The Mote Racketball Open Results
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The Mote Racketball Open Report
Click here to view all of the photos from the event
Over 40’s
Group A
Rob Watkins again showed his strength in the UK-Racketball competitions once again coming through his group without dropping a game.
Group B
Group B had been named the “group of death” by the guys unlucky enough to be drawn into it. 1 player larger than group A, the “group of death” included Mark Steeden, Patrick Ozborn, Mark Thorney and Pedro Proena all of who would probably feel they could have a go at beating Watkins on a good day. The two Marks were the first match up but it was the man in form Steeden who came close to beating Lord at the nationals a couple of weeks ago who came through in a close 2-0.
Pedro was the Potugeses wildcard of the group, he came over especially to play in the event and none of the regulars really knew what to expect. He came close twice with his variety of drops and fading boasts earning a lot of winners but he failed to take either Thorney or Ozborn despite forcing them to a deciding set. “I must get used to this black ball” he told me afterwards.
Final
It was a battle from the off between Steeden and Watkins. Watkins was tanking the serve as he likes to do with Steeden looking to contain and counter punch. The first went to Watkins 11/6 but the second could have gone either way with both players fighting hard. Both players began to get annoyed as the finish line approached with the marker and with each other but the racketball remained a high quality throughout. “Fortunately I don’t have to play him that often as he’s older than me” was the quote from a frustrated Steeden after the final.
Over 40’s
Group A
Rob Watkins again showed his strength in the UK-Racketball competitions once again coming through his group without dropping a game.
Group B
Group B had been named the “group of death” by the guys unlucky enough to be drawn into it. 1 player larger than group A, the “group of death” included Mark Steeden, Patrick Ozborn, Mark Thorney and Pedro Proena all of who would probably feel they could have a go at beating Watkins on a good day. The two Marks were the first match up but it was the man in form Steeden who came close to beating Lord at the nationals a couple of weeks ago who came through in a close 2-0.
Pedro was the Potugeses wildcard of the group, he came over especially to play in the event and none of the regulars really knew what to expect. He came close twice with his variety of drops and fading boasts earning a lot of winners but he failed to take either Thorney or Ozborn despite forcing them to a deciding set. “I must get used to this black ball” he told me afterwards.
Final
It was a battle from the off between Steeden and Watkins. Watkins was tanking the serve as he likes to do with Steeden looking to contain and counter punch. The first went to Watkins 11/6 but the second could have gone either way with both players fighting hard. Both players began to get annoyed as the finish line approached with the marker and with each other but the racketball remained a high quality throughout. “Fortunately I don’t have to play him that often as he’s older than me” was the quote from a frustrated Steeden after the final.
Women’s
Another good entry in the women’s draw with the Manor’s winner Matilda Parslow, Kathryn Milne and the women’s over 35s finalist Sam Mueller all looking to take the 2nd Women’s title of the season. The tournament was a straight round robin and saw some fantastic matches played in a great spirit.
Sam had to battle hard to get past Matilda, but despite lots of great retrieving play in the end it Sam just hit to hard and came through 2-0.
Natalie was just too strong for Matilda but didn’t quite have enough to beat Kathryn in a match that turned into one of the most competitive and close encounters of the day as they battled it out for 2nd place.
Women’s Final
Sam Mueller and Kathryn Milne could have faced off in the nationals were it not for the luck of the draw and with both women in the same age group this was always going to be a hotly contested match for the Mote title. In the end Mueller just had a little bit more than Milne despite being pushed hard in both sets.
Another good entry in the women’s draw with the Manor’s winner Matilda Parslow, Kathryn Milne and the women’s over 35s finalist Sam Mueller all looking to take the 2nd Women’s title of the season. The tournament was a straight round robin and saw some fantastic matches played in a great spirit.
Sam had to battle hard to get past Matilda, but despite lots of great retrieving play in the end it Sam just hit to hard and came through 2-0.
Natalie was just too strong for Matilda but didn’t quite have enough to beat Kathryn in a match that turned into one of the most competitive and close encounters of the day as they battled it out for 2nd place.
