Masters underway in Palmy

The Masters National Champs have started with a hiss and a roar at SquashGym Palmerston North today.

The first day of play got underway at 12 noon, and featured two matches for some players - a gruelling assignment.  The top seeds in all divisions have proved untroubled thus far, with the favourites in all age groups progressing to the second round.  Close competition can be counted on from the quarter-final stages onwards on Saturday.

Notable results included former NZ senior reps Sarah Cook and Tamsyn Leevey - the top two seeds in the women's 35-39 age group - winning in straight sets as expected.  Cook eased past Tania Tatana-Walker of the Hastings Club 15-10 15-4 15-8, while Leevey was too good for Riverton's Tanya Colyer, winning 15-13 15-9 15-8.  In the women's 55-59 age group Karen Walton shrugged off a rib complaint to beat Carole Walsh 15-3 15-9 15-9, while evergreen 60-64 title favourite Freda Walker did Christchurch Football proud by beating Khandallah's Lily Hildebrand 15-10 15-12 15-4.  In the men's action North Shore's Mark Waldin looked powerful in his 15-9 15-11 15-6 victory over Gavin Davis, underlining his credentials as the men's 55-59 favourite.

Local hopes were led by Mike McSherry, the top seed in the men's 45-49 age group, and Mickayla Kerr, fourth seed in the women's 35-39 age group.  McSherry showcased his usual gifted strokeplay and panache in beating Pahiatua's Brent Woodmass 15-1 15-8 15-4 - a very comfortable victory setting him up with a quarter-final showdown with eighth seeded Marlburian Paul Roughan.  Kerr was also relatively comfortable in her opening round win over Greymouth's Erin Ellery 15-12 15-10 15-11.  Kerr's victory sets up a semi-final against top seed Sarah Cook of Mt Pleasant.  While Cook's international pedigree may look daunting (a career high ranking of 14 in the world), Kerr has been training the house down at SquashGym Palmerston North's world-class facility, and is not without a chance in the match-up.

Without doubt the match of the opening night was played between Shane Johnston and Tim Preston in the men's 40-44 quarter-finals.  Johnston, the fourth seed from Khandallah, is a familiar face at the Fitzherbert Avenue courts, having travelled up many times from Wellington for Palmerston North events.  Preston, currently playing out of the Christchurch Club, should also be familiar to local squash enthusiasts, having represented SquashGym for a number of years in the late 2000s.  Both men are renowned for their ability to deceive their opponents with a range of short strokes, and neither disappointed in their primetime match on Friday evening.  Fifth seeded Preston twice fought back from a game down against Johnston to force the match to a fifth set.  The two were inseperable for much of the fifth, before Johnston was able to pull away from 12-11 to seal the match 15-13 7-15 15-11 9-15 15-11.  For his efforts Johnston will be rewarded with a semi-final showdown with NZ Masters rep Scott Gardiner of the Burnside Club.

Matches begin on Saturday from 9am.  Entry is free for spectators.

For full results (being updated regularly) visit the 'Current Tournaments' section of iSquash: http://www.squash.org.nz/sit/live/tournament/event/1013215.