British Open Masters Champions

The showcase Over 40 final between Scott Handley (Oxfordshire) and Peter Marshall (Nottinghamshire) was shaping up nicely, Handley taking the first 11/7 and 6all in the second. Unfortunately Handley then pulled up and started to struggle, Marshall squaring things up 11/6. And that was it Handley forced to retire with a back injury – a real shame for both players and the packed Colets crowd.

The Men’s Over 45 title is on the way to Yarm as Andrew Cross (D&C) defeated Surrey’s Andy Normile 11/9 11/3 11/9. It was unfortunate that Normile wasn’t able to raise his game to the levels seen in the previous two rounds but Cross used his speed and agility well to keep him at bay and ran out a worthy winner.

There is no doubting Mark Woodliffe (Gloucestershire) continues to dominate his age group as he took another title with a convincing 9/2 9/0 9/1 victory over John Parkes (Worcestershire) in 27 minutes.

The two 3/4 seeds, Steve Wren (Canada) and Stephen McLaughlin (Hampshire) contested the Men’s Over 50 Final. The match was well contested but the Canadian just kept himself in front and claimed his first British title with a 11/9 11/5 12/10 win in 44 minute.

Middlesex’s Clive London continued where he had left off yesterday when he defeated top seed Mark Cowley (Middlesex) to claim the Over 60’s crown with an impressive performance to see off the second seed Peter Alexander of Suffolk 9/4 9/4 9/6.

Jim Dougal won the battle of Scotland as he eased to the Men’s Over 65 title with a 9/7 9/4 9/0 win over compatriot John Rae.

Anthony Clifford (Hertfordshire) didn’t make the same mistake as yesterday when he started slowly as he raced into a 1-0 led against top seed and hot favourite Rodney Boswell of Cheshire. But Boswell appeared to weather the storm and came back into it using his greater speed and movement and went 2-1 up. Clifford wasn’t beaten though and capitalised on some lose shots from Boswell to go 8-2 up in the next and within touching distance of taking it into a decider. However Boswell kept calm and clawed his way back and took it on his second match ball.

Michael Gough of America justified his No1 seeding with a comprehensive win over second seed Patrick Kirton of Surrey. After racing into a 1-0 lead Gough did have a hiccup in the second as Kirton fought back taking it 9-0. However Gough regrouped and started again and in the end took the title with the minimum of fuss.

John Woodliffe (Gloucestershire) and Lance Kinder (Hampshire) renewed their last lasting rivalry in the Over 80’s final. Woodliffe took the first but Kinder was playing well and there was a sense that he just needed to cut out the unforced errors. That he did and came back to take the match in 4 and with it become the first British Open Over 80 Champion.

Lauren Briggs of Essex showed the class which took her to 18 in the world with a fantastic display of squash as she took the Women’s Over 35 title, defeating Keeley Seamons (Kent) in straight games.

The Over 40 title went the way of the American Hope Prockop who followed up her win over top seed Shaynie Baillie (Surrey) in the semi’s by seeing off the No2 seed Rachel Calver of Leicestershire. Calver put up a good performance but Prockop proved too strong winning 9/5 10/8 9/7.

Prockop then moved courts to take on Andrea Santamaria of Yorkshire in the Over 45 Final. Prockop continued where she had left off in the 40’s and completed the double, winning it 9/6 9/7 9/5 in 32 minutes.

The Scottish tally went to 2 with a spirited fightback from Fiona McLean in the Women’s Over 50 final. Rachel Woolford looked on course taking a 2-0 lead but McLean hadn’t read the script and turned the tables, saving match ball in the 4th before completing the comeback 4/9 4/9 9/4 10/8 9/6 (49m).

The Women’s Over 55 Final was definitely a game of two halves! Lesley Sturgess (Derbyshire) flew out of the blocks and raced into a 2-0 lead over top seed Jill Campion of Middlesex. However it all changed at the start of the third as Campion managed to stem the tide and take control. From 2 down in the third she took control and never looked back eventually running out a 5/9 2/9 9/2 9/2 9/1 winner.

It was another 5 setter in the Women’s Over 60’s, Jan Ellis (Avon) started the stronger but Elke Rubsam (Hertfordshire) fought back and took a 2-1 lead. However this effort seemed to take its toll and Ellis regained the initiative and eased to victory.

Ann Manley claimed another title for Avon with victories over Bett Dryhurst (Worcestershire) and Norma Fulling (Essex) in the Women’s Over 70 round robin.

Barbara Sanderson of Essex and Ireland took the Over 75 crown with a polished 3-0 win over her county colleague Joan Witton.

MEN’S OVER 35

Darren Lewis (Leicestershire) bt Steve Richardson (Ireland) 5/11 11/7 11/3 12/14 11/6 (62m)

MEN’S OVER 40

Peter Marshall (Nottinghamshire) bt Scott Handley (Oxfordshire) 7/11 11/6 RTD

MENS OVER 45

Andrew Cross (D&C)bt Andy Normile (Surrey) 11/9 11/3 11/9 (30m)

MEN’S OVER 50

Steve Wren (Canada) bt Stephen McLaughlin (Hampshire) 11/9 11/5 12/10 (44m)

MEN’S OVER 55

Mark Woodliffe (Gloucestershire) bt John Parkes (Worcestershire) 9/2 9/0 9/1 (27m)

MEN’S OVER 60

Clive London (Kent) bt Peter Alexander (Suffolk) 9/4 9/4 9/6 (25m)

MEN’S OVER 65

Jim Douglas (Scotland) bt John Rae (Scotland) 9/7 9/4 9/0 (18m)

MEN’S OVER 70

Rodney Boswell (Cheshire) bt Anthony Clifford (Cheshire) 4/9 9/5 9/1 10/8 (30m)

MEN’S OVER 75

Michael Gough (USA) bt Patrick Kirton (Surrey) 9/2 0/9 9/4 9/4 (39m)

MEN’S OVER 80

Lance Kinder (Hampshire) bt John Woodliffe (Gloucestershire) 6/9 10/8 9/5 9/6 (51m)

WOMEN’S OVER 35

Lauren Briggs (Middlesex) bt Keeley Seamons (Kent) 9/0 9/0 9/1 (23m)

WOMEN’S OVER 40

Hope Prockop (USA) bt Rachel Calver (Leicestershire) 9/5 10/8 9/7 (32m)

WOMEN’S OVER 45

Hope Prockop (USA) v Andrea Santamaria (Yorkshire) 9/6 9/7 9/5 (32m)

WOMEN’S OVER 50

Fiona McLean (Scotland) bt Rachel Woolford (Warwickshire) 4/9 4/9 9/4 10/8 9/6 (49m)

WOMEN’S OVER 55

Jill Campion (Middlesex) bt Lesley Sturgess (Derbyshire) 5/9 2/9 9/2 9/2 9/1 (34m)

WOMEN’S OVER 60

Jan Ellis (Avon) bt Elke Rubsam (Hertfordshire) 9/53/9 2/9 9/0 9/3 (46m)

WOMEN’S OVER 70

Ann Manley won the Round Robin

WOMEN’S OVER 75

Barbara Sanderson (Ireland) bt Joan Witton (Essex) 9/1 9/1 9/2 (19m)