Youth dominates senior island championships

JUNIORS took three titles in this weekend's Birch Insurance Senior Island Championships. Chris Simpson took the Men's A title, Sam Shields the Men's B, James Hodson the Men's C and Sarah Hughes was runner-up in the Women's A.

'This shows that our youngsters are beginning to stand on their own and come through against some of the senior island players,' said Gareth Webber, director of island squash.

'The youth development plan is certainly working and it is great to see that they are now beginning to hold their own in tournaments.'

In the Men's A Simpson met Gareth Webber in the final.

People watching commented that it was one of the best finals they had seen for a very long time.

Webber, 2-0 down in games won the third 9-7, with both players attacking the ball.

However, in the fourth game, Simpson began to attack even further, playing some excellent defensive and retrieving squash to win the match 9-7 in the fourth.

In the Women's A, outsider Hughes had beaten Kathy Fraser 3-2 in the semi-finals by playing some excellent attacking squash. Her natural talent and racket work were just too much for Fraser's defensive game and she won 9-6 in the fifth.

Hughes then went on to play number-one seed Karen Dunk.

However, Dunk is still

in a class of her own and was just too strong for Hughes, beating her in straight sets.

In the Men's B final, Shields took on Mark Jefferies, beating him 3-0. Shields played some excellent squash despite the physical presence of Jefferies.

Again, youngster Hodson reached the final of the Men's C having received a bye from Jeff Vincent in the previous round. Hodson played rival and higher seed Ben Brehaut but pulled through, beating him 10-9 in the fourth.

In the Women's B/C, Carolyn Harbour beat Debbie Dorey in straight sets and in the Ladies' Vets' Lynn Goodall beat Andrea Nightingale 3-1.

Simon Gaudion beat Dave Paul 3-0 in the Men's Over 35s and in the Men's Vets Larry Grover beat Neville Johnson 3-1 in what spectators thought an excellent match.

'Overall we were delighted with the results of this 12th Birch Insurance Senior Island Championship. To have four under-19 winners is pretty good,' said Webber.

Players will now be working towards the inter-insular on 8 March for which selection will be taking place over the next couple of days. Simpson, Birch and Shields are now preparing for the British Closed.