Torquay Racketball Open 2011 - Report
The Torquay Racketball Open is the 6th event in this year’s UK-Racketball Series with the Tour heading back to Devon for the second year running.
A Grade
It was another competitive A grade competition with Fuller and Baker both seeking another title to add to their collection. The first battle of the day was the local one between Matt Baker and Dave Palmer. Baker started well finding his hard low length and mixing it up with the Baker boast but Palmer kept plugging away and after a calf strain in the 2nd game the momentum started to go all Palmers way, in the end the injury was just too much for Baker and the draw lost its number 2 seed.
It was a tough battle for Mark Fuller as well with both Christian Turner and Dave Palmer almost coming through to ruin plans for a second title. From 10-1 up against Turner it looked like everything was going to plan but as always he managed to grind his way back putting pace on the ball and forcing the error from Fuller. From 10-1 down in the first he came back to take the 1st 12-10 and was then leading 7-3 in the second before Fuller began to come back. It was a long way back and both players were determined to give the other nothing, it was a brutal game with Fuller finally taking it 11/8. Turner had put everything into the 2nd and struggled from the start in the 3rd and despite fighting hard he lost 11/5.
The final match of the night was the decider for the A group with Dave Palmer taking on Mark Fuller, both players were tired going in with Palmer taking the 1st 12/10. In the second Fuller fought back taking the ball early and upping the pace closing out the game 11/6. With the crowd willing there local hero on though Palmer fought as hard as possible but eventually just didn’t quite have the legs despite taking the 3rd to a tie break with Fuller taking it 13/11 and securing his second UK-Racketball Title.
A Grade
It was another competitive A grade competition with Fuller and Baker both seeking another title to add to their collection. The first battle of the day was the local one between Matt Baker and Dave Palmer. Baker started well finding his hard low length and mixing it up with the Baker boast but Palmer kept plugging away and after a calf strain in the 2nd game the momentum started to go all Palmers way, in the end the injury was just too much for Baker and the draw lost its number 2 seed.
It was a tough battle for Mark Fuller as well with both Christian Turner and Dave Palmer almost coming through to ruin plans for a second title. From 10-1 up against Turner it looked like everything was going to plan but as always he managed to grind his way back putting pace on the ball and forcing the error from Fuller. From 10-1 down in the first he came back to take the 1st 12-10 and was then leading 7-3 in the second before Fuller began to come back. It was a long way back and both players were determined to give the other nothing, it was a brutal game with Fuller finally taking it 11/8. Turner had put everything into the 2nd and struggled from the start in the 3rd and despite fighting hard he lost 11/5.
The final match of the night was the decider for the A group with Dave Palmer taking on Mark Fuller, both players were tired going in with Palmer taking the 1st 12/10. In the second Fuller fought back taking the ball early and upping the pace closing out the game 11/6. With the crowd willing there local hero on though Palmer fought as hard as possible but eventually just didn’t quite have the legs despite taking the 3rd to a tie break with Fuller taking it 13/11 and securing his second UK-Racketball Title.
Women’s
It was another successful Women’s draw with Natalie Lawrence in the end having too much for the local girls, Anne-Marie Massie, Kim Brook and Melodie Ripley. It was Brook who defeated Ripley to secure 2nd place but didn’t have enough to take on the hard hitting Lawrence who will move into the top 5 in England with her victory today. Kim Brook later admitted that she “loved running” and she definitely did enough of it today especially in the first game against Lawrence that she lost 11/7.
Over 40’s
The 2 groups both went to seeding with Rob Watkins making it through group A without dropping a single game and Patrick Ozborn doing the same in group B. The battle for the group’s second place was a tough one though with Daryl Hicks making it through group A and Simon Brown narrowly coming through in group B.
In the playoff’s it was Simon Brown who defeated Daryl Hicks in a close 2-0 and Rob Watkins is now on the longest undefeated UK-Racketball Series run (28 matches!) with a 2-0 victory over Ozborn in the final. Osborn started the final well hitting good length on the forehand and counter punched well especially with his trickle boast. In the end though the physical presence of Watkins was just too much though and he established control taking the match 11/8, 11/8 and taking the title in Torquay for the second year running.
