WHAT HAPPENED IN 2022 . . . AMBER MARSHALL AND MIKE HARRIS RETAIN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP TITLES
A sunny weekend at The Edgbaston Priory Club and some of the best Racketball we have seen at the National Championships. This is the event the Racketball community looks forward to every year, a chance to catch up with old friends, renew old rivalries and add new names to the Racketball/Squash57 Nationals Halls of Fame.
2022 did not disappoint with brilliant Racketball, great fun by the outdoor pool and new names engraved into the sports history.
In a great women’s tournament it was last years Champion Amber Marshall who came through as champion after fending off the challenge of local coach Roxy Keshavarz, previous champion Natalie Lawrence and local rising Racketball star Rebecca Symmons.
The large crowd that had stayed for the National Men’s Championship final was gutted when UK-Racketball Series legend Luke Bishop was forced to withdraw injured. Bishop had defeated local seed topper Lewis Anderson in the semi finals and was on fine form going into the final but Harris is looking more and more dominant on the Racketball front though, taking this National Title without dropping a single game.
The standard of Racketball in the Men’s and Women’s 35’s was of the highest level with Sutton’s Chris Hall taking the Men’s and Natalie Lawrence adding to her growing tally of National Titles in the Women’s.
Ryan Loska saw off all challenges in the Over 40’s and continued the phenomenal run of victories that he is now accumulating across the country in the UK-Racketball Series. Mike Gregory was pushed hard multiple times in the Over 45’s but despite the best efforts and a huge amount of running from both Mat Lowery and Andrew Speake his court craft and accuracy proved decisive and granted him another title.
In an all Shropshire Over 50’s final it was Chris Morris who defeated fellow club friend Chris Wase. These two are rivals on tour and in weekly battles, on the day Morris had the best of it but they are both improving fast and looking like the men to beat in the Over 50’s.
It is rare to see someone completely shocked to have won a National Title but this was the case in the Over 55’s when Siobhan Garland defeated Lesley Sturgess. Garland played fantastic Racketball throughout, fighting hard and taking her chances when they came, a brilliant performance as it always has to be to get anywhere near the quality of Sturgess. In the Men’s 55’s Neil Baldwin proved too strong for Hampshires Jonathan Edwards in the final with controlled Racketball giving him the 11/4, 11/7, 11/2 win.
Patrick Osborn’s control and tactical savvy proved decisive in the Over 60’s over coming Martin Greenslade 3-0 in the final. Greenslade’s semi final against Paul Haigh proved to be one of the matches of the day eventually being won 11/9 in the 5th after over an hour on court! In the Women’s 60’s Lesley Sturgess added another title to her collection with victory over Jo Robinson making her one of the top title winners across categories in the history of the competition.
In the Men’s Over 65’s number 4 seed Stephen Johnson overcame all challenges to take the title with a victory over number one seed Graham Holmes in the final. Ian Graham was not to be denied in the Men’s Over 70’s and added another title to the records with no dropped games or tie breaks throughout the weekend.
The Men’s Over 75’s and 80’s was a fantastic display of Racketball with some tough rallies, cunning tactics and tenacity displayed throughout. It is a testimony to our sport that players can play to such a high level for so long. Jersey’s Howard Thompson succeeded in claiming the Over 75’s crown. Andrew Rugg-Gunn won all 3 matches in the Over 80’s round robin against, John Bennett, Gordon Stringer and Brian Gurnett in a great display of Racketball skill!
This years Nationals was one to remember! For the full results list follow this link to SportyHQ - https://www.sportyhq.com/tournament/view/Event-7-Head-National-Racketball-Championships-16th17th-July-Edgbaston
Follow this link for all of this years photos - https://www.facebook.com/UKRacketballSeries
A sunny weekend at The Edgbaston Priory Club and some of the best Racketball we have seen at the National Championships. This is the event the Racketball community looks forward to every year, a chance to catch up with old friends, renew old rivalries and add new names to the Racketball/Squash57 Nationals Halls of Fame.
2022 did not disappoint with brilliant Racketball, great fun by the outdoor pool and new names engraved into the sports history.
In a great women’s tournament it was last years Champion Amber Marshall who came through as champion after fending off the challenge of local coach Roxy Keshavarz, previous champion Natalie Lawrence and local rising Racketball star Rebecca Symmons.
The large crowd that had stayed for the National Men’s Championship final was gutted when UK-Racketball Series legend Luke Bishop was forced to withdraw injured. Bishop had defeated local seed topper Lewis Anderson in the semi finals and was on fine form going into the final but Harris is looking more and more dominant on the Racketball front though, taking this National Title without dropping a single game.
The standard of Racketball in the Men’s and Women’s 35’s was of the highest level with Sutton’s Chris Hall taking the Men’s and Natalie Lawrence adding to her growing tally of National Titles in the Women’s.
Ryan Loska saw off all challenges in the Over 40’s and continued the phenomenal run of victories that he is now accumulating across the country in the UK-Racketball Series. Mike Gregory was pushed hard multiple times in the Over 45’s but despite the best efforts and a huge amount of running from both Mat Lowery and Andrew Speake his court craft and accuracy proved decisive and granted him another title.
In an all Shropshire Over 50’s final it was Chris Morris who defeated fellow club friend Chris Wase. These two are rivals on tour and in weekly battles, on the day Morris had the best of it but they are both improving fast and looking like the men to beat in the Over 50’s.
It is rare to see someone completely shocked to have won a National Title but this was the case in the Over 55’s when Siobhan Garland defeated Lesley Sturgess. Garland played fantastic Racketball throughout, fighting hard and taking her chances when they came, a brilliant performance as it always has to be to get anywhere near the quality of Sturgess. In the Men’s 55’s Neil Baldwin proved too strong for Hampshires Jonathan Edwards in the final with controlled Racketball giving him the 11/4, 11/7, 11/2 win.
Patrick Osborn’s control and tactical savvy proved decisive in the Over 60’s over coming Martin Greenslade 3-0 in the final. Greenslade’s semi final against Paul Haigh proved to be one of the matches of the day eventually being won 11/9 in the 5th after over an hour on court! In the Women’s 60’s Lesley Sturgess added another title to her collection with victory over Jo Robinson making her one of the top title winners across categories in the history of the competition.
In the Men’s Over 65’s number 4 seed Stephen Johnson overcame all challenges to take the title with a victory over number one seed Graham Holmes in the final. Ian Graham was not to be denied in the Men’s Over 70’s and added another title to the records with no dropped games or tie breaks throughout the weekend.
The Men’s Over 75’s and 80’s was a fantastic display of Racketball with some tough rallies, cunning tactics and tenacity displayed throughout. It is a testimony to our sport that players can play to such a high level for so long. Jersey’s Howard Thompson succeeded in claiming the Over 75’s crown. Andrew Rugg-Gunn won all 3 matches in the Over 80’s round robin against, John Bennett, Gordon Stringer and Brian Gurnett in a great display of Racketball skill!
This years Nationals was one to remember! For the full results list follow this link to SportyHQ - https://www.sportyhq.com/tournament/view/Event-7-Head-National-Racketball-Championships-16th17th-July-Edgbaston
Follow this link for all of this years photos - https://www.facebook.com/UKRacketballSeries
