2004 Club
Championship
Information
Rules
Timetable
Commentaries
Men's Tourn.
Ladies' Tourn.
Men's Plate
Ladies' Plate
Saturday 12th June
Finals night!
Ladies' Plate Final
We started with the plate games. Ros Porter got off to a great start against Lisa Hobbs and took the first game 9/0. Lisa's nerves wore off in the second game and she worked hard in the next two games and got lots of points and even a small lead in the last game, but Ros was always in control and won 3-0.
Men's Plate Final
Paul Heneghan (me!) and Steve Porter had their usual ding-dong game, which apparently was quite entertaining to watch. They both adhere to the 'hit it and run' style of squash playing, so there were plenty of long and interesting rallies. The first two games were really close. Paul took the first 10/8 and served for the second game at 8-all set one, but fluffed it and Steve took it 9-8. Steve had an easy 3rd game, but the 4th game was very close. Up to 5-all, it was neck and neck, but then Steve pulled away to take the match 3-1.
Ladies' Final
The ladies' final was between Lorna Robinson (the number one seed and last year's winner) and Anne Tomkins. Lorna's boasts and drops were working well and Anne had to work to get to them and then play a decent shot. The first two games went Lorna's way, but then Anne rallied and took the third. It must have tired her though, because the fourth game went all Lorna's way and she took the match 3-1.
Men's Final
The men's final was the usual battle between Glen Danks (the number one seed) and Brett Green (the number two seed). All previous encounters have gone Glen's way, so was this year going to be any different? Brett didn't get off to a very promising start - about three shots into the first rally, Glen's shot did a funny bounce coming out of the nick, and Brett fluffed it! Then he settled in and the game took on the usual form of long rallies of tight shots down the backhand wall searching for perfect length with the odd attacking straight backhand drop thrown in followed by a deep clearing shot. There really didn't seem to be much in it, but Brett was taking more points than Glen and took the first game 9/4. A good start for Brett!
At this stage, it was impossible to jump to any conclusions, but a couple of things were obvious. The first was that Glen was making (very unusually for him) a very small number of unforced errors. The second thing was that Brett was happy to prolong the rallies, and occasionally it was Glen who seemed eager to switch, or play an attacking shot.
The second game was even better for Brett. He went into a 4-0 lead, and Glen couldn't close the gap. There was still some wonderful squash here - particularly memorable were the times that Glen recovered from being sent the wrong way and not only got to the ball, but also hit a very tight shot off it. However, of the two players, Glen seemed to be suffering more. He clearly was annoyed that he was not playing at his usual exceptionally high standard, and he was still making a small number of unforced errors. On the other hand, Brett was on top form. He was happy to stay with Glen in the rallies, and he had cut out the risky attacking shots that caused him so much trouble in previous years.
Things changed in the third game. Glen was very focussed, and Brett's concentration wavered slightly - a few tinned drops and slightly loose shots and he was in trouble. It didn't all go Glen's way, but it mostly did and he took this game 9/5.
In the fourth game Brett had obviously decided that it was now or never, and he returned to the squash he had been playing in the first two games. Glen was still doing great retrieving and his drops were getting tighter and safer, but Brett was getting to them and safely clearing them. Brett now felt that it was safe to throw in a few winning cross-court drops from the front of the court. Once he had gone 7/2 up there was no stopping him and a few minutes late, we had a new club champion.
Paul's Rant
It has become customary for me to have a rant about club support round about now, but this year, I can't be bothered! I'm feeling mellow!! Those of us who entered, played, marked and spectated all felt that it was a very enjoyable competition, played in good spirits throughout. There could have been a better entry - for example, what happened the third team, usually the stalwarts in these competitions? Similarly, it always surprises me that so many of the people who enter the competition don't bother turning up for finals night. Some have excellent excuses, but I would like to encourage the ones that don't, to come along. In all the years I've been going to these events, they've all been very enjoyable, and they've always inspired me to try (unsuccessfully for the most part) to emulate the players and improve my squash.
It was good to see a respectable ladies' entry this year. Also, I was delighted to see three of out juniors in the competition (Matt, Chas and Clare), and judging by the puce colours of their faces, they all gave 110%. Their year will come!
Next year, we promise not to mess around with the dates of the competition. As soon as we have the fixture list for the teams, we'll arrange for the tournament to be held within two weeks of the end of the season.
Friday 11th June
All the semifinals today.
In the men's plate, Steve Porter had a good game against Tom Richardson with some entertaining marking from Jimmy. Tom was having problems keeping his lobs in and Steve was very focused, so Steve had a convincing 3-0 victory
In the other plate match, Paul Heneghan and Jonathon Bomford provided an entertaining match. Paul took the first two games and then Jonathon put in a big effort to pull ahead 8/6 in the third. Paul pulled it back to 8-all, but couldn't stop Jonathon taking the next two points. Both players were tiring, but in the fourth game, it was Jonathon that seemed to be showing more effects and he didn't reach a few of Paul's drops. Paul quickly moved into an 8/2 lead and then onto 9/4.
