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A very satisfactory entry overall, circa 165 players will descend on Sports City, all hoping to walk away with the coveted title. Some, of course, in their dreams, but then we can all do that.
Mens O35. A strong draw. Galen le Cheminant is no 1 seed and Gary Thwaite is allegedly his opponent in the final. But Peter Goodings, Gary Harris and Karl Hardy and all the other seeds will hope to change that. Watch out for Glen Ragou.
Mens O40 loses Colin Payne unexpectedly, so there will be competition from Martin Greenslade, Peter Gunter and a host of others to challenge Jonathan Clarke. Some long matches in store here as all the main contenders chase points. This group is really taking off.
Mens O45. Alan Thomson will be hard in training (?) to try and revenge Nick Gatward whilst Ian Bradburn will be hitting the ball harder and lower (not too low) in his quest to overturn the top two. There are a host of quality players in this draw.
Mens O50. With Peter Alexander yet again on a family skiing holiday, whilst the cats away the mice will play, so there might be a new winner! As Mark Cowley is only just back from surgery, judging by his expressions at Broxbourne, he has no intensions of handing over the reigns yet. Steve Johnson and Dave Clarke must also be eyeing up that trophy or will Duleep surprise them all!
The Mens O55 throws up some fascinating possibilities - a Keith Jones, Moussa Helal semi final? A really strong ref needed here!! No 2 seed, Phil Ayton, still looks a good bet and is unlikely to let Howard Cherlin past him if they get to the semis. Once is enough, said the professor!! Bur Cherlin has beaten all 3 top seeds and certainly possesses the qualities to do it again. No other dark horses here.
O60 Now that the ‘Maestro’ has semi retired, lets hope temporarily, there is a new kid on the block (at least till next year!!) Chris Ansell is winning everything at the moment, but my money, if I gambled, would be part on him and part on Rod Boswell. Adrian Wright is capable of overturning everyone if he gets his mind and body into sync and Nick Topman can play perfect squash. We will see.
The Mens O65 is missing Brian Phillips. An injury at 65. Shouldn’t be allowed. So no
doubt, for the 83rd time, or whatever, it looks like a Woodliffe – Kirton final.
The O70 and no doubt the O75, O80 and beyond, looks like a Lance Kinder commemoration trophy, No 2, the fell runner and bon vivant Tony Breakwell will be chasing him hard.
The Womens O35 and O50 are miniscule draws which could be in part due to the fact that there are different International Selection guidelines. There will certainly be a decision at the Committeee Meeting in Manchester as to how to progress the Womens further. Isabelle Tweedle will be favourite in the O35, and in the O50s is it Jan Ellis, Carolyn Roylance or Catherine Woodhart?
Womens O40 shows Mandy Akin as no 1 with her local rival Candy Wilton at No 2. Fran Wallis will run forever, newcomer Sally Jee has all the shots but needs a couple of profile confidence wins. She starts with a tough one against Zena Woolridge.
The Womens O45 Champion Liz Brown looks a clear favourite, but Helen Gould will have other ideas and is a gutsy player whilst in the O55 Rebecca Czuczman is seeded to play Ann Manley. With Bett Dryhurst , fresh from racket ball and Averil Murphy in the draw.