Nottingham capture the Men’s title on home soil as Pontefract Women make it 11
National Club Championships Finals
Nottingham SRC 9-10 June 2012
The finals of the season long National Club Championships were played this past weekend at Nottingham Squash Club. With 8 different categories, semi finals, finals and 3/4 play offs to contest it was a real festival of squash and racketball between the nations top clubs.
The Mens Final was a mammoth tie between Nottingham and Colets. Nottingham had previously knocked out Bowdon with a relatively easy 5-0 win while Colets defeated last year’s champions Edgbaston Priory 5-0. In the final Colets got off to a great start with wins from Rory Pennell and Alex Gough at 5th and 4th string. Nottingham’s Ollie Holland then took on Lee Drew and came back from 2-1 down to secure a 3-2 win in 66 minutes while Colets 2nd string Arthur Gaskin was forced to retire half way through his match with Declan James. With the scores level at 2-2 everything fell to the number ones, Scott Handley against Mark Fuller. Of course it went the distance with both players giving everything for their club as each player took turns to claim a game, then with Fuller leading 6-3 in the fourth Handley took a 3 minute injury break which looked like a hamstring problem. Fuller took full advantage when he returned and quickly closed out the game to level the match 2-2 and take it into the fifth where he continued to pile the pressure on, forcing the ball to each corner and racing into the lead much to the delight of the home crowd. 11-1 in the fifth and victory to Nottingham Squash Club 3-2 which saw them crowned National Club Champions for the fifth time in the history of the competition.
The Women’s final saw Pontefract come up against a relatively new side to the competition in Cottons & Monument. Pontefract were gunning for their eleventh title while Cottons & Monument were contesting their first ever final. Earlier, Pontefract had came through their semi final with a comprehensive 5-0 win over Colets while Cottons & Monument fought hard to claim a 3-2 victory over Kenilworth. The final was a rather one sided affair with Pontefract fielding a very strong team that had strength in depth and with their aim a spot in the European Club Championships in Prague they claimed the National Title in devastating fashion, only dropping one game in the 5 ties that were played to claim their eleventh title since the competition began in 1984.
Redbridge claimed their first ever National Club trophy as they defeated Lee on Solent in the Junior Mixed Category, boasting junior champions in Richie Fallows and Elise Lazarus they looked strong as they took a 4-1 victory. Defending Racketball Champions Edgbaston Priory were back hoping to defend their title, after beating Huddersfield quite comfortably in the semi finals they came up against Bishops Stortford who had come through a tight semi final match with Abbeydale which they just sneaked 3-2. The final was very well contested and could have gone either way, with the tie level at 2-2 the pressure fell on Stortford’s Elliot Selby who took on Priorys captain Jake Grayston and it was the team captain that sealed victory for Edgbaston Priory and retained their title as he took the match 3-1 to win the tie 3-2.
The Women’s Over 35 category was contested between New Eltham and Duffield. New Eltham were led by current British Open Masters champion Mandy Akin and were hoping to retain their crown whilst winning their 5th consecutive title! Duffield gave it their all but weren’t able to pose a serious threat as New Eltham continued their dominance in this category with a 3-0 win. The Mens Over 35 Final was also a rather one sided affair between British Airways and Boston. Boston competed well but were unable to take a game as British Airways ran out 5-0 victors to claim their first National Title.
The Mens Over 45 title was retained by a strong Harpenden side as they overcame Colets 2-1. Eamonn Price and Andrew Eilfield taking the games that mattered while Bannatynes Durham collected their first title with a 2-1 win in the final of the Mens Over 55 category. They also faced a very good Colets side but were a little stronger in depth as their 3rd string Bob Spence sealed the victory against Geoff Howes after Dave Lumsden had defeated Stuart Hardy.
Mens Final
Colets 2-3 Nottingham
1. Scott Handley v Mark Fuller 11-5, 4-11, 5-11, 11-5, 1-11
2. Arthur Gaskin v Declan James 5-11, 1-11, 0-5 Rtd
3. Lee Drew v Olli Holland 12-10, 9-11, 11-8, 6-11, 5-11
4. Alex Gough v Matt Oxley 11-9, 12-10, 12-10
5. Rory Pennell v Neil Rossin 9-11, 15-13, 11-3, 11-3
Women’s Final
Pontefract 5-0 Cottons & Monument
1. Deon Saffery v Selina Sinclair 11-3, 11-7, 11-5
2. Orla Noom v Helen Easton 11-3, 11-6, 11-7
3. Kirsty McPhee v Rosa Ruis 11-1, 11-3, 11-2
4. Sarah Bowles v Clare Richardson 11-2, 11-3, 6-11, 11-4
5. Katie Smith v Faith Sinclair 11-0, 11-2, 11-2
Junior Mixed Final
Redbridge 4-1 Lee on Solent
1. Richie Fallows v Joe Brooke 11-3 11-9 11-7
2. Yousseff Abdalla v Miles Jenkins 11-8 11-5 11-4
3. Joe Green v Robbie Keefe 11-6 11-5 11-7
4. Grace Gear v Lydia Hume 7-11 5-11 9-11
5. Elise Lazarus v Martha Possegger 11-5 14-12 7-11 11-4
Racketball Final
Bishops Stortford 2-3 Edgbaston Priory
1. Nick Mulvey v Jaymie Haycocks 4-11 12-10 11-2 3-11 8-11
2. Elliot Selby v Jake Grayston 4-11 11-6 8-11 6-11
3. Charlie Johnson v Ashlee Harris 11-4 11-5 11-8
4. Matt Cutchey v Mike Edwards 11-5 6-11 11-7 11-9
5. Andy Clarke v Anil Ram 11-6 4-11 3-11 5-11
Women’s O35 Final
New Eltham 3-0 Duffield
1. Mandy Akin v Lesley Sturgess 10-8 9-2 9-3
2. Karen Hume v Sue Smith 4-9 9-4 9-3 9-4
3. Rae Anderson v Hill 8-10 5-9 0-9
Mens Over 35 Final
Boston 0-5 British Airways
1. Mark Hildred v Mo Khalid 1-11 10-12 10-12
2. Jon Hand v Neville Appleton 4-11 3-11 11-7 9-11
3. Ady Proctor v Clive Johnson 8-11 11-4 1-11 8-11
4. Dave Stones v Mick Houlihan 11-8 5-11 6-11 8-11
5. Stuart Dunlop v Barry Gage 3-11 6-11 17-19
Mens Over 45 Final
Harpenden 2-1 Colets
1. Eamonn Price v Adrian Jaski 9-4 1-9 9-2 9-3
2. Andrew Eilfield v Dermot Hurford 9-2 9-5 9-5
3. Marvin Rust v David Stanton 7-9 9-4 5-9 9-4 8-10
Mens Over 55 Final
Bannatynes Durham 2-1 Colets
1. Dave Lumsden v Stuart Hardy 9-5 9-3 9-4
2. Kevin Dryden v Dave Clarke 0-9 4-9 3-9
3. Bob Spence v Geoff Howes 9-7 9-4 9-1
To see all the results from the weekend including Semi Finals and 3/4 Play Off’s please visit www.squashsite.co.uk