Words by Damian Burgess 3.3.2011
It’s a new venue, some new faces but the standard of squash will remain at its highest at the 15th Welsh Masters Championships at Newport Squash Rackets Club on the 4th – 6th March 2011. Over 120 entries for the event; a record for the Masters.
Men and Women will travel from all over Wales and England to play at Newport this weekend, with a chance of selection for Wales in the upcoming Masters Home Internationals; the competition will be fierce. Experienced players line up from the O35 to the O65 in the men’s, which includes the O50 Steve Baber Cup and for the Women’s a combined O35/O40 and 050 events.
In the Men’s Over 35 the current Champion from 2009 and 2010, Matthew Crowley, leads the field in a full draw, also in the draw is Over 35 Welsh National Champion Paul Barrell; Dallas Hayvice, Paul Johnson, Jason Burgon and Russell Young of Newport among others
In the Men’s Over 40 last years runner up Nick Jones looks to go one further and take the title, also in the draw is 4 time runner up at Over 35 and the 2009 Masters Champion at Over 40, Mark Jones. In last years event Nick beat Mark in the Quarter Finals, both are seeded this year to meet in the Final. Also in the draw and looking to make the Final are Gary Cairns and Darren Jones from North Wales in another full draw.
The Men’s Over 45 is also a full draw with Richard Murphy looking to defend his 2010 Masters Title. Richard also won the Welsh National Championships Over 45 title this year beating Ian Fenner-Evans in the Final at the Sport Wales National Centre. Ian was the runner up in last years Final so it could be third time lucky as the two are seeded to make the Final. A few other names from the draw include ever present Mark Huxtable, Stephen Wall and Gary Hales. Stephen and Gary contested the 2009 Over 45 Masters Final; Stephen came out on top that day.
In the Steve Baber Cup, or as its better known, the Men’s Over 50 event is Jon Evans who will be looking to make it a hat trick of Over 50 titles after winning the 2009 and 2010 titles in Swansea. Jon is seeded 1 for the event, Mike Workman who was runner up to Jon last year is again seeded 2 and will be looking to reverse the score if given the chance this year. Also in the 13 man draw is Hugh Griffiths from West Wales. Hugh has made it to 5 Welsh Masters Finals in various age groups winning one of them in 2001 when he beat Nick Guard in the Over 40 Final. Last year Hugh made it to the Semi Final, maybe one further this year?
In the Men’s Over 55 last years Masters Champion at Over 55 Paul Tudor is favorite. Paul beat Alan James in last years Final and the pair are seeded to meet there again. Alan James is a very experienced Masters player reaching 13 Finals in various age groups, winning his first at the 1997 Masters Over 40. He was a finalist in 1998, 2001 and 2002 at Over 45 and Champion in 1999 and 2000. Alan is also 5 times Champion of the Over 50 from 2003 – 2007, Over 55 Masters Champion in 2008 and runner up last year. Could Alan add another Final to his long list?
The Men’s Over 60 is headed by last years runner up and the 2009 Masters Over 60 Champion, Haydn Jones who will be trying to reach his 10th Final in Welsh Masters events. Haydn won his first Masters event in the Men’s Over 50 in 1998; he won that category again in 1999 and 2001 before moving up to the Over 55 where he was runner up in 2002 and 2003. In 2005 Haydn won the Over 55 before moving up again, this time in the Over 60 where he has played in 3 Finals. Number 2 seed in the draw is 2000 Men’s Over 50 Welsh Masters Champion Mike Mooney.
In the final Men’s category the Over 65, 3 times Welsh Masters Champion Geoff Trenchard is seeded 1; Geoff won the Masters in 2001 and 2002 in the Men’s Over 55 and won the Over 60 in 2006. Interestingly Geoff has never lost in a Masters Final, could he make it 4 titles this year?
In the Women’s event, the Over 35/Over40 have been combined to two pools of 3 players. Current Champion and winner in the 2008 and 2009 Women’s Over 40 Carolyn Gooding looks for title number 4 in the Over 40, Carolyn also won the 2002 Women’s Over 35 Masters and was runner up the previous year. The last two Finals at the Women’s Over 40 have been between Carolyn and Joanne Dark; Joanne will be looking to go one step further this year after reaching 3 Finals but never winning one of them.
In the Women’s Over 50 nine times Welsh Masters Champion Sian Johnson looks to make it a perfect 10 this weekend, Sian also won the 2011 Welsh National Championships in the Women’s Over 50 beating Lynne Davies in the Final 3-2. Sian and Lynne again met in the Final of the Women’s category of the South Glamorgan Championships, Sian winning that match also. Lynne herself has reached eight Finals at the Welsh Masters and won two of them; in 1999 the Over 40 and in 2004 the Over 45. Also in the draw is three times finalist Kath Horler-Clee who won the 2003 Over 35 and the 2008 Over 45, a very strong line up of ladies for this event.
Good luck to all who are entering the event, a great weekend will be had. Photo’s and reports will be available online on the Squash Wales Facebook page as well as the Squash Wales blog and Squash Wales Website.
There is a new site to be launched soon dedicated to the Welsh Masters, hopefully it will be live by the weekend, full of photo’s, reports and even video from the weekend. Take a look at www.squashwalesmasters.co.uk
Words by Damian Burgess, Press Officer Squash Wales
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