More Seeds Tumble In Birmingham World Masters
by Howard Harding
July 26, 2012 - Seeds continued to fall as the 2012 Subway World Masters Squash Championships progressed through to its fifth day at both the University of Birmingham and Edgbaston Priory in Birmingham, England.
More than 750 players from 47 countries began the quest for success in the World Squash Federation championships which boast 18 different events - ranging from Men's and Women's Over-35 championships to, for the first time this year, a Men's Over-80 event.
It was in the inaugural Over-80 event that a notable upset took place when 80-year-olds Michael McKean and Nino Sydney battled for a place in the semi-finals - in a match which went the full distance. And after three games which went to tie-breaks, it was unseeded Englishman McKean who ultimately emerged triumphant after 36 minutes, beating his second-seeded Australian opponent 12-10, 10-12, 12-10, 3-11, 11-6!
McKean, who now plays Scot Alex Hamilton, leads English interest in the event after Surrey's James Switzer went down 11-9, 11-5, 6-11, 11-9 to 81-year-old Canadian Diarmuid Swan.
Avenging her defeat in the recent British Open O55 final, England's unseeded Jacky Gardner recovered from two games down to upset second-seeded Scot Pauline Douglas 7-11, 8-11, 11-9, 11-8, 11-7 in 50 minutes to become the only unseeded player in the semi-finals of the Women's O55 event.
The 55-year-old from Redcar will now face Australian Anne Richards for a place in the final.
The top two seeds also failed to make the last four of the Women's O65 event. Unseeded Ann Manley ensured unexpected home interest in the semi-finals after a crushing Australia's top seed Marilyn Kennedy, the 2010 World O60 Masters runner-up, 11-4, 11-8, 11-6 in just 22 minutes.
Manley, the 2006 World O60 Masters champion from Bristol, will now face 3/4 seed Jean Grainger for a place in the final. South African Grainger, the 2008 champion and mother of former world No1 Natalie Grainger, despatched France's Danielle Maffre 12-10, 11-1, 11-2 in 13 minutes.
New Zealand's Kaye Jackson upset Sheena Worwood, the No2 seed from South Africa, 11-6, 7-11, 14-12, 11-5 and will face England's 3/4 seed Bett Dryhurst in the other semi.
Local hopes were lifted when Birmingham-based Rustom Bativala claimed an unexpected place in the Men's O55 semi-finals. The Warwickshire 56-year-old avenged his defeat in the British Open in May to upset Switzerland's 3/4 seed Rene Stofer 11-13, 12-10, 1-11, 11-8, 12-10 in 51 minutes.
"It was more a mental than a physical battle," said Bativala later. "I had to keep focus and concentrate on his backhand as much as I could, his forehand is very strong. It wasn't looking good when I lost the third 11-1, but I managed to get back into it.
"Apparently he got a let he shouldn't have when I was 10-8 in the fifth, so I'm glad I managed to take it 12-10 or I would have been really depressed! It's a good result for me, being seeded lower. I don't usually travel to these events but I live in Birmingham so it was obvious to enter this one!"
The No2 seed also fell in the Men's Over-45 event where unheralded Frenchman Jean-Jacques Pineau upset New Zealand's Gary Duberly, the title-holder, 7-11, 11-6, 11-9, 11-7.
Pineau now meets surprise opponent Yawar Abbas, a 5/8 seed from England. The 46-year-old from Manchester, a former British National O40 champion, upset fellow countryman Murray Scott, a 3/4 seed, 11-5, 11-7, 5-11, 11-6.
The first final of the championships was decided when title-holder Barbara Sanderson beat England's Joan Witton 11-6, 11-5, 13-11 in the Women's O70 semi-finals.
The Essex-based 72-year-old top seed from Ireland will now face Glenda Erasmus, the 71-year-old No2 seed from South Africa who beat Canada's Monica Gunn 11-8, 11-7, 14-12 in then other semi.
