Nationals Masters Boast Record Field At Sportcity

British National Squash Championships

Nationals Masters Boast Record Field At Sportcity

Almost 300 players competed in the Masters events within the British National Squash Championships at the weekend in Manchester - with Ireland's Derek Ryan and England's Fiona Geaves both making up for first round losses in the main event to claim the Over-35 titles at the National Squash Centre at Sportcity, and - at the other end of the age spectrum - Herefordshire's John Cox triumphing in the first ever Men's Over-70 championship.

Bury-based Ryan, a former world No7 who only celebrated his 35th birthday in December, beat Cumbria's defending champion Gary Thwaite 9-6 9-3 9-3 in the Men's Over-35 final, while Geaves - the 37-year-old from Gloucester who still boasts a world No12 ranking - successfully defended her Women's Over-35 crown by beating Lancashire's Amanda Warren, from Blackpool, 9-0 9-2 9-0.

There was a Kent double in the Over-40 finals when Dartford's Colin Payne retained the men's title after fighting back from 0/2 down to beat Cheshire's Jonathan Clark 0-9 6-9 9-2 9-1 9-6, and Bromley's Mandy Akin went one better than last year to win the women's trophy - defeating Lincoln's Fran Wallis 10-8 9-4 3-9 9-1.

Status quo was maintained at Over-45 level as both champions retained their titles. Chester's Nick Gatward beat Durham's Neil Harrison 9-3 9-3 9-1 to win the men's title for the second time, while Staffordshire's Liz Brown, from Wolverhampton, beat Redcar's Jacky Gardner in the women's final for the second successive year to win 9-4 9-5 9-0. The triumph brings Ms Brown's Masters career haul to 12 National titles and 10 British Open crowns!

The 2004 champions were unable to maintain their grips on the Over-50 trophies. Men's title-holder David Lumsden, from Chester-le-Street in County Durham, went down 9-6 5-9 10-8 9-0 to Middlesex's first time champion Mark Cowley, from Finchley in north London - while Faith Sinclair from Shincliffe, also in County Durham, failed to keep her women's title after losing 9-5 7-9 9-6 9-6 to unseeded Rebecca Czuczman, from Margate in Kent.

The 2004 Men's Over-55 champion Philip Ayton lost his crown to 5/8 seed Howard Cherlin in a semi-final upset. Londoner Cherlin went on to defeat Manchester's No2 seed Moussa Helal 3-9 9-5 9-7 6-9 9-5 to take his first Masters title in more than 20 years of trying! Indeed the success marked appropriate revenge for 56-year-old Cherlin, who lost to Helal in an Over-35 final "more years ago than I care to remember". Event veteran Helal had been hoping to celebrate his tenth National Masters crown at Sportcity.

There was no change in the Men's Over-60 hierarchy as Hampshire's defending champion John Perrott, from Basingstoke, beat Yorkshire's Mike Clemson 9-3 10-8 9-2 in a repeat of last year's semi-final victory.

In the Men's Over-65 event, Berkshire's Brian Phillips knocked out Gloucestershire title-holder and top seed John Woodliffe in the semi-finals. But the 65-year-old Welshman, from Thatcham in Berkshire, failed to progress further - beaten 6-9 9-6 9-5 6-9 10-8 in the closest final of the event. The winner, in a marathon 68 minutes, was Surrey's veteran veteran Patrick Kirton, from Walton-on-Thames.

After losing in last year's quarter-finals of the Men's Over-65 event, 72-year-old John Cox was delighted when England Squash agreed to accommodate him in the inaugural Men's Over-70 championship this year. In an impressive six-man field of sprightly septuagenarians, Hereford-based Cox trounced unseeded Keith Spurgeon, from Kent, in straight games in the semi-finals, then despatched Sussex's No2 seed Brian Sayer, from Middleton-on-Sea, 9-4 9-4 9-2 in just 21 minutes in the final to become the first winner of this new title.

