I do like BSPA tournaments, as we enjoy watching the “old” favourites, and
discover some new faces.
I also imagine it’s very good for the players too. The young ones can rub
their horns on their elders, learn the tricks of the trade, how to deal
(or not) with pressure, with the referees, with an audience… The
“experienced” ones can still enjoy the thrill of competition without
having to spend too much time or money on travelling.
Long live BSPA!
BUSY END OF SEASON
The season started in October, Marcus Berrett and Laura Lengthorn winning
the Proctor Memorial in the North East, then came Boston, Edinburgh,
Grantham and Aberdeen before a hectic end of the season with 3 tournaments
in 3 weeks.
First the
Wimbledon Cup (started in
1937); then Esporta Croydon;
and to finish a brand new event, the Ilkley
Open, whose organisation was of breathtaking professionalism.
And only 3 players could pretend to the Grand Prix title: Peter Genever,
Marcus Berrett and Steve Meads.
 STEVE
MEADS:
THE GRINDING MACHINE
One thing is sure, Stephen Meads, 34, 1985 British Champion, is
still very threatening to his opponents, especially the young wolves
pressed to prove their strength against some old timers. Some of those
“confrontations” have nearly finished in boxing matches (Shaun Le Roux in
Edinburgh, and Alister Walker in Ilkley) due to an excess of testosterone
floating around!
Meads did very well indeed in Wimbledon, as he got past Stacey Ross in
three games that lasted 67 minutes then beat the bubbly Irishman John
Rooney to get his 3rd BSPA title.
“I had to stop the PSA circuit because I was fed up of living out of a
suitcase, and also because I didn’t see enough of my wife and kids (one
girl, 5, one boy, 14 months). I’m doing a lot of coaching, I still play my
league games, (Surrey, Middlesex) National league, BSPA. I still love
squash, I still love training for it and I take one day at a time.”
 STACEY
ROSS:
PERFECT DROPS
After his first ever victory over Meads in Esporta (4 games in 82
minutes!), Stacey Ross took a game off Adrian Grant, then nearly
beat him in Ilkley, (2 all, 12/12 in the 5th). Unfortunately, in the fifth
he changed his tactics.
“I stopped playing squash when I was 15, and started again at 24. So, I
came straight from playing every game without any game plan, just turn up
and hit the ball, going for winners after two or three shots, to being an
adult and having to learn patience and tactics. So when I’m under
pressure, I’m trying very hard to compensate for my natural game which
would be to attack every ball. Maybe in doing so, I’m playing too
conservative, too negative.”
It’s a shame, as in the Inter Counties Finals, Stacey beat Marcus Berrett
9/4 in the 5th after losing the first 0/9, and probably could have beaten
him again in Ilkley. Also a shame that a player with splendid feel and
touch qualities (and yes, I’m talking squash here…), a perfect attitude on
court (Malcolm Willstrop noticed too…), whose game is varied and extremely
precise, with drops that belong in the top 20, is languishing at 70 in the
world. If he could just believe that he can, he would. Just believe,
Stacey, just believe…
 REBECCA
MACREE
DOES IT IN
99 MINUTES!
Rebecca Macree fought hard against Jenny Tranfield in the loooong
final, finally getting her 4th Wimbledon Cup Title.
By the way, have you ever imagined yourself playing squash without hearing
a sound? You can’t hear the ball on the wall, not yours, not your
opponent’s. Not his steps behind you. Not the ball hitting the tin, not
the marker announcing the score, not the comment of the ref, not the
remarks of your opponent. No applause.
Not that easy, is it? Rebecca, I admire you.
The match was full of interruptions, discussions with the referee from
both players; but the game was beautiful to watch, and the retrieving was
absolutely astonishing: they both visited the four corners of the court,
upwards, backward, to Hell and back. It's not that often you see a ladies
match of that quality, intensity or length. Thanks for the show, ladies!
 THE
YOUNGSTERS
First, Tom Pashley, 15, looks hardly 13, trains at East Grinstead, with
Michael Harris, British U15 Champion. He has the courage and the legs,
only lacks height and strength that comes with age. Quick hands, quick
feet, determination, courage, good length.
With the same coach, Rachel Willmott, 15 years young, from Horsham,
Sussex, 6 times British Champion (U 15’s, U 17’s), who “wants to be World
Number One, obviously”! She really is lovely to watch, although her
forehand still needs a bit of adjusting.
And to finish, “the master in retrieving”, Chris Simpson, only 16,
with a great future in front of him: extremely strong game, very quick
hands, excellent drops, moves wonderfully well on the court, especially
from the front of the court back on the T. His “forte”? Retrieving!
 IN
BRIEF
Peter Genever had ups and down during these events. In Wimbledon,
he lost against John Rooney in the semis, then against Adrian Grant in the
final at Esporta.
He confessed “When you’ve been playing for as long as I have, it’s a
question of motivation within yourself. If I win this battle with myself,
I can play pretty well. Also, I’m just so scared of hitting the ball! Why
can’t I just let it go?”
In Ilkley, he found the motivation, but got injured in the first game of the
semi-final and had to retire! His opponent, Azlan Iskander admitted that
without the injury Peter would probably have won. “Oh well, it’s just one
of those things…” concluded Peter.
 Adrian
Grant used Esporta and Ilkley to “get more back to back matches, in
preparation for Qatar”. He won Esporta, his home club, and lost in the
semi in Ilkley against the new BSPA Grand Prix Champion, Marcus Berrett,
who beat Azlan Isander in a four game final.
Berrett could not be caught and finishes as Grand Prix Champion for 2003/04.
Second is the discreet gentleman, Peter Genever.
In the women's Grand Prix Rebecca Macree finishes top, and Jenny Tranfield
is second.
THE FINALS
The top eight men and the top four women in the Grand Prix rankings
qualify for the end of season Grand Prix Finals. This year they are being
held at Abingdon Squash and Racketball club from 16-18 June.
Full GP Finals coverage
I do like BSPA tournaments. |
Marcus Berrett
Grand Prix Champion
with a Petite trophy
|
BSPA Grand Prix
Circuit 2003/04:
October 2003:
Proctor Memorial
Men: Marcus Berrett
Women: Laura Lengthorn
Dec 2003:
Boston Open
Men: Rodney Durbach
Women: Lauren Briggs
Jan 2004:
Artemis Open
Men: John White
Women: Linda Charman
Feb 2004:
Grantham Open
Women: Cassie Jackman
March 2004:
North of Scotland Open
Men: Marcus Berrett
Youngs Wimbledon Cup
Men: Steve Meads
Women: Rebecca Macree
Esporta Open
Men: Adrian Grant
April 2004:
Ilkley Open
Men: Marcus Berrett
|
Peter Genever
Grand Prix Runner-up
|
BSPA
Grand Prix Finals
16-18 June, Abingdon
Men's Quarter-Finals
(Wed 16th)
[1] John White v
Peter Genever
Marcus Berrett v
[3/4] Rodney Durbach
[3/4]
Alex Gough v
Stacey Ross
Stephen Meads
[2] Adrian Grant v
Women's Semi-Finals
(Thu 17th)
[1]
Rebecca Macree v
Laura Lengthorn
Lauren Briggs v
[2] Jenny Tranfield
Full GP Finals
details
|
Jenny Tranfield
Women's GP runner-up
Full BSPA Details
|
