ReportsThis was the first closed event to be held in the region and on the day over 35 people battled it out Nottingham Squash Rackets Club for the East Midlands racketball crown.
Men’s A
Group A was won by Mark Fuller, but he was fought all the way by Phil Scully in an hour long best of three.
In Group B, one game was all that separated the three competitors. They each beat one another but with was Pete Goodings who managed to sneak a game off Neil Rossin, to come out ahead with three points to Rossin and two forJames Healey.
Group C saw a tough battle between John Maloney and Ant Horsley withMaloney taking the match 2-1, but Curtis Tomloinson came out on top as the only A grade winner to make it through the group stages without dropping a game.
In the third place group, Neil Rossin displayed his usual high level of fitness playing both matches back to back in tough contests. He beat Ant Horsley 2-0 but dropped a game to Neil Tatham in a brutal 2-1 win to claim 7th place.
The runner’s up group saw some really good racketball with John Maloneyovercoming a tired Phil Scully to take the match 2-0 and claim 4th place.Maloney probably felt a bit aggrieved that he played Curtis Tomlinson so early on, as he would have liked to have been in the winner’s group.
In the finals group, the one that would decide the overall winner, Mark Fullercomfortably beat Curtis Tomlinson 2-0. Fuller went on to play Pete Goodings who went 1-0 up in the first game, hitting lots of winners withFuller struggling to cope with Gooding pace and accuracy. In the end Fuller’sconsistency got the better of Gooding’s flair, with Fuller taking the last two games, 11/8, 11/6 to bring the score to 2-1, taking the match and the A grade crown.
Women’s
Jo Shelly started both games well but Lesley Strugess came back strong playing some incredibly accurate racketball hitting a really good length to putShelly under pressure. In the end Sturgess’ experience told, and she came through as the worthy winner, 11-5, 11-8.
B Grade
Clyde Finch won all matches without dropping a game to win the group. It was a really tight battle for 2nd between Leigh Brusby and Dave Hudson, but Brusby came out on top in a very close 2-1. Lesley Strugess fought hard to win against Gary Slator, with her accuracy and touch giving her the advantage she needed.
C Grade
Grade C saw some brutal matches between Stuart Lowth and Dariuzs Wanatowski with Wanatowski coming out on top, but Lowth gave him a real run for his money. Wanatowski again came out on top, but only just in an epic contest against Liam Trusswell. Both players were retrieving balls from all over the court and fought right to the finish. In the end,Wanatowski’s determination saw him through but the group was eventually won by Jo Shelly who played controlled racketball right into all four corners.
Over 35s
Matt Jones’ great use of deception with flicks and changes of speed brought him within touching distance of taking the game from Jason Fearn, butFearn fought back hard and it was almost one way traffic from the beginning of the second game and Fearn won the match and took the crown. Matt Jones v Andy Hale was point for point and really tight al the way through.Jones just about ran away with it at the end of both games, with late bursts that Hale couldn’t manage. Dariuzs Wanatowski ran hard all day but in the end the others were just too strong.
Over 45s
Despite playing down an age group, Nigel Millington came through strong without dropping a single game in the over 45s. Malcolm Bramley took second place, after fighting hard against Millington but he couldn’t quite keep up with the pace. Mark Newitt overcame Ian Jackson and Nick Clark in one of the biggest draws of the day.
Over 55s
Two groups of three played off for a straight final, with the winners of each group going through. John Farrow took a game off Nigel Millington in a tough battle in group A. The second group was won by Paul Oldham, who overcame Greg Marsters and David Philips with some tenacious racketball. The Over 55s final was a great spectacle on court 10 right at the end of the day. The crowd were rooting for the underdog Paul Oldham, but Millingtondoes not lose many Over 55 matches and triumphed as the worthy winner. It will be great to see what Millington can do in the Nationals, but for the moment he has another title under his belt.
It was another great day of racketball in the region and with the first UK-Racketball Series Event taking place at the end of March at The Manor racketball’s future is looking good in the East MResultsA Grade
1
Mark Fuller2
Curtis Tomlinson3
Pete Goodings4
John Maloney5
Phil Scully6
James Healey7
Neil Rossin8
Ant Horsley9
Neil TathamB Grade
1
Clyde Finch2
Leigh Brusby3
Dave Hudson4
Lesley Sturgess5
Gary SlarorC Grade
1
Jo Shelley2
Dariusz Wanatowski3
Liam Trusswell4
Stewart LowthWomens
1
Lesley Sturgess2
Jo ShelleyOver 35's
1
Jason Fearn2
Matt Jones3
Andy Hale4
Dariusz WanatowskiOver 45's
1
Nigel Millington2
Malcom Bramley3
Mark Newitt4
Ian Jackson5
Nick ClarkOver 55's
1
Nigel Millington2
Paul Oldham3
Edward John Russell Farrow4
Greg Marsters5
Hans Billson6
David Phillips
Men’s A
Group A was won by Mark Fuller, but he was fought all the way by Phil Scully in an hour long best of three.
