The Middlesex Closed having been rearranged to run January of this year took place at the Finchley Manor Club on the 15th to 17th January.
The appreciation of Middlesex Squash must firstly go to Finchley Club Manager Lisa, Peter Hughes and of course the club members, who not only were willing to host the event but welcomed it with open arms!
The venue offered the full viewing facilities of the glass back which were well used for finals day on Sunday and the galleries above all of the courts provided excellent viewing for participants and visitors to the event.
The standard of squash was excellent with a number of the participants no doubt encouraged at the possibility of the Cash Prizes available!
There were no upsets in the over 55 and over 45 tournaments both of which were won with extra in the tank by Mark Cowley first defeating Barry Gage in the Over 45s Tournament and then securing the double victory by beating Chris Goodbourn, last years winner in the Over 55 tournament.
I understand that Mark has set his sights on the World Championships this year and wish him good luck.
The Over 35s tournament brought Mike McLaughlin and Nevil Appleton together in the final as if it is not enough to play regularly together at their club! and which saw Mike a 3-0 winner although this did not perhaps quite reflect the initial flow of the game.
The Mens B tournament was a classic encounter with Jacob Willson and Chris Hobbs seemingly disinclined to vacate the court!
Jacobs pace and movement saw him take an initial 2-0 lead only to be clawed back by persistent percentage squash from Chris who finally came out the 3-2 winner in what was an excellent final.
The Ladies tournament again unfortunately left two fellow club members playing for the trophy with Karen Schulz (last years beaten finalist) overcoming an early scare to beat Helen Creak 3-1.
It was pleasant to see a number of new entrants to the Tournament and unfortunate that in the A Grade Mick Biggs had to withdraw due to injury in his quarter final match.
The quarter finals also saw Jagos exit at the hands of Mike McLaughlin and with a full viewing gallery the stage was set for the Sunday finals show down between Obaid Khan and Peter Gunter.
This was a super quality game with which to end the Tournament, the contrasting styles of youth and experience!
Obaids pace was matched and contrasted by Peters accuracy and percentage play, but it was Obaid who came out victor in a long hard fought first game.
The second game went in Peters favour, the third against him and the match looked set to be concluded in the fourth game as Obaid opened a five point gap only to be gradually pegged back by Peter to level the score at 2-2.
The final game was a tense affair with the point a rally system keeping the score close as the service went one way then the other.
With the scores fairly evenly balanced an electrifying and lengthy rally proved to be the final deciding factor. Duracell Obaid clinched that point and two more points in fairly quick succession to secure the match as Peter strove to suck enough air out of the court to fill his screaming lungs!
With that, the adrenalin fuelled spectators and players adjourned to the Bar for the Presentations, good humoured exchange of Squash stories and of course the odd drink!
Our thanks once more go to Finchley Manor Club, Jack Harris and Paul who marked the majority of the games over the week end and helpers Bryan Francis and Mike Comber.
