A few memories from SquashSite/SquashStories readers…
Roger More recalls his all time favourite… 1981 BO
… and being JK bad luck charm!
“I run the Warwickshire league and went to watch him play a match at Kenilworth where he played Tom Perry, twin brother of SJ.
“I was a member of Kenilworth for 20 years so saw SJ Perry develop over the years. My daughter and granddaughters play there but I left a year ago and play at Leamington. It’s our daughter’s 42nd birthday today and she’s just had her fourth baby girl, three months old and she was back on court again a few weeks afterwards. Obviously grounded now.
“I am lucky to have seen lots of top quality squash over the years but because it was one of the first between two legends of the sport, mine is The British Open final in 1981.
1981 British Open Final:
[1] Geoff Hunt (Aus) 3-1 [4] Jahangir Khan (Pak) 9-2, 9-7, 5-9, 9-7
“Geoff Hunt beating a young Jahangir Khan,n 17 years old, in four games which lasted over two hours.
“It looked as though it was going to a fifth when Jahangir made a couple of mistakes and Geoff seized on the opportunity to close out the match when the younger player might have been considered to be a favourite in a fifth.
“I had just launched a shower gel called Cool and as a promotion had given several tickets for the final to customers. Andrew Shelley had kindly told me that Audi were the sponsors so that I could arrange the marketing material ahead of the announcement of these sponsorship, so thanks again Andrew.
“I only saw Jahangir play live twice, the second time when he lost to Jansher Khan in the semis of the World’s at the NEC. I met Jahangir a few years later and apologised for being a bad omen. He just smiled and I suppose the few victories make a couple of defeats bearable…”
Gene Andrew Ho, 2014 Nicol comes back from the brink
Wadi Degla World Finals
[1] Nicol David (Mas) 3-2 [3] Raneem El Welily (Egy) 5-11, 11-8, 7-11, 14-12, 11-5 (66m)
World Women Championship 2014. Cairo. Nicol David fought off several matchball in the 4th to win, probably her greatest match….💪
Relive the Final (Fram Reports, Steve Clicks Away)
Randa Khaled Bows to the Ali Farag/Nour El Tayeb Couple
“I have two favourite matches actually :
Nour El Tayeb vs Laura Massaro in US Open 2017 as it was amazing to see the figting spirit of Nour coming back and stop the strategy of Laura.
US Open 2017 Semis
[10] Nour El Tayeb (Egy) bt [4] Laura Massaro (Eng) 11-6, 12-10, 9-11, 11-3 (47m)
View the full match
(you need to be registered with SquashTV)
Second : Ali Farag vs Mohamed Elshorbagy in Toc when Ali cameback from 2/0 down and specially 6/2 at the third. Seeing him back and changing the whole plan was amazing.
TOC 2019 Final
[2] Ali Farag (Egy) 3-2 [1] Mohamed Elshorbagy (Egy) 10-12, 6-11, 11-6, 11-3, 11-8 (84m)
Watch the Highlights
For Felix Frixou & Pieter Pule:
2015 El Gouna Final Ramy/Shorbagy
Pieter Pule:
For me, it has to be the 2015 El Gouna Final between Ramy Ashour & Mohamed Elshorbagy. That for me, epitomizes the sport as a whole. My opinion….
Favourite match EVAH
2015 El Gouna Final
[4] Ramy Ashour (Egy) 3-2 [1] Mohamed Elshorbagy (Egy) 11-9, 11-6, 4-11, 10-12, 12-10 (94m)
Ramy Ashour v Mohamed Elshorbagy MES came back from 2-0 Down 10-6 in the Fifth, Ramy winning 12/10. The game was ferocious from start to finish.
Best Personal Memory Pieter Pule:
“A personal memory, winning the district final after a strong comeback, in a game against an “old foe” of mine… 11-5 him in the first, 11-5 me in the second 10-1 in the third set, up until I made my comeback and won him 11-10. That was a good day to play squash for me.
Best Personal Memory Felix Frixou:
“I was the flag bearer for the Cyprus national team in the small nations Olympics winning a bronze medal.
I have been very fortunate in my sporting career, to you have represented Cyprus at three national level sports, Football, squash, rugby
“From a personal memory, getting presented a gold medal from Prince Albert of Monaco in the small nations Championships, representing Cyprus. A Very Cool Dude…
Craig LaSota
Jonathan Power v David Palmer 2006 Windy City Final
Windy City 2006 – Final:
[4] David Palmer (Aus) 3-2 [5] Jonathon Power (Can) 11-5, 5-11, 11-8, 9-11, 12-10 (88m)
“JP had had a 5- gamer semi with World Champ Shabana in the semi. DP had upset Willstrop in three other semi. Power was world #1, while Palmer World Open finalist. But what highlighted this match were the contrast in styles. JP the artistic magician. Palmer the lumbering workhorse.
“I was fortunate to be sitting front wall backhand drop corner. The drop shot exchanges were amazing. Of course it went to OT in the fifth with DP’s consistency and brute strength barely overpowering Power into submission; 5. (5), 8, (9), 12-10.
Stefaan Vereecke – Meeting Thierry Lincou
“One that jumps out for me was the European championships in 2009 meeting Thierry Lincou,
I remember that he was really friendly on court , he began the first game a bit slow so I made some easy points but then he brought his level up and made me run around the court and he won easily I must admit , after the match he still was friendly, and we had a little chat about that game ,for me it was all ready a victory just playing him, I think he was top 8 in the world then and I was like nr 15 in Belgium
“Did I learn from that match? that I could improve a lot more and he just inspired me > great player /friendly on and off the court and a great mover , and finally he won that year, so I lost to the winner 😉 !
At that time I was already 38 so my level wasn’t going to get a lot higher any more but after that game I continued to play a lot and I became Belgian master champion twice and I even started to play some great European master tournaments after that where I won the Belgian one and at one time a highest European master ranking of nr 4.
I was also really happy that you wrote that article about my first match thank you for that 👍