RESULTS: Subway World Masters Squash Championships, Birmingham, England
Men's O35 quarter-finals:
[1] Omar Elborolossy (EGY) bt [5/8] Glenn Hitch (AUS) 11-2, 11-4, 11-3 (21m)
[3/4] Stefan Leifels (GER) bt [9/16] Rishad Pandole (IND) 11-9, 11-3, 12-10 (27m)
[5/8] Mirko Pareccini (ITA) bt [3/4] Stephen Cooke (NED) 5-11, 12-10, 8-11, 11-7, 11-9 (48m)
[2] Renan Lavigne (FRA) bt [5/8] Paul David Johnson (WAL) 11-6, 11-2, 11-1 (27m)
Women's O35 quarter-finals:
[1] Sabine Schoene (GER) bt Keeley Seamons (ENG) 11-6, 11-3, 11-7 (21m)
[3/4] Karen Meakins (BAR) bt [5/8] Alexa Prior (ENG) 14-12, 11-6, 11-2 (23m)
[3/4] Laura Mylotte (IRL) bt Carola Weiss (GER) 11-6, 11-2, 11-5 (23m)
[2] Wendy Maitland Jones (SCO) bt Jane Kennedy (AUS) 6-11, 11-9, 11-8, 7-11, 11-5 (50m)
Men's O40 quarter-finals:
[1] Derek Ryan (IRL) bt [9/16] Nick Wall (ENG) 11-7, 11-4, 11-3 (30m)
[3/4] Nick Taylor (ENG) bt [5/8] Graeme Stewart (IRL) 11-7, 11-6, 11-4 (28m)
[3/4] Michael Tootill (RSA) bt [5/8] Jamie Goodrich (ENG) 11-3, 11-3, 10-12, 11-3 (47m)
[2] Craig Rowland (AUS) bt [5/8] Steve Richardson (IRL) 7-11, 13-11, 4-11, 11-9, 11-7 (78m)
Women's O40 quarter-finals:
[1] Senga Macfie (SCO) bt [5/8] Isabelle Tyrrell (ENG) 11-6, 11-3, 11-1 (15m)
[3/4] Simone Korell (GER) bt Andrea Santamaria (ESP) 11-5, 11-6, 11-6 (17m)
Yoriko Michishita (JPN) bt [3/4] Lisa Cowlard (NZL) 9-11, 6-11, 11-9, 12-10, 11-6 (42m)
Linda Shannon (RSA) bt [5/8] Iris Stockbauer (GER) 11-3, 11-6, 11-8 (20m)
Men's O45 quarter-finals:
[1] Craig van der Wath (RSA) bt [5/8] Stephen McLoughlin (ENG) 14-12, 11-5, 11-2 (26m)
[5/8] Frank Ellis (SCO) bt [3/4] Eamonn Price (ENG) 7-11, 13-11, 11-6, 7-11, 11-8 (70m)
[5/8] Yawar Abbas (ENG) bt [3/4] Murray Scott (ENG) 11-5, 11-7, 5-11, 11-6 (43m)
Jean-Jacques Pineau (FRA) bt [2] Gary Duberly (NZL) 7-11, 11-6, 11-9, 11-7 (33m)
Women's O45 quarter-finals:
[1] Michelle Martin (AUS) bt Diana Parums (ENG) 11-5, 11-6, 11-6 (16m)
Louise Lefebvre (CAN) bt [3/4] Bea de Dreu-Spitse (NED) 11-13, 4-11, 11-5, 11-5, 11-5 (42m)
[3/4] Nicola Horn (ENG) bt Tracey le Roux (RSA) 7-2 ret.
[2] Sarah Nelson (AUS) bt Debbie Brown (USA) 11-5, 11-7, 11-8 (24m)
Men's O50 quarter-finals:
Dominic Hughes (USA) bt Martin Greenslade (ENG) 11-5, 11-7, 11-1 (17m)
[5/8] Zainal Abidin Ab. Malik (SIN) bt [3/4] Alan Thomson (SCO) 11-8, 11-5, 11-3 (19m)
[3/4] Willie Hosey (IRL) bt [5/8] Dale Robbins (AUS) 11-7, 11-5, 12-14, 11-7 (29m)
[2] Trevor Wilkinson (RSA) bt [9/16] Peter Gilbee (AUS) 11-8, 11-9, 11-2 (30m)
