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Finals Day
British
Championships
Malcolm
Willstrop
 Life teaches, I suppose, that good
things don’t last forever and since the wonderful crowds at Sports City had
been treated to a surfeit of squash of the highest world quality, there were
grounds for thinking that the finals might not reach the same standards. In
the event that’s how it was.
Beachill on Top
Lee Beachill, appearing in his fifth successive final, an achievement
indeed, has survived a quite marvellous match with Nick Matthew in the
semifinal. Since he had had an easy run to that point, it may have been what
he needed, for in the final he produced a brand of squash, which at times
beggared belief with its precision, easy movement and reading of the game.
Even the neutrals would have felt sorry for James Willstrop as he strove to
stem the Beachill tide. It was equally clear that his late night specials
with Simon Parke and John White had left him running on empty. Playing one
of the two best players in the world at his controlling best was a form of
nightmare.
In his gracious winner’s speech Beachill recognised his friend’s problems.
Adding modestly ‘and I played well!’ Too right he did. And when he said
Willstrop would be speaking there more than he would, he should not discount
his own possibilities. Just 27, there is no sign other than improvement and
five may well become six, seven and eight.
The younger man was grossly disappointed – he felt he had short changed the
crowd, but there was nothing he could have done and the knowledgeable crowds
in Manchester recognised his contribution to the championship.
Nor should the contribution of Matthew, Parke and White be forgotten. The
matches they lost in were of the highest calibre, played in the most
sporting of spirits.
Deserved win for Linda
Alison Waters, so improved, was the other young player to have set the
championships alight. She looks to have so much going for her now that her
future is assured. But she, too, will be disappointed at her failure to
engage the worthy Linda Elriani, whose fifth appearance in the final, gave
her the win she deserved.
Elriani was always calling the tune, despite Waters’ best efforts and she
graciously thanked her friend Cassie Jackman, recently forced into
retirement, for being in the audience rather than on the court.
The champion now represents the senior English women players, but with such
as Waters, Jenny Duncalf, Laura Jane Lenghorn and the Botwright sisters all
going in the right direction the future is promising for England women’s
squash..
Although he gives me a hard time, no praise can be too high for Jim Quigley
and his merry men for their staging of a wonderful event supported by
magnificent crowds.
Personally can I thank Nick Taylor and Becky Botwright for helping me with
the between the final diversion, as well as the young players I brought from
Pontefract.
To the disappointment of many and relief of some, I have no intention of
retiring. I love the game of squash, I love coaching and I have a club to
coach at, where Michael Todd gives me the freedom I need.
Anyway I am useless at everything else, so what on earth would I do?
Malcolm Willstrop
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Willstrop's
Words
CARRY ON MALCOLM
In Lee's speech, he told the crowd that Malcolm had threatened to
retire should Lee and James reach a major final against each other.
Lee pleaded with Malcolm to reconsider ... |
Willstrop's
Words
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Saturday, Semi-Finals:
Just how well rewarded have been the
knowledgeable and supportive crowds is hard to overstate. Squash can be
proud that its leading players give their all for scant reward, day after
day or night after night, most of tem playing in a sporting and honest
manner.
After the splendid matches of the day before, Alison Waters and Vicky
Botwright and the classic between Simon Parke and James Willstrop, the men
came up trumps again with two semis of the highest quality.
Mighty Waters in Final
Linda Elriani disposed of Jenny Tranfield in the manner of a
potential champion and Alison Waters, whose improvement is to be
wondered at, managed to deal with Rebecca Macree, who makes
unpleasant watching and I suspect more unpleasant playing. She is so intent
on challenging the referee and every decision that I could only stand two
games, despite wanting to watch Waters. Some forceful and appropriate
refereeing from Peter Kramer was welcome and the right result as Waters won
3/0 and made the final for the first, but not the last time, I am sure.
Paul Carter deserves much credit for what he has achieved with
Waters, especially in the technical department.
Beachill sorely tested
Lee Beachill had no had much of a match before his semi with Nick
Matthew and prior to this meeting had never had much trouble with his
younger England team-mate. But what a match they produced, how well Matthew
played and just what a challenge he offered to the world no 2.
The quality of the match was of the highest level. The whole world knows how
precisely Beachill plays and with what control. But Matthew matched him on
every front, attacking with flair and audacity on every available occasion.
When Beachill asserted to go 2/1 up, it seemed that all was up, but Matthew
came back bravely and levelled the match. Everyone knows that with 11
scoring two-all is something of a lottery, but after 90 minutes of pure
class, Beachill, sorely pressed, prevailed.
Hardley a decision, both players acknowledging balls that were down and
walking away - an example other sports might learn from - and squash out of
the very top drawer.
Nor were we finished.
Willstrop and White entertain
Holder John White and James Willstrop rarely disappoint, never
playing each other. Many will remember the epic Crucible encounter and they
weren't about to lower their standards at Sportcity.
