Cambs Squash

Some exciting squash was witnessed by spectators at the finals of the 2007 Cambridgeshire County Closed. Players came from all over the county but also from London and Nottingham to enter the annual Championships held at Hunts County Squash Club.

The Ladies O50’s final saw Jacqui Storey (Cambridge) beat opponent Margaret Chambers (Fenland) 9-4/9-4/9-5. Sarah Howlett (Comberton) and Julia Dolman (Comberton) also had a 3-0 match in the Ladies O40’s with Howlett winning 9-4/9-5/9-5.

The Men’s O55 competition saw Tony Samouelle (Comberton) put out the No 1 seed, Phil Godfrey and make his way to the final to meet veteran Peter Hand (Peterborough). Samouelle new to the age group was looking the likely winner but Hand played a very controlled game and his accuracy frustrated Samouelle. Hand won 9-3/9-5/9-1.

The Men’s O45 match was not so straightforward with a testing final for No 1 seed Mark Mitchell (Cambridge University Press) and Paul Swallow (Crown). A tight first game with Swallow winning 10-9. Mitchell’s style of play forced Swallow to make errors and Mitchell finally won 9-0/9-7/9-5.

The Ladies Championship final was between Carrie Hastings (Hunts County) and National O40’s champion, Carole Page (Cambridge).

Page despite struggling with ill health on the day put on a magnificent performance going 2-0 up in games dictating the pace of play. Her hard hitting style was too draining and Hastings seized the moment and took the third comfortably 9-3. Page struggled to cover the court and finally had to retire having pulled a calf muscle. Hastings is Ladies Champion for the 2nd year running.

The Men’s Championship finalist No 1 seed, Steffan Morgan (Wimbledon) played well in the earlier rounds reaching the semi finals to play Vinod Duraiken winning 3-0, 9-4/9-7/9-4. No 2 seed Neil Rossin (Hunts County) played 15 year old Sammy Chambers (Crown) in the semis. Chambers fought hard but a determined Rossin came through winning 3-1,10-9/9-1/9-10 and 9-4 for a place in the finals.

The finals delighted the spectators with some excellent squash played in a very sportsmanlike manner.

Both players exceptionally quick around the court, had tremendous rallies. Morgan won the first 9-4. Rossin fought back in the 2nd going 8-3 ahead, Morgan crept back point by point but Rossin took the game 9-7.

Rossin’s confidence rose in the third and Morgan made some errors which cost him dearly giving Rossin the game 9-4. The fourth game was tight to the last point with Rossin taking the game 10-8. Rossin won the Mens title 3-1, 4-9/9-7/9-4/9-10.

The Mens Plate competition final between Andrew D’Allesandro (Cambridge Uni Press) and John Mitchley (Hunts County) was also a 3-1 result in favour of Andrew D’Allesandro. D’Allesandro scraped the first game 10-8 and Mitchley took the 2nd 9-5. D’Allesandro’s ability to finish the rally paid off despite Mitchley’s efforts to chase down the ball. D’Allesandro won the next two 9-6 and 9-2.

Plate competitons were run for first round losers:

Trophies were presented by Cambs Chairman, Peter Hand and Andy Bunting from Prince who sponsored the event.