RESULTS: British National Squash Championships, National Squash Centre, Manchester

    Men's Over-35 quarter-finals:
[1] Derek Ryan (Ireland) bt [5/8] Glen Ragou (Lancs) 9-7, 9-2, 9-3 (35m)
[3/4] Nigel Willis (Lancs) bt [9/16] Frank Ellis (Avon) 9-6, 9-7, 5-9, 9-0 (41m)
[5/8] Karl Hardy (Merseyside) bt [9/16] Darren Vescovi (Lancs) 9-6, 5-9, 7-9, 9-1, 9-0 (41m)
[2] Gary Thwaite (Cumbria) bt [5/8] Guy Olby (Middx) 9-2, 10-8, 9-6 (60m)
    Semi-finals:
[1] Derek Ryan (Ireland) bt [3/4] Nigel Willis (Lancs) 9-1, 9-2, 9-6 (26m)
[2] Gary Thwaite (Cumbria) bt [5/8] Karl Hardy (Merseyside) 5-9, 9-0, 7-9, 9-0, 9-4 (69m)
    Final:
[1] Derek Ryan (Ireland) bt [2] Gary Thwaite (Cumbria) 9-6, 9-3, 9-3 (41m)

    Men's Over-40 quarter-finals:
[1] Jonathan Clark (Cheshire) bt [5/8] Greg Pearman (Surrey) 9-0, 9-1, 9-5 (41m)
[3/4] Martin Greenslade (Dorset) bt [9/16] Christopher Wilson (Berks) 9-5, 9-6, 3-9, 9-2 (49m)
[3/4] Mark Woodliffe (Glos) bt [5/8] John Foster (Hants) 9-5, 9-4, 10-8 (62m)
[2] Colin Payne (Kent) bt [9/16] Allen Day (Lancs) 9-0, 9-4, 9-3 (23m)
    Semi-finals:
[1] Jonathan Clark (Cheshire) bt [3/4] Martin Greenslade (Dorset) 9-3, 9-4, 9-7 (57m)
[2] Colin Payne (Kent) bt [3/4] Mark Woodliffe (Glos) w/o
    Final:
[2] Colin Payne (Kent) bt [1] Jonathan Clark (Cheshire) 0-9, 6-9, 9-2, 9-1, 9-6 (68m)

    Men's Over-45 quarter-finals:
[1] Nick Gatward (Cheshire) bt [5/8] Steven Barlow (Beds) 9-1, 9-2, 9-2 (19m)
[3/4] Ian Bradburn (Lancs) bt [5/8] James Ockwell (Middx) 3-9, 1-9, 10-8, 9-4, 9-5 (44m)
[5/8] Duleep Adhihetty (Middx) bt [3/4] Dermot Hurford (Surrey) 9-4, 9-5, 9-7 (35m)
[2] Neil Harrison (Durham) bt [9/16] Mo Sarwar (Warwicks) 9-5, 9-6, 10-8 (40m)
    Semi-finals:
[1] Nick Gatward (Cheshire) bt [3/4] Ian Bradburn (Lancs) 9-1, 9-4, 9-0 (20m)
[2] Neil Harrison (Durham) bt [5/8] Duleep Adhihetty (Middx) 9-6, 9-5, 9-1 (27m)
    Final:
[1] Nick Gatward (Cheshire) bt [2] Neil Harrison (Durham) 9-3, 9-3, 9-1 (26m)

    Men's Over-50 quarter-finals:
[1] David Lumsden (D & C) bt [5/8] Richard Whitehouse (Staffs) 9-0, 9-5, 0-9, 9-5 (28m)
[5/8] Martin Ballands (Kent) bt Terry Belshaw (Cumbria) 9-5, 9-0, 3-9, 10-8 (33m)
[3/4] Stuart Hardy (Wilts) bt [5/8] Ian Holmes (Northants) 9-5, 9-2, 9-7 (30m)
[2] Mark Cowley (Middx) bt [5/8] Peter Rutherford (Kent) 10-8, 9-0, 9-2 (33m)
    Semi-finals:
[1] David Lumsden (D & C) bt [5/8] Martin Ballands (Kent) 9-2, 9-4, 9-0 (20m)
[2] Mark Cowley (Middx) bt [3/4] Stuart Hardy (Wilts) 9-4, 9-5, 9-0 (23m)
    Final:
[2] Mark Cowley (Middx) bt [1] David Lumsden (D & C) 9-6, 5-9, 10-8, 9-0 (35m)

