Abbotsley Graded Squash Tournament 2011

Final Results:

A Grade:
Final: Laurence Delasaux beat Obaid Jahan Khan
(11/5, 11/8, 13/11)
Plate Final: Dan McGinn beat Chris Reeve
(13/11, 11/8, 11/6)

B Grade:
Final: Mark Emery beat Jack White
(15/9, 5/15, 15/12, 16/18, 15/11)
Plate Final: Alistair Wingfield beat Matt Nankivell
(13/15, 15/4, 15/7, 15/13)

C Grade:
Final: Simon Baxter beat Robin Soar
(8/15, 15/8, 15/8, 15/10)
Plate Final: Simon Joyce v. Yvette Hennessey
(Match to be played)

World No.90 Laurence Delasaux headlined the Abbotsley Graded squash tournament, the latest addition to a growing circuit of squash tournaments across the UK.

Squash players from across the UK congregated at the Abbotsley Health and Squash Club in Cambridgeshire to take part in a tournament offering players of all abilities to play competitive squash in one of Cambridgeshire’s most historic squash clubs.

Despite the event falling on the same dates as the local county squash CUP finals and Mother’s Day, many members and local squash players came to support the event.

Every seat in the house was full and all were treated to some astonishing squash and sportsmanship, highlighting the qualities of one of the World’s most underrated sports.

In the A Grade, top seed Laurence Delasaux played Peterborough’s Daniel Soar in the quarter finals, Reuben Phillips in the semi-finals and Pakistan’s Obaid Jahan Khan in the final.

Khan’s tenacity and aggressive shot making showed little impact against Delasaux’s impressively accurate length, width and consistency of shot.

There were several points where Khan had to resort to super-human efforts to retrieve what many spectators considered rally winners.

After the conclusion of the match, the spectators gave both players a standing ovation in appreciation for a match that will be the talk of the club for many weeks and inspiration for the local players to raise their games.

Earlier in the afternoon, Simon Baxter played Robin Soar in the C grade final. Robin, father of quarter finalist Dan Soar, showed that age is no barrier in graded squash tournaments by surprising the younger player, winning the first game in emphatic style.

Baxter pulled his finger out and began to plug away at Soar’s tricky drops and lobs, running out the winner in 4 games.

The penultimate final was played between local player Mark (Sparky) Emery and Cambridge’s Jack White.

Previous encounters between the two led many to believe that this final would be academic, but Jack White had other ideas.
Both players showed signs of nervousness in the first two games, each coming away with easy game wins.

The third and fourth games became battles of nerves and fitness, two of Emery’s specialities, which proved to be White’s undoing.
Emery finished off the fifth game 15 – 11, receiving cheers and applause from local supporters, his girlfriend and 5 month old daughter.

The event was organised by S.C.P.S (Squash Court Plastering and Services) with company director and club member Tony Gay taking charge of what was his first foray into squash tournament promotion. The event was supported by Simon Scott of Kentbridge Sports, Harrow Sports (Prizes) DGT Consultants, Intalyo, A1 Gearboxes, Sharpe Cuts with further sponsorships from QD stores, Anderson Cars and K&G Sheet Metal Ltd.

Plans for next year’s graded tournament are already in action with more grades being organised, along with further hotel accommodation and golf packages available to all entrants.

Issued by Simon Scott on behalf of:
Abbotsley Health and Squash Club, Potton Road, Eynesbury, St. Neots, Cambridgeshire, PE19 6XN
Kentbridge Sports Ltd
Harrow Sports Ltd
A1 Gearboxes
DGT Consultants
Intalyo
Sharpe Cuts
QD Stores
Anderson Cars
K&G Sheet Metal Ltd