The England Squash Masters circuit of events continued to Wolverhampton Lawn Tennis & Squash Club for the Karakal Midlands Open. There were 188 players registered for the event and running alongside the main championships were various plate events, so players got a lot of Squash.
Women’s Over 60: Only a small draw here but with some high pedigree. Double World Champion Karen Hume (KNT) playing down an age group reached the final to meet three times British Open Champion Fiona McLean of Scotland. There was some excellent squash from both players, but it was the Scot who had the edge, triumphing in four competitive games.
Women’s Over 55: Again, a small draw was affected by injuries but former Zimbabwean player Karen Webb reached the final but found Lisa Tolhurst (ESX) a bit too strong and took her first Regional title in three straight games.
Women’s Over 50: Played in a pool format so a good number of matches played. Once again National Champion Sarah Parr (BRK) struggled against Linda Pritchard’s (SPE) athletic game and went down in five. But in this format that is not the end. Wales International Helen Barnard controlled the match beautifully and beat Pritchard in straight games leaving a Barnard / Parr match to decide the top spot. Once again Helen was unable to make headway against the England no. 1 and so Parr finished the group on top for the second event in a row.
Women’s Over 45: New faces in this event and some very good players competing. Libby Montgomery (HFD) had a fine upset win over second seed Louisa Dalwood (HFD) in five games but was unable upset the form book again against top seed Christine McMullen (MSY) who played a very controlled match to win her second Regional Championship in four.
Women’s 35/40: Two superb semi-finals in this event as Gemma Barber (DOR) edged past top seed Anglo-Swede Joanne Elgood 11/9 in the fifth while Kate Bradshaw (CBE) overcame second seed Natalie Lawrence (SOM) in an even closer match 12/10 in the fifth. The final was all Bradshaw as she won her second Regional in straight games.
Men’s Over 75: There was an upset here as British Open Champion Barry Featherstone (HPH) having beaten Aubrey Waddy (BUX) in both the Worlds and the last event went down in four games. This earned Waddy a shot at Scotland’s Ian Ross who has been in dominant form and this continued with a straight games win for his fifth Regional.
Men’s Over 70: Ian Graham (SSX) is the top player in this group at present and has British Open and National titles. The closest to him is Terry Belshaw (CBA) who ran him close in the open and again went 2/1 up here. Graham is relentless, however, and again came back to snatch victory in five games for a 7th. Regional.
Men’s Over 65: John Guyatt (WOC) is the standout player in this group at present. The British Open Champion was given a hard time by Master’s Chairman Stuart Hardy (WLT) before getting through in four in one semi-final. Simon Evenden (NHM) removed an out of sorts Gordon McManus (KNT) then the returning former Champion Ian Bradburn (LNH) to earn a shot at the no. 1. Guyatt was too strong however and powered through in straight games. His third regional win.
Men’s Over 60: John Parkes (WOC) was unstoppable last season winning the double of British Open and National titles. He was pushed very hard by England Captain Allen Barwise (CBA) over four games with two going to 15, but Avon’s Andrew Killey was removing very good players on the other side of the draw. He had to much touch for Parkes in the final and Killey recorded his first regional win in style.
Men’s Over 55: Another particularly strong group and Alex Betts (MDX) with his all-action style of Squash powered through to the final. Here he met Simon Spencer (NOT) who played in the same whole-hearted flat-out way. The final was a cracker. Betts took the first 16/14 but it must have hurt him because Spence took the next two before Betts surged back and nearly had the fourth going down 14/12. A first title for the Notts man in his third final.
Men’s Over 50: Yorkshire’s Matt Stephenson was top seed here having won the previous event. An interesting semi as multiple Champion Eammon Price (HFD) dropped down an age group to compete. Stephenson proved too strong, however and won 3/1 to book his final with the local professional Mike Harris (SPE) himself a three times Champion. A very good crowd were there to watch the local hero in action, but Stephenson rocketed through from 2/1 down to take the match in five and his third Regional title.
Men’s Over 45: Matt Holland (HPH) was the Player of the Season last year and won everything in sight.
The England No.1 was in fine form here and his elegant and dynamic style is always good to watch. His final opponent was Mike Potter (CHS) who had scored a fine victory over Wales no. 1 Jonathan Davies in one semi. Holland had the edge in the final but only just as the score line 11/8. 15/13. 12/10. attests.
Men’s Over 40: Darren Lewis (LEC) is a former professional player and seems to have more talent than is fair. He plays a beautiful game with some shots that are breath-taking. County teammate Paul Stroud is also a very fine player and he reached the final with 3/2 wins over England players Keith Timms (HFD) and Tony Webb (SRY). Some great squash but Lewis, with three British Opens is one of the best Masters players ever and in spite of a 15/13 second game, Lewis took his eighth Regional. If he keeps playing, he could win 50!
Men’s Over 35: The youngsters! And they play like the pros. Incredibly fit and strong there was some fantastic squash on show and all played at incredible pace. Top seed Rory Pennell (ESX) had an early scare as he needed five games to overcome David Palmer (DVN) before removing Gbenga Adeyi (BFD) who is not back to his best after injury. Meanwhile, Jamie Douglas (NLD) had his own battles - a tight one with Howard Lancashire (WKS) before earning his final berth. Pennell, a former world ranked player had the upper hand in the final that had some great squash and sportsmanship. A first title for the Essex man in his third final.
So, a fantastic weekend of Masters Squash in Wolverhampton where we were very well looked after by all at the club. A great thank you to them.
The next event is the Karakal South of England Masters Open at Nuffield St. Albans from 9th - 11th December 2022.
Stuart Hardy
Chairman