    Men's Over-55 quarter-finals:
[1] Philip Ayton (Sussex) bt [5/8] Peter Lewis (Kent) 9-6, 9-1, 9-6 (24m)
[5/8] Howard Cherlin (Middx) bt [3/4] John Smith (Northumbria) 9-5, 9-4, 9-7 (30m)
[3/4] Brian Hanson (Wilts) bt [9/16] Alan Edge (Lancs) 10-9, 10-8, 9-6 (27m)
[2] Moussa Helal (Lancs) bt [5/8] Paul Smith (Lancs) w/o
    Semi-finals:
[5/8] Howard Cherlin (Middx) bt [1] Philip Ayton (Sussex) 10-9, 10-8, 9-2 (34m)
[2] Moussa Helal (Lancs) bt [3/4] Brian Hanson (Wilts) 9-1, 10-8, 3-9, 9-4 (30m)
    Final:
[5/8] Howard Cherlin (Middx) bt [2] Moussa Helal (Lancs) 3-9, 9-5, 9-7, 6-9, 9-5 (62m)

    Men's Over-60 quarter-finals:
[1] John Perrott (Hants) bt [5/8] John Prowse (Kent) 9-5, 9-5, 9-5 (29m)
Kenneth Johnson (Northumbria) bt [5/8] Len Froggitt (Herts) 9-2, 6-9, 9-7, 9-1 (37m)
[3/4] Mike Clemson (Yorks) bt [5/8] Roy Bradley (Worcs) 9-7, 9-1, 9-7 (33m)
[5/8] Thomas Elves (D & C) bt [2] Adrian Wright (Leics) 4-9, 5-9, 9-5, 9-7, 9-4 (53m)
    Semi-finals:
[1] John Perrott (Hants) bt Kenneth Johnson (Northumbria) 9-4, 4-9, 9-3, 9-7 (35m)
[3/4] Mike Clemson (Yorks) bt [5/8] Thomas Elves (D & C) 9-7, 9-4, 1-9, 1-9, 10-9 (40m)
    Final:
[1] John Perrott (Hants) bt [3/4] Mike Clemson (Yorks) 9-3, 10-8, 9-2 (30m)

    Men's Over-65 quarter-finals:
[1] John Woodliffe (Glos) bt Ahmed Jamil (Wales) 9-1, 9-2, 9-1 (16m)
[3/4] Brian Phillips (Berks) bt [5/8] Lance Kinder (Hants) 9-2, 10-8, 9-0
[3/4] John Shaw (D & C) bt [5/8] Anthony Breakwell (Warwicks) 9-6, 2-9, 9-4, 7-9, 9-4 (47m)
[2] Patrick Kirton (Surrey) bt Eric Collins (Cheshire) 9-2, 9-2, 9-0 (26m)
    Semi-finals:
[3/4] Brian Phillips (Berks) bt [1] John Woodliffe (Glos) 9-5, 9-6, 9-6 (32m)
[2] Patrick Kirton (Surrey) bt [3/4] John Shaw (D & C) 9-3, 9-4, 9-1 (26m)
    Final:
[2] Patrick Kirton (Surrey) bt [3/4] Brian Phillips (Berks) 6-9, 9-6, 9-5, 6-9, 10-8 (68m)

    Men's Over-70 quarter-finals:
[1] John Cox (Herefordshire) bye
Keith Spurgeon (Kent) bt Brian Wise (Somerset) 6-9, 9-5, 9-4, 9-3 (31m)
James Switzer (Surrey) bt Derek Morris (Herts) 10-8, 9-6, 7-9, 2-9, 9-1 (41m)
[2] Brian Sayer (Sussex) bye
    Semi-finals:
[1] John Cox (Herefordshire) bt Keith Spurgeon (Kent) 9-3, 9-3, 9-2 (19m)
[2] Brian Sayer (Sussex) bt James Switzer (Surrey) 9-5, 9-1, 9-1 (19m)
    Final:
[1] John Cox (Herefordshire) bt [2] Brian Sayer (Sussex) 9-4, 9-4, 9-2 (21m)

