English Shine In European Masters by Howard Harding
September 7, 2011- England
claimed six of the titles in the European Masters Individual Squash
Championships, the biennial European Squash Federation event in Porto,
Portugal, which features men's and women's categories in age-groups
from Over-35 to Over-70.
There were England doubles in the
O50 and O60 events. Mark Woodliffe added the European title to the
British Open and British Nationals titles he already has at the same
age-group when he beat fellow countryman Ian Bradburn in the Men's O50
final - while Karen Hume earned her maiden Masters title after beating
Israel's Nadine Mizrahi in the Women's O50 climax.
Defending
champion Bett Dryhurst retained her trophy after beating France's No2
seed Claire Bryars in the Women's O60 final. Keith Jones made it a
clean sweep of all the major titles in his age-group when he beat
Scotland's John Rae in the Men's O60 final, thereby adding the European
to the British Nationals, British Open and World Masters titles he
already has.
And it was a notable Woodliffe family double
when Mark's 75-year-old father John Woodliffe clinched the Men's O70
crown after beating Ireland's Myron Evans. Woodliffe senior is a former
World O70 Masters champion and the reigning British Open O75 champion.
There
was an all-English final in the Men's O65 championship, in which
British Nationals and Open champion Rodney Boswell prevailed, beating
Chris Ansell in straight games.
But it was a German double
in the Over-40 section - with Predi Fritsche making up for finishing as
runner-up two years ago by beating Spain's Jesus Souto Iglesias in the
Men's O40 final. And Simone Korell became one of the few to hold onto a
title after beating fellow German Iris Stockbauer in the Women's O40
final - thus becoming European and World champion in the category.
Fellow
German Udo Kahl celebrated his first Masters success when he upset
English favourite Mark Cowley in straight games in the Men's O55 final.
France's
Renan Lavigne is taking full advantage of his recent 'qualification' as
a 'Master'. The former world No17 recently picked up the World O35
Masters title and now, aged 36, defeated Germany's defending champion
Stefan Leifels in five games in the Men's O35 final to add the European
crown to his collection.
The Women's O35 title was won by
Dagmar Vermeulen, the 35-year-old former Dutch international who beat
Germany's Melanie Kreisel in the final.
And there was
further Dutch success in the Women's O45 championship where favourite
Bea de Dreu-Spitse beat second-seeded English opponent Mandy Akin in
the four-game final.
There was sole Swedish success in the
Men's O45 event where former European O40 champion Fredrik Johnson
added the latest Masters title to his collection after beating
Scotland's Frank Ellis in the final. RESULTS: European Masters Individual Squash Championships, Porto, Portugal