British Masters Nationals 2024

The 2024 British Nationals Masters was held at Nottingham SC from 7th to 11th February …

Chairmans’ Report, Day FIVE, Finals Day :

And so onto Finals Day where the coveted title of National Masters Champion were conferred on a number of excellent Squash Players.

 Women’s Over 65: It is rare that two World Masters Champions play off like this, but we had Karen Hume (KNT) and Jill Campion of Wales competing for the title. It was a game of high quality and Hume went two up before Campion made a surge and took the next three to clinch her third National crown.

Women’s Over 60: Defending Champion Hilary Kenyon (CHS) had a real challenge against the most successful England woman in the game. Mandy Akin (KNT) has eight Nationals as well as World and European titles. It was always going to be close, and sure enough, point for point through the fifth game it went with some frantic rallies and more than one dive. Kenyon emerged an 11/9 winner for her second National.

Women’s Over 55: Rose Bamber of Avon is a big event player. And she does not very often lose. The top seed and favourite here the three time British Open Champion met another fine athlete in the Wales no. 1 Helen Barnard. Bamber always had the edge as these two players, the best in their age group put on a fantastic display. It went to Bamber in four games.

Women’s Over 50: Another great final that went all the way to 12/10 in the fifth. Sarah Parr (BRK) is a former National Champion and Louisa Dalwood (HFD) has been very close before. In a match that swung one way then the other they arrived at 10/10 in the fifth. Dalwood scored a point then hit a drive that spun out of the upright Nick and dropped dead! An incredibly rare thing, and on match point in a National Final! A first for her.

Women’s Over 45: Catherine Ruffle (KNT) has been unbeaten on the England circuit this season after taking the Open in June. But in the Portugal Open recently, Keeley Johnson also of Kent had been making a comeback after a few years out. She was a European, British Open and National champion and narrowly defeated her Kent colleague there. The final displayed all the players skills and athleticism but Ruffle came through in four close games for her first National title.

Women’s Over 40: Amina Helal (LNH) has been a pro player and still plays like it. The defending Champion she had too much game for England International Selina Harper (CBA) who battled hard and took a tight second 13/11 but Helal was too good and ran out a winner in four games.

Women’s Over 35: Another outstanding pro player in Wales No. 1 Stacey Gooding was top seed here. Any other year Lennie Holt (WKS) would have won this but in spite of some fierce rallies Gooding was in charge. Holt was close in the first and took the second but the next two slipped away as the Welsh woman took the title in four.

Men’s Over 80: Scotland’s Ken Reid played the marathon match ( one game 22/20 ! ) against four time World Champion Adrian Wright (YKS) but Anthony Clifford (HFD) is very mobile and plays an intelligent game. He had too much for the others and ran out a worthy winner in all three matches. Reid took second place.

Men’s Over 75: A group that is getting stronger and stronger. Former Champion Barry Featherstone (HPH) was top seed and had beaten the other contenders this season. But Ian Ross the Scottish Champion holds the British Open and European titles and was too good for him in the semis but Larry Grover’s (HPH) intelligent and unfussy game met the challenge and he took the title 11/9 in the fourth.

Men’s Over 70: Two players with great pedigree but had, for them, a poor season. But they played very well here. Terry Belshaw (CBA) is the British Open Champion and again played like it. Geoff Redfern (WKS) is himself a former Open Champion but the Cumbrian’s winning drops proved telling. Straight games and a second National for Belshaw.

Men’s Over 65: The top player in the age group is undoubtedly Allen Barwise (CBA) and he is rarely beaten in this group. The defending Champion, he wanted this one and his superior strength and spread swept all away. Tom Burton (HRF) played well to reach his first National final but Barwise was too strong. Straight games and title retained.

Men’s Over 60: Having removed eight time Champion Mark Woodliffe (GLR) Eammon Price (HFD), a three time National Champion himself, was possibly favourite against former World top ten player and defending Champion Brian Beeson (NLD). He took the first but Beeson was superb, finding powerful winners and weathering the inevitable fight back from Price. A four game win for Beeson.

Men’s Over 55: Gavin Roger-Lund (BUX) was top seed here and had two close wins over Open Champion Steve McLoughlin (HPH) so their final was eagerly awaited. Unfortunately, Roger-Lund hurt his leg in the semi final and he was unable to play the final. A second National for the Hampshire man.

Men’s Over 50: In a group of incredibly talented Squash players Mike Gregory (DVN) is exceptional. Having removed top seed Nick Wall (YKS) he defeated double National Champion Paul Boyle (BUX) in four games – although if Boyle had taken the fourth that he lost 12/10 he may have been able to turn it round. But a firth National title to the Devonian.

Men’s Over 45: Two players who have played each other a lot. Open and National Champion Matt Holland (HPH) has the edge over Mick Biggs (MDX) but Biggs has some wins over Holland. This match was strange in that they didn’t both play well at the same time and the games went one way or another. But it went to five games and Holland found his form and took a second National title.

Men’s Over 40: Peter Marshall (LDN) is a Squash Legend. No doubt. A former World no. 2 and British Champion he has continued to play brilliantly in the Masters world. Although over 50 he rampaged through the 40s field and even the wonderfully skilful Phil Rushworth (SRY) couldn’t live with him. A fourth National in the Masters to go with his earlier British Open

Men’s Over 35: The level of the 35 draw is astounding. Two superb players, well over 20,000 on Squash Levels and playing the quality of game that left the packed gallery in awe. James Snell (DVN) has won the British Open 35s and the Amateur Championship already this season. He was well matched by former Warwickshire champion Chris Hall and the match had all the best attributes of high level squash. In the end there was only the odd point or two between them, but a first National title for Snell.

Thanks were made to all at Nottingham Squash Rackets Club, iPROSPORTS the event Sponsors and the England Squash Masters Committee who managed the event, especially Badger Brock the Event Manager.

Stuart Hardy