British Open Masters 2019 - day three

Stuart Hardy reports

Day three of the Allam British Open Karakal Masters Championships witnessed some titanic clashes between the established, seeded players across all stages.

The Women’s events, following some early rounds, took off in earnest with three World Masters Champions taking their places in the last four. Karen Hume (KNT) had to work hard to overcome Lesley Sturgess (DBY) 15/13 in the fifth and goes on to meet the South African Scot, Pauline Douglas the semi-finals whilst World Champion Jill Campion (MDX) will meet the talented Wales No.1 Sian Johnson.

Defending champion Mandy Akin (KNT) looks favourite in the 55s and now plays Pippa Green (AVN) who won the battle of the doctors beating Surrey’s Tammy Bennett. In the other half, Sarah Howlett earned her place in the last four with a win over Julie Multamaki of Canada and will meet Hilary Kenyon (CHS).

In the 50s, the semis will feature top seed Andrea Santamaria (YKS) who ended Karen Webb of Zimbabwe’s run and former National Champion Rachel Woodford (WKS). Meanwhile in the other semi, Rackethon Champion Izzy Bramhall (NOT) takes on Wales No. 1 Helen Barnard. The 45s had a win for Louisa Dalwood over Austria’s Eva Gallagher and meets Irish No. 1 Orla O’Doherty who looks in great form. The other semi sees Isabelle Tweedle (SRY) take on Rachel Calver (LEC), the No. 2 seed.

South African star Karen Schultz is top seed in the 40s and will play Joanne Elgood of Sweden in one semi while the other is an all-England clash between Vix Smith (SRY) and Nicky Green (NOR). Former World Open Champion and World No. 1 Rachel Grinham of Australia is inevitably top seed in the Women’s 35s and faces England's Reka Gay (CBE) in the semis, while Gemma Barber (DOR) had a good win over Elaine Radcliffe (SPE) to book a semi-final with second seed Natalie Townsend (WKS).

In the Men's, John Pritchard of Australia put out Pat Kirton (SRY) in the over 80s and now faces a former World Champion in Michael Gough of the USA. In a more parochial match, current World Champion Lance Kinder (HPS) plays his close friend and former World Champion John Woodliffe (GLS). Mike Clemson (YKS) will play Leo Kingston (LNH) in one 75 semi while four times World Masters Champion Adrian Wright (YKS) plays Ken Johnson of Durham.

The top four seeds in the Men’s 70s progressed to the last four with the closest match being England Captain Larry Grover of Guernsey winning in five against Aubrey Waddy. He now meets Ian Ross of Scotland while defending Champion Howard Cherlin (MDX) takes on former Champion Barry Featherstone (HPS).

Seeds fell in the 65s as Nick Drysdale (AVN) beat defending Champion and four seed Ian Holmes. He now plays National Champion and No. 1 seed Steve Johnson (LNH) who has moved through the draw untroubled. In the other half, No. 2 seed Geoff Redfern (WKS) fell to the wily Cumbrian Terry Belshaw and he will meet Stuart Hardy (MDX) who ended Paul Reader's giant killing run with a five-game win.

And the same in the 60s as top seed Juan Mendez of Mexico went two up then lost in five to Phil Wakefield (YKS). He now meets Kent star Gordon McManus. England No.1 Jeremy Goulding has rarely lost this season but in a real upset Simon Evenden (NHT) held his nerve to win 16/14 in the fourth to set up a semi with National Champion Jon Evans of Wales.

In the Men’s 55s, champion of the last three years Mark Woodliffe (GLS) moved through ominously and will meet Alex Betts (MDX) who stunned Darren Withey 3-0. Eammon Price (HFD) outlasted David Gray (CMB) and No. 2 seed Jonas Ulvsback of Sweden won the battle of the left handers with Ray Burke MBE of Lancashire, edging home in five.

The 50s is a very high-class draw. National Champion Phil Yerby beat Rick Weatherall (BRK) and now faces the athletic Steve McLoughlin (HPS). In the other half, American No.1 John Musto ousted No. 2 seed Yawar Abbas (DCL) in a very high calibre match and now meets German Predi Fritsche who beat the very talented Dave Youngs (NOR) in five entertaining games.

The Men’s 45s in contrast to some events has gone to form and Jamie Goodrich (NOR) will try and tame the powerful Jonathan Gliddon (DVN) while Devon colleague Jonathan Gallagher takes on Paul Boyle (BUX).

The 40s had No.1 seed James Bowden (LEC) ease through to meet Chis Gillespie (DCL) who beat Scotland star Stuart Ayton in a long hard match. But in the other half, there were two all action five game matches with Mick Biggs (MDX) squeezing past Masambo Selisho (CHS) and even tighter, Tim Burrell (BRK) taking the fifth 12-10 against Domagoj Spoljar of Croatia, the No.2 seed in a real thriller.

The Men’s 35s had top seed Phil Nightingale (SRY) ease through and will meet Norfolk Champion Matt Bolt who had a narrowest of wins over Ireland’s Nick Staunton 14/12 in the fifth. Tom Elgood (GLS) and Paul Stroud (LEC) the 2 seed each were comfortable and will play in the other semi-final.

A thrilling day of squash at the Masters with much more to come.

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