It was another successful Women’s draw with Natalie Lawrence in the end having too much for the local girls, Anne-Marie Massie, Kim Brook and Melodie Ripley. It was Brook who defeated Ripley to secure 2nd place but didn’t have enough to take on the hard hitting Lawrence who will move into the top 5 in England with her victory today. Kim Brook later admitted that she “loved running” and she definitely did enough of it today especially in the first game against Lawrence that she lost 11/7.
Over 40’s
The 2 groups both went to seeding with Rob Watkins making it through group A without dropping a single game and Patrick Ozborn doing the same in group B. The battle for the group’s second place was a tough one though with Daryl Hicks making it through group A and Simon Brown narrowly coming through in group B.
In the playoff’s it was Simon Brown who defeated Daryl Hicks in a close 2-0 and Rob Watkins is now on the longest undefeated UK-Racketball Series run (28 matches!) with a 2-0 victory over Ozborn in the final. Osborn started the final well hitting good length on the forehand and counter punched well especially with his trickle boast. In the end though the physical presence of Watkins was just too much though and he established control taking the match 11/8, 11/8 and taking the title in Torquay for the second year running.
Over 50’s
It was another great draw in the over 50’s with 3 groups playing off for position in 3 groups.
In group A Nigel Millington came through strong with Roger Middleton and Anthony Mills having to battle hard for second place. Philip Clarke provided the upset in group B knocking out Tim Baker in a close 2-1. In group C a three way draw lead to a one game 3’s battle to decide the group with Jack James Gilchrist coming out on top.
It was close all the way in the runners up group with Tim Baker making it through 2-0 against Anthony Mills but then only narrowly making it past Pete Hamlett.
The tough group and then the three way battle proved a bit too much for Gilchrist in the winners group which set up the final between Millington and Clarke. Millington continued his run of form though coming through in the final and taking another UK-Racketball Series Title to add to the collection, it looks like a new Over 50’s champion is rising.
B Grade
Tom Murray came through grade A despite being pushed hard by Alex Musselwhite, but Gareth Owen came through comfortably in group B. In group C late entrant Natalie Lawrence showed the guys how it is done despite being pushed hard by Nigel Wison.
In the winners group the 7 matches of the day finally began to catch up with Natalie Lawrence who failed to make either Murray or Owen work. The final between Murray and Owen was one of the best of the day, both players were looking to keep the ball in play and waiting for the other to make the mistake with plenty of cross courts to each other’s backhand. Owen took the first game only for Murray to fight back and take the 2nd. The third game was tight all the way with a couple of mistakes being the only thing that separated the two players and Owen taking his first B grade title.
It was another great draw in the over 50’s with 3 groups playing off for position in 3 groups.
In group A Nigel Millington came through strong with Roger Middleton and Anthony Mills having to battle hard for second place. Philip Clarke provided the upset in group B knocking out Tim Baker in a close 2-1. In group C a three way draw lead to a one game 3’s battle to decide the group with Jack James Gilchrist coming out on top.
It was close all the way in the runners up group with Tim Baker making it through 2-0 against Anthony Mills but then only narrowly making it past Pete Hamlett.
The tough group and then the three way battle proved a bit too much for Gilchrist in the winners group which set up the final between Millington and Clarke. Millington continued his run of form though coming through in the final and taking another UK-Racketball Series Title to add to the collection, it looks like a new Over 50’s champion is rising.
B Grade
Tom Murray came through grade A despite being pushed hard by Alex Musselwhite, but Gareth Owen came through comfortably in group B. In group C late entrant Natalie Lawrence showed the guys how it is done despite being pushed hard by Nigel Wison.
In the winners group the 7 matches of the day finally began to catch up with Natalie Lawrence who failed to make either Murray or Owen work. The final between Murray and Owen was one of the best of the day, both players were looking to keep the ball in play and waiting for the other to make the mistake with plenty of cross courts to each other’s backhand. Owen took the first game only for Murray to fight back and take the 2nd. The third game was tight all the way with a couple of mistakes being the only thing that separated the two players and Owen taking his first B grade title.
