Masters Nationals a Great Success

Individual results are in for Masters and it's been deemed a great success so far!

Some incredible squash has been played at Hawkes Bay SRC over the weekend by a group of hardened and committed players.  Although only a few could be rewarded with coveted national titles, the camraderie and competition experienced by all will have ensured that nobody went home dissatisfied. 

In the 35-39 age group there were debut national masters titles for Corey Love of Mitchell Park (to go with his national junior title earned in 1994) and Juliette Smith from Malvern.  Other first time national master title winners were Judy Smith of Burnside in the 60-64 age group and Huntly's Gordon Murray in the 75+ age group.  Several of 2012's title winners were adding titles to weighty collections: none more so than Kay Newman.  Kay, who plays out of the Hamilton club, won her ninth national masters title in the 50-54 age group by beating Christchurch's Karen Walton in a tough five setter.  Lisa Cowlard of North Shore won the 40-44 age group for the fourth consecutive year to take her total title tally to six.

It was a successful weekend indeed for the North Shore Club, with twice World Masters Champion Gary Duberly winning his seventh national title of his career, and Mark Waldin his third.  National Masters Director Wayne Seebeck of Christchurch beat Thorndon's Tony Naughton to take his fourth title.

Overall a fantastic weekend was had, with Hawkes Bay predictably turning on great weather for everyone to enjoy.  Jacquie and Murray Sutherland did a great job of running the event out of the Hawkes Bay club, with useful assistance from the Hawkes Bay Lawn Tennis Club.  Masters Director Wayne Seebeck's hard work must be acknowledged, and so too that of his fellow selectors Ian Gunthorpe and Kay Jackson.

Many of the players will be backing up for the teams event on Monday and Tuesday, where six districts (Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Waikato, Eastern, Wellington and Canterbury) will do battle for the Christchurch Cup.  Results will be updated on the Hawkes Bay SRC website http://www.hawkesbaysquash.com/, as well as the Squash New Zealand one, so keep an eye out over the coming days for more news.

Men's individual results:

• M35: Corey Love beat Evans Chileshe 15-11, 15-6, 15-11
• M40: Scott Gardiner beat Paul Bedford 12-15, 15-12, 15-6, 15-7
• M45: Gary Duberly (pictured right) beat Grant Craig 15-7, 16-14, 15-8
• M50: Brent Sherman beat Martin McKelvie 16-18, 15-8, 15-9, 15-12
• M55: Mark Waldin beat Charlie Mayhew 15-10, 15-12, 10-15, 15-11
• M60: Wayne Seebeck beat Tony Naughton 15-7, 15-11, 15-8
• M65: Ian Gunthorpe
• M75+: Gordon Murray beat Colin Hayvice 15-10, 12-15, 15-13, 15-8
• Men's C Grade Division A: Darren Bailie beat Mike Donald 15-10, 15-10, 15-6
• Men's C Grade Division B: Scott Fergusson beat Graham Westbury 15-7, 15-11, 15-11
• Men's D Grade: David Russell beat Ian Dickinson 13-15, 7-15, 15-11, 18-16, 15-11

Women's individual results:

• W35: Juliet Smith beat Mickayla Kerr 15-13, 16-14, 15-8
• W40: Lisa Cowlard beat Mandy Kennedy 15-12, 15-4, 15-9
• W45: Vicki Beker beat Kathryn McKay 19-17, 15-7, 16-18, 13-15, 15-2
• W50: Kay Newman beat Karen Walton 15-9, 14-16, 15-11, 10-15, 15-9
• W55: Sandra Lelievre beat Freda Walker 16-14, 15-6, 15-6
• W60: Judy Smith beat Dru Reid 15-9, 14-16, 15-5, 13-15, 15-9
• W65: Kaye Jackson beat Pauline Stachurski 15-8, 15-6, 15-9
• Women's C Grade: Gay Atkins beat Rebekah Ward 8-15, 15-12, 15-9, 6-15, 18-16
• Women's E Grade: Bex McIntosh beat Michelle Rieter 15-5, 11-15, 15-11, 15-10

Rob Roche Award for Meritorious Service to Masters Squash:

• Trevor Colyer

"Fun" Doubles results (there's no such thing as 'fun competition' in squash!)

• Main: Steve Gray and Michael Pittams
• Runners-up: Lisa Cowlard and Gary Duberly
• Plate: Wayne Kempton and Brian Wilkins
• Consolation Plate: Carole Allen and Anne-Marie Johnson
• Special Plate: Bruce Lewis and Jason Pratt

For full results see http://www.hawkesbaysquash.com/