In Group B, one game was all that separated the three competitors. They each beat one another but with was Pete Goodings who managed to sneak a game off Neil Rossin, to come out ahead with three points to Rossin and two forJames Healey.
Group C saw a tough battle between John Maloney and Ant Horsley withMaloney taking the match 2-1, but Curtis Tomloinson came out on top as the only A grade winner to make it through the group stages without dropping a game.
In the third place group, Neil Rossin displayed his usual high level of fitness playing both matches back to back in tough contests. He beat Ant Horsley 2-0 but dropped a game to Neil Tatham in a brutal 2-1 win to claim 7th place.
The runner’s up group saw some really good racketball with John Maloneyovercoming a tired Phil Scully to take the match 2-0 and claim 4th place.Maloney probably felt a bit aggrieved that he played Curtis Tomlinson so early on, as he would have liked to have been in the winner’s group.
In the finals group, the one that would decide the overall winner, Mark Fullercomfortably beat Curtis Tomlinson 2-0. Fuller went on to play Pete Goodings who went 1-0 up in the first game, hitting lots of winners withFuller struggling to cope with Gooding pace and accuracy. In the end Fuller’sconsistency got the better of Gooding’s flair, with Fuller taking the last two games, 11/8, 11/6 to bring the score to 2-1, taking the match and the A grade crown.
Women’s
Jo Shelly started both games well but Lesley Strugess came back strong playing some incredibly accurate racketball hitting a really good length to putShelly under pressure. In the end Sturgess’ experience told, and she came through as the worthy winner, 11-5, 11-8.
B Grade
Clyde Finch won all matches without dropping a game to win the group. It was a really tight battle for 2nd between Leigh Brusby and Dave Hudson, but Brusby came out on top in a very close 2-1. Lesley Strugess fought hard to win against Gary Slator, with her accuracy and touch giving her the advantage she needed.
C Grade
Grade C saw some brutal matches between Stuart Lowth and Dariuzs Wanatowski with Wanatowski coming out on top, but Lowth gave him a real run for his money. Wanatowski again came out on top, but only just in an epic contest against Liam Trusswell. Both players were retrieving balls from all over the court and fought right to the finish. In the end,Wanatowski’s determination saw him through but the group was eventually won by Jo Shelly who played controlled racketball right into all four corners.
Over 35s
Matt Jones’ great use of deception with flicks and changes of speed brought him within touching distance of taking the game from Jason Fearn, butFearn fought back hard and it was almost one way traffic from the beginning of the second game and Fearn won the match and took the crown. Matt Jones v Andy Hale was point for point and really tight al the way through.Jones just about ran away with it at the end of both games, with late bursts that Hale couldn’t manage. Dariuzs Wanatowski ran hard all day but in the end the others were just too strong.
Over 45s
Despite playing down an age group, Nigel Millington came through strong without dropping a single game in the over 45s. Malcolm Bramley took second place, after fighting hard against Millington but he couldn’t quite keep up with the pace. Mark Newitt overcame Ian Jackson and Nick Clark in one of the biggest draws of the day.
Over 55s
Two groups of three played off for a straight final, with the winners of each group going through. John Farrow took a game off Nigel Millington in a tough battle in group A. The second group was won by Paul Oldham, who overcame Greg Marsters and David Philips with some tenacious racketball. The Over 55s final was a great spectacle on court 10 right at the end of the day. The crowd were rooting for the underdog Paul Oldham, but Millingtondoes not lose many Over 55 matches and triumphed as the worthy winner. It will be great to see what Millington can do in the Nationals, but for the moment he has another title under his belt.
It was another great day of racketball in the region and with the first UK-Racketball Series Event taking place at the end of March at The Manor racketball’s future is looking good in the East MResultsA Grade
1
Mark Fuller2
Curtis Tomlinson3
Pete Goodings4
John Maloney5
Phil Scully6
James Healey7
Neil Rossin8
Ant Horsley9
Neil TathamB Grade
1
Clyde Finch2
Leigh Brusby3
Dave Hudson4
Lesley Sturgess5
Gary SlarorC Grade
1
Jo Shelley2
Dariusz Wanatowski3
Liam Trusswell4
Stewart LowthWomens
1
Lesley Sturgess2
Jo ShelleyOver 35's
1
Jason Fearn2
Matt Jones3
Andy Hale4
Dariusz WanatowskiOver 45's
1
Nigel Millington2
Malcom Bramley3
Mark Newitt4
Ian Jackson5
Nick ClarkOver 55's
1
Nigel Millington2
Paul Oldham3
Edward John Russell Farrow4
Greg Marsters5
Hans Billson6
David Phillips