Novartis Invitational Squash, CleethorpesFresh from a trip to Calais the previous day, the intrepid Andy Booth sullied forward North towards Cleethorpes to witness the first round matches in this years, Novartis Invitational Squash Tournament being held at Cleethorpes Cricket Club. It's almost surreal when you arrive on the front at Cleethorpes. First you pay London prices to park your car (90p an hour, at a pay and display that gives no change! therefore a £1 an hour!!), and then you can drink draft Stella in the local bars at £1.50 a pint? Anyway, suitably refreshed, with a 99 cornet in one hand and a ticket for a donkey ride in the other (where can I hire a donkey? there's a screw at the back of the saddle, sir!), I was met by my host for the day John Whitfield, whose radar found me on a crowded parade within minutes "You were going to be in a pub, why look anywhere else", he explained!He led me to Cleethorpes Cricket Club, venue of the Squash Tournament, which was drawing some 'big names', for the evening (Barrington Winthorpe - Messenger was just one!), but seriously, White, Willstrop, Chaloner, Durbach were all seeded to meet in the semi finals. To open the evening, we saw Bradley Ball take on Nick Taylor. Bradley looked super fit and was pressurising Nick from the start. Nick just seemed to be camped in the back corners, relentlessly under pressure. The 3-0 result was the outcome. Second match, John White mesmerised Peter Barker. To be fair, Peter was a late replacement, but it was like a rabbit stuck in headlights as he ran all around the court at the whimsy of King John. White was never under pressure and was able to pick and choose when & how the rallies ended. 3-0 again the result. Third on, PSA top gun, Mark Chaloner against Lee Drew. Five games of frustration for me, having watched Mark so many times before as he eventually succumbed to his lower ranked opponent. Lee progressively grew in stature as Mark continuously fed his forehand, which Lee accepted with the voracity of a Scottish piranha, finding nick after nick, after Mark left the ball far short of a good length. Something was not quite right, and this was explained by Mark afterwards when he said that he aggravated a hip injury in the 1st game, sustained in France against John White recently, that left him unable to lunge fully. He was therefore restricted fully in movement. Never the less, a happy Lee Drew will look forward to a semi final against Scott Handley, who beat newly married, Rodney Durbach in the final match of the night 3-2. Mark looked comfortable with his new make of racket, Harrow, which he will be promoting around the circuit later this year. By now, the crowd had witnessed some quality squash, and the final match of the night was to be no different. Durbach, fresh from a month long break to honeymoon in his native South Africa, started business like, looking for that trademark line and length, which has served him so well in the past. But it was quickly evident that his time off court was to have a negative effect on him later in the match. Deprived of court fitness, and a number of 'interesting' decisions that went against him, he began to wilt under the continuing pressure of Scott Handley. The fifth game was most memorable for a 'stroke' decision that went Rod's way, and when he questioned the decision as "being about time", the referee promptly retorted "you can have a let if you wish!", which bought the first smile to Rodney's face that evening. Scott Handley deserved his place in the last four. And for me? Cleethorpes was nice! Especially at £1.50 a pint. Can't wait for a refill! Andy Booth |
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