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Event
Wiltshire County Closed 2016/17

Friday 20 January - Saturday 21 January 2017

Website: Website Link
Map: Map Link
Group 
Draw Type 
Finalists / Top Two 
Result 
 
Senior Championships 2016/1732 DrawRory Birtwhistle bt James Ryan3-0 (11/6,11/4,11/4)Details
1st Round Losers Plate16 DrawSteve Wakefield bt Mike Stannard3-1 (11/7,11/7,9/11,11/5)Details
2nd Round Losers Plate8 DrawJosh Watkins bt Johnny Carne3-0 (11/4,11/8,11/4)Details
A great turnout for this year’s Wiltshire Closed with 28 players descending on the Wessex with a high-quality field including James Ryan last year’s runner up, Rory Birtwistle, Nigel Rowe and Simon Lucas making up the top 4 seeds.

Matches started promptly at 9:30 with 2 really tough matches standing out in the first round; Mike Stannard playing Liam Healy for the second time in 3 days with the same result a 3/2 win for Liam, 11/9 in the fifth.  A great battle by Mike.  The other was Jonny Carne from Cricklade against Neville Buckle of DA, Jonny taking the first game 13/11 and then taking the second Nev winning a very tight third an easy fourth to take it to a decider; Jonny stealing the fifth to take the match.

The second round produced some great squash with no surprises, the match of this round being Calli Smith the youngest player in the tournament taking out Gary Preston 3/2 in a real battle…

The first round losers were now into the plate tournament with a one real battle Neil Marshman Wessex against Gary Burton Cricklade, Gary taking a real battle 3/2 to get through to the quarters.  Steve Wakefield was starting to make his mark beating Neville Buckle 3/1 to move into the semis.  Gary Burton also took on John Walker from Wessex, a real surprise result with Gary winning through 3/1.  Some tired bodies with all to play for in the semis on Sunday, Mike Stannard playing Gary Burton and Dave Burns v Steve Wakefield.

Second round losers into their plate quarter finals…Here Jonny Carne pulled off another big scalp beating Gary Preston 3/0, with Josh Watkins taking out Tessa Perry 3/1 to move into the semis on Sunday, Josh against Mike Hyland and Jonny against Ed Crane Wessex.

The quarter finals were now in play, Calli Smith playing Simon Lucas Marlborough.  A mammoth match with Calli winning through 3/2 18/16 in the fifth.  All the players looking forward to the semis on Sunday, James Ryan against Calli and Nigel Rowe playing Rory.

First round plate semis first Dave Burns against Steve Wakefield, Steve a really awkward player with great racket skills and tactical awareness.  Dave could not get into a rhythm and was soon 2/0 down.  Dave pulling back a game but losing in the fourth.  Mike Stannard against Gary was a great match, Mike taking the first two games, with Gary taking the next two.  Mike stepped up the pace and was a comfortable winner in the fifth.    The final was a tough match for Mike again Steve playing some great shots and stopping Mike playing.  Steve winning the first two games, Mike took a tough 3rd but Steve winning the fourth to take the match.

The second-round losers plate started with Ed against Jonny Carne, with Jonny taking another scalp to win 3/0.  Josh was playing inspector gadget Mike Hyland with the extendable arms.  Not a pretty game to watch but Josh came out a 3/0 winner.   Josh was a bit too strong for Jonny in the final; and ran out a comfortable 3/0 winner with some great hitting and managing to dominate.

The main semis were straightforward with James winning 3/1 against Calli, and Rory a very comfortable 3/0 winner against Nigel Rowe.  The two top players had made it through to the final; but Rory was looking the stronger player; and this was shown in the final.  Rory completely dominating and forcing the pace, dragging James all over the court Rory winning a very comfortable 3/0 winner.

A great tournament with a great turnout.  Thanks to Wessex for hosting, Brian Brock for all the admin it ran like clockwork, Dave Hutton for the bacon baps plus Peter Goldson and Neil Marshman for marking.  And a final massive thank you to all the players.

Dean Watkins
Event Organiser


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