive a spirited challenge from Susan Pynegar (NOT) emerging a 16/14 in the fifth to take her place in the final. Lesley Sturgess (DYS) has put together an impressive string of results and was her final opponent. Hume had the edge today and with some fine rallies took the match in four games for her 14th Regional win.
Women's O55. Fran Wallis (LCN) was the top seed and 25-time Regional champion but she had a severe test against Dawn Robinson (ESX) narrowly coming through in five. It got easier for her as she went through the next rounds in straight games beating Bev Vatcher (DOR) who had upset the seeding beating second seed Karen Webb (BRK) 3/1 in the semis.
Women's O50. Sarah Parr (BRK) was favourite here and has 7 Regional titles to her name. In the final she met Mandy Akin (KNT) who had dropped down an age group and was returning from injury. A regular Regional winner with 12 titles she was also a British Open champion. She had to survive a spirited challenge from the re-vitalised Alison Goy (NOT) coming through 12/10 in the fifth. Parr was too good in the Final, however, but Akin will be a force in her own group in the Nationals next month.
Women's O45. Vix Smith (SRY) last month won the British Open and obviously was favourite here. She had a stiff challenge from Catherine Ruffle (KNT) winning in four but the first game was 15/13 and the fourth 14/12. In the final she met Louisa Dalwood (HFD) herself a 3 time Regional champion. Vix Smith showed her Open form and took the final in straight games.
Women's O35/40. The top two seeds in this group are particularly strong players with Keeley Johnson (KNT) having won 10 Regionals as well as National and British Open titles. The top seed however was Polly Roylance-Smith (LCN) who has been in exceptional form. She had a particularly hard battle with Sophie Beake (BRK) getting home in five but a final against Johnson was eagerly awaited and it was a great match. Roylance-Smith a left hander with an unorthodox swing was always just ahead and with some tremendous rallies and retrieving held on for a four-game win and her first Regional title.
Special thanks to all at Ipswich Sports Club and our sponsors Karakal.
Stuart Hardy
Chairman