The 2007/08 Ulster Squash season got off to a flying start at the City of Lisburn Racquets Club Open Squash Tournament.
In the Men’s A Section the number 3 seed, Johnny Roberts from Boat Club, beat the top seed, Civil Service’s David Ayerst, in one of the most thrilling finals in the 8 year history of the tournament, each player producing imaginative and entertaining squash. Having defeated No.2 seed, Martin Woods from Scotland, 3-0 in the semi finals, Roberts continued his giant-killing form, taking the first game 9/6 and battling back from 7/3 down in the 2nd game, to win it with a run of 6 consecutive points. Ayerst steadied himself to assert his entitlement to the No1 seeding, winning each of the next two games 9/4. Both players dug deep for a fast and furious evenly contested fifth game, retrieving the ball from almost impossible positions. From 5/8 down, Ayerst drew level at 8/8 before Roberts composed himself to win the next 3 rallies and the 2007 Lisburn Racquets Open.
In the Women’s section Tanya Owens, seeded 2 from Magherafelt, beat No.4 seed, Julie McMurray from Banbridge in three very tight games. McMurray, showing signs of tiredness after her 5 game semi-final win over the No1 seed, Zoe Barr, took the first two games to setting at 8-all before losing them 10/8 & 10/9. In the third she came back from 4/8 to 7/8 before Owens secured the game 9/7 and the 2007 Women’s title.
The Veterans’ section saw Jimmy Moffit (Lloyds), seeded 5, beating No.3 seed Paddy Craig (Harlequins) 9/8 2/9 9/5 9/7. The first game swung each way up to 8/8 when Moffit capitalised on Craig’s gamble of “setting to 1”, Moffit winning it 9/8. Craig took the second game convincingly 9-2 and the first 5 points of the third before Moffit once again showed his dogged determination of the earlier rounds to win it 9/5 and the fourth 9/7.
In the Men’s B section, Boat Club’s Hugo Diamond, seeded 5, beat his clubmate and 6th seed, Joey Roberts 6/9 9/5 9/7 9/3. Roberts got off to strong start winning the first five points, and the game 9/6. The next two games were hotly contested with Diamond taking them 9/5 & 9/7. Diamond had a dream start to the fourth, quickly building up a 7/0 lead before eventually wrapping it up 9/3.
In the Men’s C-section, Lisburn Racquets’ own Derek Rollins seeded 2 beat the No.1 seed Michael Craig (Boat Club) 7/9 9/4 9/5 3/9 9/6. Rollins got off to a comfortable 7/3 start before Craig found his game to win the next 6 points and the first game 9/7. After losing the next 2 games 9/4 & 9/5, Craig showed his mettle to win the fourth 9/3 but it was Rollins who scraped home in a very competitive 5th game winning it 9/6.
Lisburn Racquets Club would like to thank the sponsors, Higgins-Graham Accountants, Stacks of Snacks, Karkraft, and David McClay for their generous support of the event.
The Happy Table at Lisburn Racquets
(Front left, anti clockwise - David Ayerst, Stephen Higgins, Steven McMurray and Julie McMurray)
