The finals of the Nambucca Heads Squash annual club championships have now been held and players certainly lifted their game to match the occasion.
The men’s A-grade was fought out by Alex Gough and Ray Fitzgerald.
Alex was the incumbent A-grade champion and Ray a former holder of the A-grade title and both clearly wanted their name on the Honour Board again.
The match was a wonderful display of first class squash, with Alex’s youth outshining Ray’s many years of experience.
The men’s B-grade was a battle of tactics between two old war-horses Barry Ford and Peter Budd. At the end of a tiring five-setter Barry had the most energy but only just.
In his impromptu speech at the end of the night Peter paid tribute to Barry’s brilliant shot-making skills, but also pointed out that winning a B-grade event is easy, coming runner-up 15 years in a row takes real talent.
In the men’s C-grade, Troy Pascoe scraped in over Lucas Sewell in a display that would have made an A-grader proud.
Troy has incredible speed for a big man and Lucas is like the Duracell Bunny, he never stops.
Their match was made all the better by the high standard of referring throughout their match.
The grading committee has been running an eye over these two and the talent they displayed in their finals match should see them in B-grade next year.
In the women’s A-grade, Lauren Coony had a slight scare against Miranda Blackford in the first game, but put the peddle down in the next three games to score an expected win. Miranda has plenty of youthful talent but Lauren is a class act.
The women’s B-grade saw the perennial combatants Charmain Mills and Diane Budd have their annual tug-of-war.
It is always a pleasure watching these two ladies go at it on the courts.
Apparently it was Charmain’s turn to win. You have to keep the Honour Board looking symmetrical.
The women’s C-grade saw youthful exuberance outshine ageless skills when Rhiannon McAuliffe outlasted Carmel Chapman.
Both ladies would be playing B-grade in any other north coast squash club and their final showed the depth of talent at the Nambucca club.
The junior boy final between Alex Gough and Jack Ireland was shaping up to be a one-sided affair but someone forgot to tell Jack, who is still eligible for the sub-junior event.
Alex is the current A-grade champion and Jack thought he would make Alex earn his win. Jack has plenty of fire and spirit but Alex had all the shots.
The sub-junior event gave Jack Ireland a chance to play someone his own age and Ben Wood was given the difficult job of taming Jack. Ben is clearly going to be a player of the future and had plenty of opportunity to strut his stuff in this final.
Of all the matches held on finals night this is the one that grabbed the attention of spectators.
Two young boys both still at primary school, who played a physically demanding one-on-one sport like true gentlemen.
Their parents should have been very proud because the spectators sure were.
This was a wonderful endorsement of the club’s junior development program. Great kids with a great attitude.
During the presentation, A-grade champion Alex Gough spoke for all players when he thanked the championship organising committee for the smooth running of the event.
In his reply the club president congratulated the finalists and thanked all the players for their effort in making these championships a pleasure to attend.
All matches were played in the true spirit of sport and the social atmosphere made it a great place to be.
The regular competition now continues on Wednesday nights and social squash now resumes and is played every Thursday night at 6.30pm.
All current players or potential players are welcome to join in the Social Squash at the Nambucca Island Golf Club complex.
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