Women’s Final
Sam Mueller and Kathryn Milne could have faced off in the nationals were it not for the luck of the draw and with both women in the same age group this was always going to be a hotly contested match for the Mote title. In the end Mueller just had a little bit more than Milne despite being pushed hard in both sets.
Over 50’s
Group A
Graham Greensall had the bad luck of being landed in the same group as the unknown Manuel Costa. It was a close battle but Costa had too much in the end.
Group B
Series veteran James Murphy continued where he left off from the Manor claiming group B without losing a single game.
Final
Murphy got off to a good start with tight slow shots down the wall which contained Costa’s hard hitting and attacking play and ended up taking the game 11/8.
With the start of the second the tide turned with the momentum flowing only 1 way and Costa finding the width to control the play. Murphy always digs deep but it wasn’t enough to contain Costas flair and with the game in his hands and Murphy doing all the work it was always only going one way.
The third Costa started where he left the second and it looked to be all over but nerves began to get the better of him and experienced Murphy began to fight back. Murphy was giving him nothing and Costa had to win it if he wanted to claim his first UK-Racketball Title. He did with 2 great winners including a forehand straight kill, Murphy didn’t do a lot wrong in the end but Costa was to strong.
Grade A
Opening rounds
Two late entries into the A draw changed things considerably with PSA stars Rob Downer and Henrik Mustonen coming in as 5 and 6 seeds. Both struggled early on with Downer only narrowly coming through his first round against Bennett and Grilli taking the first off Mustonen with his high pace and variety of shot before both fought back and recovered.
Selby fell to ever improving Mustonen in the quarters, with Mustonen again losing the first.
Daniel Weights pushed Jeal all the way.
Mark Webster made short work of Will Bennett.
Semi Finals
Top 2 seeds against the 2 PSA squash boys.
Jeal looked brilliant against Downer, he never trailed at any point and was always one step ahead.
Top seed and national number 7 Phipps pushed Mustonen all the way but in the end didn’t have the legs to come through with a victory.
Final
Mustonen had been getting better every round which must have worried Jeal going into the final. Jeal took the first but this was no different to any other Mustonen match of the weekend and was no surprise when the Fin began to come back in the 2nd. The rallies were extended and these seemed to be working in Mustonens favour as he levelled the set at 1-1.
The third however was a Jeal racketball master class, hard fast boasts, fading drives and moving onto the half volley saw him in complete control. To Mustonens credit he didn’t give up on a single ball and made Jeal continuingly play one extra shot, the problem was that by the end it didn’t look like Jeal would ever miss and just kept Mustonen completely on the defensive. 2-1 Jeal and another demonstration that a racketballer can beat the professional squash player.
B Grade
It was a tough 1st game of the day for Sam Jeal losing narrowly to Charlie Yerrell in one of the best B matches of the day. David Herron and Paul Whitby both came through there groups without dropping a game.
The runners up group could have gone either way with both Thatcher and Mabey pushing Jeal hard.
The winners group came down to a straight battle between Heron and Yerrell for the B crown. Herron took the first with a varied display of attack and control. Yerrell fought back in the second getting Herron on the end of more and more rallies which began to take there toll. The third was close but Yerrell found the nick on a couple of occasions giving him the edge to take the match 2-1. This was probably the highest standard B grade match the series has seen so far and a great end to the day.
A great turn out again at the Mote and some fantastic Squash to watch afterwards, we will be back next year!
It was a tough 1st game of the day for Sam Jeal losing narrowly to Charlie Yerrell in one of the best B matches of the day. David Herron and Paul Whitby both came through there groups without dropping a game.
The runners up group could have gone either way with both Thatcher and Mabey pushing Jeal hard.
The winners group came down to a straight battle between Heron and Yerrell for the B crown. Herron took the first with a varied display of attack and control. Yerrell fought back in the second getting Herron on the end of more and more rallies which began to take there toll. The third was close but Yerrell found the nick on a couple of occasions giving him the edge to take the match 2-1. This was probably the highest standard B grade match the series has seen so far and a great end to the day.
A great turn out again at the Mote and some fantastic Squash to watch afterwards, we will be back next year!