The first semifinal of the men's competition was between Brett Green and Gray Wildon. Brett was playing decidedly average for him, and Gray was on form, so it developed into a very competitive match. Gray seemed to be controlling the pace of the game and Brett was having difficulty getting the ball past him. Brett even attempted a few lobs, but Gray's reach is incredible and he put them away. In the end, Brett's speed and shots won through, but it was close!
The second semifinal was between Glenn Danks and Ben Bomford. We were all looking forward to this as Ben's racket skills are amongst the best in the club, and he has the potential to take games off anyone. Unfortunately, at 2-all in the first game, he went over on his ankle, and although he played on, it was clear that it was troubling him. Glenn, apart from a couple of tinned drops in the third game, played well throughout and had a convincing 3-0 win.
Clare Heneghan and Lisa Hobbs met in the semifinal of the ladies' plate. Lisa did some really good serving and kept Clare moving, but Clare managed to win quite a few points with some good drops. Lisa had a fairly easy win 3-0.
In the first ladies' semifinal, Lorna Robinson played Lisa Barlow. Although Lorna is the stronger player, it didn't go all her way, and Lisa was getting lots of points, but unfortunately, no games.
In the last ladies' semifinal, Anne Tomkins played Karen Ferris. I didn't see this match, but the score (9/4 9/2 9/4) shows a convincing win for Anne.
Sunday 6th June
Men's and ladies' quarter finals matches today.
The first match was between Glenn (number one seed) and me (Paul Heneghan, the organiser). My main worry was that I might not get the single point that I got in our last encounter, but Glenn was feeling merciful today and I got 1, 2 and 3 points in the three games. Who knows, I might have won the ninth game at that rate. Mind you, I didn't stop sweating for seven and a half hours!
Gray 'The Master' Wilson got off to a very slow start against Errol. For the first game, Errol was razor sharp and was driving hard, boasting and dropping millimeters above the tin. Second game, same story. Third game, different story! Errol slowed down a bit and Gray's shots found their targets as he surged through to an 8/0 lead, helped by a couple of his ridiculous laws-of-physics-defying backhand reverse angles from the back of the court. Errol staged a bit of a comeback, but it was too late and Gray took that all-important third game. The fourth game was nip and tuck, but Errol's shots were losing their bite, and Gray took it 9/7. In the final game, Gray got to 8/0 in a couple of minutes, and there was no way Errol was coming back from that position.
Clare Heneghan (one of our juniors) had a good game against Anne Tomkins (the number two seed). Anne did a great job of keeping the ball in play and let Clare make the mistakes (and quite a few winners!). When Clare's drops started to find their mark in the third game, she started to build up a healthy lead and Anne was under real pressure for a couple of rallies until she edged ahead again. Obviously, Anne won the match, but well done Clare!
The final game of the morning was between Karen Ferris (one of the team players) and Lisa Hobbs (a relative newcomer to squash). Lisa has improved enormously in the last year and some really good rallies developed. Lisa's shots still lack a bit of length and she needs to sort out the boasts out of the back corner, but if she carries on improving at her current rate, she'll be a force to be reckoned with in a couple of years. In the match, Karen had lots in reserve, and although Lisa had some good runs of points, the end result was inevitable.
There are still a few quarter-final matches to be played. Please let me know the scores ASAP.
Saturday, 5th June
Two men's plate matches today.
Jonathon Bomford had a 3-1 win over Matt Powell.
Richard Chinn had a 3-0 win over Steve Porter.
Friday, 4th June
We got off to the usual shaky start with a couple of no shows. Fortunately, Gray obliged by stepping in and filling the shoes of Kiffy to fill the 3rd seed spot.
Jonathon Bomford had a good game against Martyn Whiting, the number five seed and acquitted himself admirably by taking a game.
Matt Powell, one of our juniors was put through his paces by Ben Bomford - the number four seed. Ben controlled the ball beautifully to move Matt around as much as possible and keep the ball in play. I think Matt enjoyed the experience, despite his face turning an interesting shade of purple in the process!
Chas Avery, another junior, had the experience of playing 'the master' - Gray Wilson. By the time Gray had finished with him, Chas had turned a shade of red that made Matt look anaemic! Gray continuously put the ball just where Chas could get to it if he really tried, and Chas rose to the bait and charged around the court for 45 minutes. Chas did really well to get to eight-all in the third, but the end result was inevitable.
Errol Ferris and Tom Richardson had a very enjoyable game that drew a fair bit of good-humoured heckling from the balcony. Errol was in control for most of it, but Tom had his moments and was unlucky not to take the second game.
Tuesday, 2nd June
The draw is now done.
Friday, 7th May
Just waiting for the entries to come in.