The 2007 Kent Mens O55 Squash Championships were held at Bexley Squash Club on 9/10/11 and 16 November.
A good entry of 15 players were to start but the usual story of injuries put paid to 3 players including Steve Jones the no. 3 seed!
There were no surprises in the 1st round and the quarters lined up as Randall(1 seed) V Super fit Sulley
Lewis V Prestedge
New boy Ian Smith V Hibberd
Mature Prowse V another new boy Athur Harvey (2 seed)
Randall saw off Sulley in 3.
Lewis V Prestedge was a clash between Bexley Club members and the gallery disappeared when a referee was called for!
Not surprising considering the past form of the protagonists!
However Keith Hibberd drew the short straw and by all accounts did a very good job considering the pressure he was under from the 2 players!
The match came to a head at 6-3 to Lewis in the 5th.
Prestedge disagreed with a no let decision by Keith and decided that he would not continue! He left the court with the match awarded to Lewis.
Smith V Hibberd had some good rallies with Smith in control, 3-0 to Smith.
Harvey V Prowse was younger legs against experience and younger legs won 3-0 to Harvey.
Semis, Randal V Lewis and Harvey V Smith.
Randall dispatched Lewis in 3 after his customary slow start.
Lewis is just not mobile enough to compete at this level.
New boy Harvey was caught napping in the first Smith taking it 9/6.
In the 2nd Smith jarred his hip and this seemed to affect his mobility and Harvey won the next 3 games.
The final ended up with the 1 and 2 seeds meeting.
New boy Harvey was keen to do well against the seasoned ex England International Randall.
After some hard rallies and having 2 game balls in the 1st Randal called set 1 at 8 all but lost the game.
Randall built up a good lead in the 2nd and won it 9/4.
Harvey regained the momentum in the 3rd and reached 8-4 with Randall looking very tired.
However with some excellant shots and a few unforced errors from Harvey, Randall got back to 7-8.
Harvey recovered his composure and regained the initiative and closed the game out 9/7.
Randall started the 4th well getting to 4-1, but was very tired.
Harvey came right through and won the 4th 9/5.
Harvey wins 9/8 4/9 9/7 9/5
Thanks are due to Bexley Club for hosting the event, Ian Wright for presenting the medals and John Bunce fpr officiating.
Congatulations to the new Kent Champion Arthur Harvey. |
