Scots bring home four titles at British National Masters Squash Championship
The Scottish contingent have done their country proud by winning four titles at the British National Masters at the Nottingham Squash Rackets Club over the weekend. Other great performances included Ken Reid and Emilio Fazzi’s run to the semi-finals in the Men’s Over 75 and Men’s Over 70 draws respectively.
Eunice Bond competed in the three-pool draw in the Women’s Over 65 category. She beat Rebecca Czuczman from Kent 12/10, 12/10, 11/3, 11/9 in an epic first encounter, eventually winning the game 3-1 inside 26 minutes.
Her final game on court six on Sunday lived up to the billing – it was a fantastic match that ebbed and flowed, with each player showing great battling spirit. Eunice found herself 2-1 down after narrowly losing the third game 8/11. But she found her form again in the fourth game winning 11/7 to draw level, before just overcoming her rival 12/10 in a gripping final game.
WO65 results:
M1: Lynne Davies (WAL) beat Rebecca Czuczman (KNT) 11/9, 11/4, 11/8 (16m)
M2: Eunice Bond (SCO) beat Rebecca Czuczman (KNT) 12/10, 12/10, 11/3, 11/9 (26m)
M3: Eunice Bond (SCO) beat Lynne Davies (WAL) 11/8, 9/11, 8/11, 11/7, 12/10 (36m)
After a tough opening game in round one, Robin Ridley was imperious throughout his run to the Men’s Over 65 title, dropping only two games. His final against Gordon McManus from Kent looked like it was going to be a tough day in the office for Robin after he lost the first game 6/11, but he quickly found his form and stormed to victory in the final three games 11/0, 11/7/11/8.
M065 results:
R1: Robin Ridley (SCO) beat Keith Ragg (HFD) 13/15, 1/11, 7/11 (17m)
R2: Robin Ridley (SCO) beat John Goodrich (SFK) 8/11, 10/12, 1/11 (20m)
QF: Robin Ridley (SCO) beat John Guyatt (WOC) 11/9, 6/11, 6/11, 5/11 (32m)
SF: Robin Ridley (SCO) beat Adrian Alderton (WAL) 12/10, 11/2, 11/3 (21m)
F: Robin Ridley (SCO) beat Gordon McManus (KNT) 6/11, 11/0, 11/7, 11/8 (23m)
Fiona McLean who is originally from Belshill in Glasgow, dominated the Women’s Over 55 draw, winning all six of her games. After receiving a BYE in the quarter final, Fiona faced Lisa Tolhurst from Essex in the semi-finals. The first game was a gruelling encounter with Fiona finally overcoming her opponent 12/10 before pulling away in the final two games winning 11/3, 11/2. Lisa put everything into the first game but couldn’t quite maintain her energy levels.
Fiona’s final against London’s Fran Wallis was more keenly contested, but Fiona proved too strong in the end, winning 11/7, 11/6, 11/8.
Fiona said: “I’m delighted to win my first British National title and it was great that we had four Scottish winners, who gave tremendous support to each other.
My final lasted less than 20 minutes, short and sweet with the drop shot proving decisive in my victory. The tournament was well supported and it was fantastic to see a return of competitive squash.”
WO55 results:
QF: Fiona McLean (SCO) BYE
SF: Fiona McLean (SCO) beat Lisa Tolhurst (ESX) 12/10, 11/3, 11/2 (18m)
F: Fiona McLean (SCO) Fran Wallis (LCN) 11/7, 11/6, 11/8 (18m)
After a first round BYE, Ian Ross who won the Men’s Over 70 title, competed in one of the tournament’s longest games against Tony Pensom in round 2, which he finally won 16/14. It was a titanic battle and Ian showed great energy and grit to finish the match off in style, winning the final two games 11/8, 11/9 in a classic encounter.
Ian’s quarter final clash was another five-game thriller, which really tested both players mettle. Ian found himself 2-1 down after losing the first and third game 9/11 and 7/11, before coming back strongly in the final two games which he won 11/9, 11/6. After that Ian cruised to the title, with Keith Jones retiring in the third game of the final with a calf strain.
Ian said: “It’s very exciting to win this tournament as this is my first British Masters and adds to my British Open win in December 2021 and O70 European Masters title in Wroclaw, Poland in 2017.
The quarter final was a big battle – Larry Grover played well and I was struggling, but with the confidence of winning the British Open and support from my fellow Scottish players, I scrapped hard in 4th game and then comfortably took 5th game winning 3/2.
Only a few Scottish players travel to British National events, however there is a strong team spirit and support for all players.
Winning four National titles together with another three players reaching the semi-finals was an exceptional performance from our Scottish Masters players.”
M070 results:
R1: Ian Ross (SCO) BYE
R2: Ian Ross (SCO) beat Tony Pensom (DCL) 16/14, 11/8, 11/9 (26m)
QF: Ian Ross (SCO) beat Larry Grover (HPH) 9/11, 11/6, 7/11, 11/9, 11/6 (35m)
SF: Ian Ross (SCO) beat Terry Belshaw (CBA) 11/8, 11/7, 11/7 (19m)
F: Ian Ross (SCO) beat Keith Jones (BRK) 11/8, 8/6 – Keith Jones retired injured.
Organised by England Squash Masters, The British National Masters Squash Championships are the national squash championships for senior players from the United Kingdom & Ireland, held annually in February in Nottingham. The British Masters is the oldest and most established tournament in the game of squash and is considered one of the two most prestigious tournaments in the game, alongside the World Masters.
See here for a full list of results
