South of Scotland Masters Report

SOUTH OF SCOTLAND MASTERS – 15/16 NOVEMEBER 2014

The South of Scotland Masters tournament was held at the Dumfries Squash Club on 15/16 November. The tournament was sponsored by Colorworx and Greyfriars Medical Centre and they helped to provide funding for new Highland Quaich trophies for all the events.

There were a total of 44 entrants who took part in one ladies event and 7 mens’ events. As well as the regular Scottish Masters competitors there was a warm welcome to a number of competitors from the north of England.

Sue Strachan and the Dumfries Squash Club committee managed a very well organised tournament. As well as the tournament they arranged a well-attended and excellent Italian meal on the Saturday evening. They also provided on-line results and live streaming and tweets. They all worked hard to make all competitors welcome and at the prize giving both Vincent Taylor and Frank Ellis spoke on behalf of all competitors by thanking Sue and her committee for all their hard work.

Thanks are also due to SSRL (Ross Cairns) and Ernie Cowell for managing the draws and supporting the Dumfries committee in running the tournament. Mike Halpin deserves thanks for providing marking services on both Saturday and Sunday.

Alex Sinclair and Ernie Cowell quickly assessed the South of Scotland results and updated the Masters Tournament Points. Alex emailed the updated Points to his Masters distribution list of about 350 players who have participated on the Scottish Masters circuit over the previous 10 years’.


Match of the Day – Saturday

MO60 Dave Sturman beat Alex Allan 9-7, 9-6, 0-9, 9-3

Dave Sturman is a new, exciting addition to the already competitive O60s group. Dave has recently returned to Scotland after a career working abroad and has joined SSRC in Glasgow. Although he played squash abroad it was not normally in competitive matches. He is learning very quickly and realised that he could not allow Big Eck to get into his hard driving rhythm. Having won the first two games Dave lost concentration in the third game the experienced campaigner Big Eck won 9-0. However Dave went back to his game plan and won the match in four games.

Match of the Day – Sunday

MO50 Final – David Gray beat Simon Gogolin 9-4, 9-7, 4-9, 10-8

This was an excellent final with both players playing well. David won the first two games but Simon came back strongly to win the third. David led 8-5 in the fourth and had match point but Simon fought back to 8-8 before David closed the match out   10-8. The match was enjoyed by an excited packed gallery.
Results and Leading Masters Tournament Points (after South of Scotland Masters)

WO50

Four entrants, round robin – winner Sue Strachan from Dumfries, runner up Jan Ellis from Somerset.

MO35

Disappointingly only 3 entrants, round robin with all three matches on Sunday – winner Andy MacBean from Coatbridge, runner up Roddy Campbell from Dunblane. Leading Masters Tournament Points

Pos. Name Pts Pld
1 Andrew MacBean 505 3
2 Michael Black 470 2
3 Chris Gray 300 1

MO40

No competition, combined O40/O45

Leading Masters Tournament Points

 

Pos. Name Pts Pld
1 Peter Buchan 855 3
2 John Kynoch 660 2
3 Mark James 355 2
4 David Lindsay 350 3

 

MO45

Eight entrants – winner Frank Ellis from Wolverhamton, runner up David Gray from Carlisle. The final was the last match on Sunday, Frank was too strong and fresh for David Gray who had already had a five set semi final and four set O50 final earlier in the day.

Leading Masters Tournament Points

Pos. Name Pts Pld
1 Peter Buchan 855 3
2 David Lindsay 455 4
3 Mark James 445 3
4 Frank Ellis 300 1
5 Malcolm Kerr 260 1


MO50

Eleven entrants – the most competitive age group. Winner David Gray from Carlisle, runner up Simon Gogolin from Edinburgh Sports Club. Simon was a recent winner of the O55 German Masters. Although Simon was born in Australia, he has a Scottish mother and hopefully he will get a Scottish ‘cap’ in the Masters Home Internationals in 2015.

Leading Masters Tournament Points

Pos. Name Pts Pld
1 Chris Holt 850 3
2 Brian Robertson 820 3
3 Russell Hunter 650 3
4 David Gray 360 1
5 Simon Gogolin 300 1
6 Rolf Hansen 290 4
7 Robin Ridley 210 1


MO55

Six entrants – two round robins followed by semi finals and finals. Robin Ridley and Keith Gristwood, both from Dumfries won the round robins. In the semi finals Robin beat Norman Paterson from Wishaw and David McAleese beat Keith. Robin Ridley beat David McAleese in a three game final.

Leading Masters Tournament Points

Pos. Name Pts Pld
1 David McAleese 860 4
2 Norman Paterson 575 3
3 Peter Shivas 500 2
4 Neil Rayner 465 2
5 Alan Susskind 435 3
6 Simon Gogolin 360 1
6 Robin Ridley 360 1
8 Boyd Kydd 270 1
8 Keith Gristwood 270 2

 

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