Willstrop came off the back of a demanding late night match with Simon
Parke, but told me at noon that he had done everything right: physio with
Matt, easting, drinking and sleeping - even a lunchtime walk on Matt's
advice.
White began well as he does, but soon Willstrop was looking as if the
previous night was not a problem. Attacking as he does from everywhere, he
took charge in the second, went 2/1 up after a spirited recovery by the
champion and then took the fourth on a tie break, when probably the crowd
wanted a fifth.
The Final ...
So the all Pontefract final which had been a possibility was now a reality.
Two long term friends and training partners will be vying for a prestigious
title, both after demanding matches.
Despite the fact that Lee has never lost to James, there is no pecking order
and my hope is that the squash matches the occasion and the immense
contribution so far of White, Matthew, Parke and the two finalists.
Squash has certainly been the winner so far, rewarding Manchester Leisure
and the irrepressable Jim Quigley.
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Friday
Quarter-Finals:
Two three-nil wins were neatly sandwiched by
two massive five setters, as once again squash enthusiasts were treated to
man evening of quality, drama and excitement.
Waters looking good
Vicky Botwright carried local hopes in the first of the night's matches and
although she will be disappointed at the outcome, the crowd, except for the
partisans, were not.
Alison Waters, a highly rated junior, looks like being an even more
successful senior, judged by her recent progress. Athletic and technically
incredibly improved, she dominated the early stages and Botwright did well
to stand at one all. Then Waters became error prone and Botwright raced into
a 2-1 lead, looking all over a winner.
Beginning the fourth she served the first ball out and the portents were in
place, since she played an unconvincing game and Waters was level. The flow
was now with the younger player and although Botwright battled, the damage
had really been done a game earlier.
Macree too strong
Promising though Becky, the younger Botwright, is, she couldn't quite cope
with Rebecca Macree, who played some telling shots to win convincingly.
Botwright is very athletic and she had moments when she extended rallied and
showed what she could do. But the Essex girl is a hardened warrior at this
level and she did very little wrong.
White feels at home
John White, the holder, hadn't been too convincing on the outside courts,
but happier on the glass, he staved off a spirited challenge from the
Queen's, Halifax professional Marcus Berrett. Berrett is a precision player
of excellence and he was very persistent, but White's immense power was
always there when needed.
It was just the sort of match White would have chosen to set him for later,
quality and not too long. Without all his kids, he probably slept well last
night.
A real crowd pleaser
James Willstrop, however, probably wouldn't have chosen Simon Parke for the
late, late show and events would have proved him right.
The youngster began with all out attack, encouraged by his coach,
misguidedly in retrospect.
The packed arena loved it. Parkey ran miles, seemed to be outplayed and went
1-0 up. He almost went 2-0 up, but Willstrop levelled on a tie break to his
relief. He then won the third well and all seemed set for him. But the
indefatigable Parke had other ideas and aided by Willstrop now playing at
the edge physically, he levelled the match to the delight of the crowd.
Willstrop doesn't lack resolve either, and summoning reserves he played a
composed game to win the match, much to his obvious relief.
It was without doubt a great match - the crowd stood as one and applauded
the aspiring youngster and the ageing star, who had shown once again that he
is far from finished.
Credit to them both. The game of squash was the winner!
Malcolm Willstrop |
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COMING UP ...
QUARTER-FINALS
Malcolm Willstrop looks at the quarters ...
The quarter-finals , sadly missing the stricken Peter Nicol, are more or
less what was to be expected. Some might have thought that Peter Barker
would have made an impression on Alex Gough, but the veteran was
having none of it.
He has maintained form extremely well and has been performing lately. The
surprise, perhaps, was the ease of the victory. Anyway I was happy enough
since I won a fiver off a player of note, who thought Barker would win.
Of the others Lee Beachill is still at a canter understandably, but
holder John White has yet to hit form, having been seriously troubled
by Derek Ryan and then the dangerous Bradley Ball. He will be happy to get
on the glass court, as will James Willstrop, potential semi-final
opponents.
Beachill is a dominant performer these days and it is hard to see Gough
bothering him too much, and if White is enlivened by the glass court he
should see off Marcus Berrett, though the Halifax professional is not
one to treat lightly.
Simon Parke continues to re-invent himself and he will doubtless
extend Willstrop, but on paper the match of the quarters is today's clash
between Nick Matthew and Adrian Grant, neither perhaps at the
very top of their form, but both playing well enough. They generally have
close encounters and it is hard to imagine this being anything different.
There were good crowds last night and there is promise of much to come from
today onwards.
Malcolm Willstrop
THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT
Ellery Hanley, who lives locally, was with John White last night and
that will do the Australian-Scot no harm, and also Sylvan Richardson,
another Manchester resident who has provided Pontefract members with
splendid musical evenings in 2004.
He and keyboard king Andy Kingston, accompanied by Stafford Murray,
are next appearing at Cleethorpes Club Dinner, backed by three top singers.
Mike Hallam, who runs a splendid tournament in Cleethorpes every
year, is masterminding the night. |
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