Nineteen Canadian players travelled to Trinity College, Hartford CT, for the 2009 US Masters Squash Championships, competing in every age category from M40+ to M80+ (M75+ category the only exception) and returned across the border with a significant amount of hardware.
Talk of the weekend by the host Americans was that the competition in this year’s tournament was much tougher, largely because of the influx of the Canadian competitors. With 13 players from Ontario, 3 from BC, 2 from Quebec, and 1 from Alberta, the different parts of our country were well represented and ready for action.
Historic Trinity College is a terrific squash venue, 8 courts set up in a circular fashion for easy viewing, and two all glass show courts, something which several of our Canadian players had never experienced. For many of our players, it was also their first tournament experience with PAR 11 scoring, and so, the challenges were laid before our players, and meet the challenges they did. Squash play throughout the weekend was high caliber and exciting, and it was great to find our players, from “sea to shining sea,” supporting/cheering one another on in our matches. All players deserve congratulations for their spirited play and performance.
Tournament Winners include:
· Steve Wren (PQ) – M40+
· Mike Bertin (ON) – M50+
· Tim Bale (BC) – M60+
Tournament Final Four Finishers:
· Eric Dunn (ON) – M50+, 2nd place
· Rashid Aziz (BC) – M55+, 2nd place
· Ed Scully (ON) – M60+, 2nd place
· Vinnie Taylor (ON) – M70+, 2nd place
· David Sly (ON) – M40+, 3rd place
· Gerry Poulton (BC) – M65+, 3rd place
Other Canadian Competitors:
· M45+ - Chris Sadler (ON, 5th place), Wayne Pye (ON, consolation final), Glenn Britton (ON, consolation semi)
· M50+ - Paul Lechtzier (ON, classic plate final), Paul Welsh (ON, consolation quarters), Tom Bedore (AB, consolation quarters), Michael Thompson (ON, plate quarters)
· M55+ - Brian Waddington (ON, consolation quarters—withdrew due to illness)
· M60+ - Robert DeValk (ON, 7th place)
· M80+ - Bernard Creighton (PQ, 2 & 2 in round robin draw)
Once again, congratulations to all players, an excellent weekend of squash, competitive play, with new friendships made and some old renewed—exactly what Masters Squash is all about.