    Women's Over-35 quarter-finals:
[1] Fiona Geaves (Glos) bt Zoe Durbach (Herts) 9-1, 9-3, 9-1 (28m)
Fran Wallis (Lincs) bt [3/4] Isabelle Wild (Leics) w/o
[3/4] Amanda Warren (Lancs) bt Jackie Gregory (Essex) 9-0, 9-2, 9-5 (22m)
[2] Isabelle Tweedle (Surrey) bt Nicki Fowler (Cheshire) 9-1, 9-4, 9-3 (25m)
    Semi-finals:
[1] Fiona Geaves (Glos) bt Fran Wallis (Lincs) 9-1, 9-0, 9-1 (16m)
[3/4] Amanda Warren (Lancs) bt [2] Isabelle Tweedle (Surrey) 3-9, 0-9, 9-2, 9-0, 9-2 (42m)
    Final:
[1] Fiona Geaves (Glos) bt [3/4] Amanda Warren (Lancs) 9-0, 9-2, 9-0 (16m)

    Women's Over-40 quarter-finals:
[1] Mandy Akin (Kent) bt Carolyn Roylance (Lincs) 9-0, 9-4, 9-0 (15m)
[3/4] Paula Arrowsmith (Yorks) bt Jo Brown (Middx) 10-8, 9-2, 10-9 (28m)
[3/4] Claire Baker (Surrey) bt Jackie Gregory (Essex) 9-2, 4-9, 9-2, 9-3 (37m)
[2] Fran Wallis (Lincs) bt Isobelle Smith (Herts) 10-8, 9-1, 9-0 (30m)
    Semi-finals:
[1] Mandy Akin (Kent) bt [3/4] Paula Arrowsmith (Yorks) 9-3, 9-3, 9-1 (20m)
[2] Fran Wallis (Lincs) bt [3/4] Claire Baker (Surrey) 10-9, 9-7, 4-9, 6-9, 9-6 (75m)
    Final:
[1] Mandy Akin (Kent) bt [2] Fran Wallis (Lincs) 10-8, 9-4, 3-9, 9-1 (44m)

    Women's Over-45 quarter-finals:
[1] Liz Brown (Staffs) bt Jan Ellis (Avon) 9-1, 9-2, 9-0 (16m)
[3/4] Helen Gould (Avon) bt Susan Pynegar (Notts) 9-7, 9-5, 9-7 (30m)
Karen Hume (Kent) bt [3/4] Lesley Sturgess (Derbyshire) 6-9, 7-9, 9-1, 9-0, 9-4
[2] Jacky Gardner (D & C) bt Carolyn Roylance (Lincs) 9-3, 9-0, 9-1 (15m)
    Semi-finals:
[1] Liz Brown (Staffs) bt [3/4] Helen Gould (Avon) 9-2, 9-3, 9-3 (17m)
[2] Jacky Gardner (D & C) bt Karen Hume (Kent) 9-6, 9-1, 9-4 (23m)
    Final:
[1] Liz Brown (Staffs) bt [2] Jacky Gardner (D & C) 9-4, 9-5, 9-0 (17m)

    Women's Over-50 quarter-finals:
[1] Faith Sinclair (D & C) bye
Bett Dryhurst (Worcs) bye
Rebecca Czuczman (Kent) bt Catherine Woodhart (Cheshire) 9-2, 9-6, 9-2 (16m)
[2] Ann Windle (Middx) bye
    Semi-finals:
[1] Faith Sinclair (D & C) bt Bett Dryhurst (Worcs) 9-1, 9-0, 9-2 (15m)
Rebecca Czuczman (Kent) bt [2] Ann Windle (Middx) w/o
    Final:
Rebecca Czuczman (Kent) bt [1] Faith Sinclair (D & C) 9-5, 7-9, 9-6, 9-6 (32m)

Official website: www.nationalsquashchamps.co.uk