Women's O50 quarter-finals:
[1] Mandy Akin (ENG) bt Kim Johnson (ENG) 11-5, 11-7, 11-3 (18m)
[5/8] Theresa Elliott (ZIM) bt [3/4] Jill Brown (RSA) 11-7, 11-9, 8-11, 6-11, 11-6 (34m)
Susan Lawrence (JAM) bt [3/4] Fiona McLean (SCO) 11-6, 6-11, 12-10, 11-6 (28m)
[2] Lisa O'Grady (RSA) bt [5/8] Lesley Sturgess (ENG) 11-5, 11-7, 6-11, 12-10 (27m)
Men's O55 quarter-finals:
[1] Peter Alexander (ENG) bt [9/16] Ian Holmes (ENG) 14-12, 11-7, 11-4 (23m)
[3/4] Udo Kahl (GER) bt [5/8] Boyd Kydd (ENG) 11-8, 11-9, 11-8 (16m)
[5/8] Rustom Bativala (ENG) bt [3/4] Rene Stofer (SUI) 11-13, 12-10, 1-11, 11-8, 12-10 (51m)
[2] Pierr Roodt (RSA) bt [9/16] Mark Waldin (NZL) 16-14, 11-4, 9-11, 11-6 (38m)
Women's O55 quarter-finals:
[1] Julie Field (ENG) bt [5/8] Lynne Davies (WAL) 11-5, 11-6, 11-4 (12m)
[3/4] Karen Hume (ENG) bt Susan Meadows (ENG) 15-13, 11-7, 11-8 (21m)
[3/4] Anne Richards (AUS) bt [5/8] Freda Walker (NZL) 11-7, 12-10, 7-11, 11-6 (29m)
Jacky Gardner (ENG) bt [2] Pauline Douglas (SCO) 7-11, 8-11, 11-9, 11-8, 11-7 (50m)
Men's O60 quarter-finals:
[1] Keith Jones (ENG) bt Kenelm Robert (GRN) 12-10, 11-4, 13-11 (21m)
[3/4] Moussa Helal (ENG) bt Stephen Jackson (ENG) 11-6, 5-11, 9-11, 11-8, 11-3 (36m)
[3/4] Gordon Daniel (RSA) bt [5/8] Tony Naughton (NZL) 11-8, 11-6, 11-7 (23m)
[9/16] John Macrury (CAY) bt John Young (IRL) 11-7, 11-4, 11-2 (16m)
Women's O60 quarter-finals:
[1] Sue Volkze (AUS) bt Anna Cherry (ENG) 10-12, 11-5, 13-11, 4-11, 11-6 (35m)
[3/4] Sue Vine (ENG) bt Claire Bryars (FRA) 9-11, 11-7, 11-2, 11-6 (24m)
[3/4] Faith Sinclair (SCO) bt Wendy Berry (ENG) 11-5, 11-5, 11-3 (16m)
[2] Laura Ramsay (CAN) bt Pamela Louwrens (RSA) 11-3, 11-4, 11-5 (15m)
Men's O65 quarter-finals:
[1] Philip Ayton (ENG) bt [5/8] Frederik Bester (RSA) 11-4, 11-6, 11-3 (21m)
[3/4] Rodney Boswell (ENG) bt [5/8] Martin Pearse (ENG) 12-10, 11-7, 15-13 (29m)
[3/4] Chris Goodbourn (ENG) bt [9/16] David Hardern (ENG) 11-6, 4-11, 11-5, 11-7 (27m)
[5/8] Roy Plumstead (RSA) bt Barry Featherstone (ENG) 7-11, 11-6, 8-11, 11-8, 11-5 (45m)
Women's O65 quarter-finals:
Ann Manley (ENG) bt [1] Marilyn Kennedy (AUS) 11-4, 11-8, 11-6 (22m)
[3/4] Jean Grainger (RSA) bt Danielle Maffre (FRA) 12-10, 11-1, 11-2 (13m)
[3/4] Bett Dryhurst (ENG) bt Margaret Hunt-Kemp (RSA) 12-10, 6-11, 11-6, 11-8 (19m)
Kaye Jackson (NZL) bt [2] Sheena Worwood (RSA) 11-6, 7-11, 14-12, 11-5 (26m)
Men's O70 quarter-finals:
[1] Adrian Wright (ENG) bt [5/8] Chris Stahl (ENG) 11-9, 11-13, 7-11, 11-9, 2-0 ret.
[3/4] Mo Khalifa (ENG) bt [5/8] Desmond Sacco (RSA) 11-8, 11-7, 10-12, 9-11, 11-7 (38m)
[3/4] Michael Gough (USA) bt Roy Bradley (ENG) 11-9, 8-11, 11-9, 11-9 (31m)
[2] Brian Phillips (WAL) bt [5/8] Vincent Taylor (CAN) 11-5, 11-7, 15-13 (20m)
Women's O70 semi-finals:
[1] Barbara Sanderson (IRL) bt Joan Witton (ENG) 11-6, 11-5, 13-11 (19m)
[2] Glenda Erasmus (RSA) bt Monica Gunn (CAN) 11-8, 11-7, 14-12 (18m)
Men's O75 1st round:
[1] John Woodliffe (ENG) bt Eddie Delahunty (NZL) 11-1, 11-1, 11-5 (14m)
[3/4] Malcolm Gilham (ENG) bt Keith Allcock (ENG) 11-6, 11-7, 11-6 (20m)
[3/4] Lance Kinder (ENG) bt Alastair Gowan (USA) 11-13, 11-7, 11-5, 11-5 (37m)
[2] Patrick Kirton (ENG) bt Trevor Coulter (NZL) 11-3, 11-8, 11-1 (15m)
Men's O80 1st round:
[1] Peter Fahrenheim (RSA) bt Donald Gunn (CAN) 13-11, 11-8, 7-11, 11-8 (46m)
[3/4] Diarmuid Swan (CAN) bt James Switzer (ENG) 11-9, 11-5, 6-11, 11-9 (27m)
[3/4] Alex Hamilton (SCO) bye
Michael McKean (ENG) bt [2] Nino Sydney (AUS) 12-10, 10-12, 12-10, 3-11, 11-6 (36m)
Men's O35 semi-final line-up:
[1] Omar Elborolossy (EGY) v [3/4] Stefan Leifels (GER)
[2] Renan Lavigne (FRA) v [5/8] Mirko Pareccini (ITA)
Women's O35 semi-final line-up:
[1] Sabine Schoene (GER) v [3/4] Karen Meakins (BAR)
[2] Wendy Maitland Jones (SCO) v [3/4] Laura Mylotte (IRL)
Men's O40 semi-final line-up:
[1] Derek Ryan (IRL) v [3/4] Nick Taylor (ENG)
[2] Craig Rowland (AUS) v [3/4] Michael Tootill (RSA)
Women's O40 semi-final line-up:
[1] Senga Macfie (SCO) v [3/4] Simone Korell (GER)
Linda Shannon (RSA) v Yoriko Michishita (JPN)
Men's O45 semi-final line-up:
[1] Craig van der Wath (RSA) v [5/8] Frank Ellis (SCO)
Jean-Jacques Pineau (FRA) v [5/8] Yawar Abbas (ENG)
Women's O45 semi-final line-up:
[1] Michelle Martin (AUS) v Louise Lefebvre (CAN)
[2] Sarah Nelson (AUS) v [3/4] Nicola Horn (ENG)
Men's O50 semi-final line-up:
Dominic Hughes (USA) v [5/8] Zainal Abidin Ab. Malik (SIN)
[2] Trevor Wilkinson (RSA) v [3/4] Willie Hosey (IRL)
Women's O50 semi-final line-up:
[1] Mandy Akin (ENG) v [5/8] Theresa Elliott (ZIM)
[2] Lisa O'Grady (RSA) v Susan Lawrence (JAM)
Men's O55 semi-final line-up:
[1] Peter Alexander (ENG) v [3/4] Udo Kahl (GER)
[2] Pierr Roodt (RSA) v [5/8] Rustom Bativala (ENG)
Women's O55 semi-final line-up:
[1] Julie Field (ENG) v [3/4] Karen Hume (ENG)
Jacky Gardner (ENG) v [3/4] Anne Richards (AUS)
Men's O60 semi-final line-up:
[1] Keith Jones (ENG) v [3/4] Moussa Helal (ENG)
[9/16] John Macrury (CAY) v [3/4] Gordon Daniel (RSA)
Women's O60 semi-final line-up:
[1] Sue Volkze (AUS) v [3/4] Sue Vine (ENG)
[2] Laura Ramsay (CAN) v [3/4] Faith Sinclair (SCO)
Men's O65 semi-final line-up:
[1] Philip Ayton (ENG) v [3/4] Rodney Boswell (ENG)
[5/8] Roy Plumstead (RSA) v [3/4] Chris Goodbourn (ENG)
Women's O65 semi-final line-up:
Ann Manley (ENG) v [3/4] Jean Grainger (RSA)
Kaye Jackson (NZL) v [3/4] Bett Dryhurst (ENG)
Men's O70 semi-final line-up:
[1] Adrian Wright (ENG) v [3/4] Mo Khalifa (ENG)
[2] Brian Phillips (WAL) v [3/4] Michael Gough (USA)
Women's O70 final line-up:
[1] Barbara Sanderson (IRL) v [2] Glenda Erasmus (RSA)
Men's O75 semi-final line-up:
[1] John Woodliffe (ENG) v [3/4] Malcolm Gilham (ENG)
[2] Patrick Kirton (ENG) v [3/4] Lance Kinder (ENG)
Men's O80 semi-final line-up:
[1] Peter Fahrenheim (RSA) v [3/4] Diarmuid Swan (CAN)
Michael McKean (ENG) v [3/4] Alex Hamilton (SCO)
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